Lake Oroville State Recreation Area

HORSE RIDERS’ HEAVEN
 20 miles from Paradise

Are you looking for a gorgeous place to ride all day and not see anyone but still be within an hour and a half drive of Sacramento? -- a place with hills that provide million dollar panoramas, shaded trails, water for horses, long level stretches where you can move out at a gallop or saunter along and watch the river. -- campsites and staging areas at various points along the trail system. This may sound like Paradise, but it is really 20 miles down the road at Oroville.

Are you looking for a gorgeous place to ride all day and not see anyone but still be within an hour and a half drive of Sacramento? -- a place with hills that provide million dollar panoramas, shaded trails, water for horses, long level stretches where you can move out at a gallop or saunter along and watch the river. -- campsites and staging areas at various points along the trail system. This may sound like Paradise, but it is really 20 miles down the road at Oroville.

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area has over twenty miles of trails that loop through some of the most beautiful scenery in the Mother Lode. It is located in Butte County and borders the Feather River and Lake Oroville. It is 75 miles north of Sacramento on good roads, so the travel time is actually less than for several popular spots closer to Sacramento. From Loomis to the staging area is an hour and thirty minute drive. The elevation ranges from 200 to 1000 feet and trails are functional all year long. Each season has a special charm. The spring wildflowers are spectacular, especially on Sycamore Hill; of course the view from Sycamore Hill is spectacular any time of year.

In summer the shaded trails and plentiful water for horses are very appealing. The autumn foliage makes the normal million dollar view an unforgettable experience. In winter the low altitude and all-weather terrain should pull you like a magnet. There is an intriguing variety of wildlife in the area: turkey, beaver, river otter, muskrat, fox, bobcat, deer, waterfowl, hawks, osprey and eagles. No dogs or mountain bikes are permitted on the trail.

There is something for everybody at Lake Oroville. The visitor center features interpretive displays, a viewing tower and slide shows and films about the surrounding area. There are several campsites with a wide variety of attractive features: hot showers, laundry tubs, hook-ups, picnic sites, a swim beach, horse shoe pits, barbecue pits, drinking water, tent sites, tables, fire rings, storage cabinets, boat rentals, launching ramp, and horse camp. Advance reservations can be made by phoning 1-800-444-PARK. A map of the trail system and specific information about each campsite is available. The usual state rules and regulations apply. They do recommend that you carry water while riding during the dry season.

There are numerous places for horses to drink along the trail; however, water for human consumption is only available at campsites and the visitor center.

For the map savvy orienteers, there are topological maps available. For the rest of us equestrians, there are the more usual maps available that show the trail system and points of interest. There is an excellent brochure put out by the Lake Oroville Mounted Assistance Unit; unfortunately it is slightly dated -- it states there are no horse facilities, when in fact the Loafer Creek Camp is a marvelous horse campsite.

The newly constructed horse camp at Loafer Creek is situated along the Loafer Loop section of trail, and allows access to the entire trail system. This fine facility provides a horse tethering and feeding station near each camp site, a horse washing station, and a restroom with showers for campers. Loafer Creek also has developed family (non-equestrian) campsites.

If you don’t feel confident exploring on your own or don’t trust your horse to take you back to the trailer, you might want to ride with someone that knows the area. Cathy Hodges lives near the parking area at the west end of Lakeland Blvd. and can often be talked into riding the trails. Feel free to call her at 916-533-0698. You can also call Roy Rogers ((his real name)) who lives near the parking area on Kelly Ridge Road 916-589-0140 if you have any questions. Actually, this is the Roy Rogers that is famous in Oroville, and part of the trail system is named for him. The Roy Rogers Trail travels through the old Rogers Ranch, which is now Loafer Creek. This section of trail follows the shoreline of Lake Oroville above Oroville Dam and next to the Loafer Beach Day Use area. It includes a picnic area at Brooks Orchard, with tables, restrooms, and a watering trough for horses. For reservations for either camping area, call 1-800-444- PARK. For additional information on the trail call 916-538-2200.

Directions – Dan Beebe Trail Head Parking -- Lake Oroville State Recreation Area.

Exit highway 70 at Montgomery Ave., go east until it merges onto Orange Avenue. As four lanes narrow to two (watch for power lines and Four Square Church on left), turn left on Long Bar Road. Go approximately one mile (staying to the left at the Y intersection of Canyon Highlands) turn left, uphill, on Colina Way (Long Bar bends to the right, but you go left) stay on the pavement when it bends to the left at Fernwood. Go to the stop sign. Turn right on Lausen. Stay on the pavement when the road bends to the left and becomes Lakeland Blvd. Go to the end of the pavement, through the day use gate. The gravel road ends at the parking lot, which has plenty of turnaround and parking space for a large number of trailers. HAPPY TRAILS

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Updated 12/26/05
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