Horseback riding is an adventurous avenue to take in the terrain of Arkansas State Parks. There are miles of trails through state parks and adjoining national forest lands for riders to take on at five state parks in Arkansas. 

Lake Catherine State Park

Seasonal guided tours are an option at Lake Catherine State Park near Hot Springs via a horseback riding service. 

This service takes riders on trails at the park that are only for horseback riding.  “We have separate trails designated for horseback riding only towards the entrance of the park,” said Cheryl Vincent, Park Superintendent at Lake Catherine State Park. “These trails are designated for the use of the concessionaire, Lake Catherine Riding Stables, only."

There are details, including a phone number, for how folks can contact the guide service at the Lake Catherine State Park park page here. “Lake Catherine Riding Stables are operated by a concessionaire that provides guided tours from Memorial Day to Labor Day," said Vincent. “[Visitors] can contact them directly to make reservations or check for off-season hours.  No experience is needed for these tours.”

Please note that riders can’t bring their own horses to ride at the park. “No horses are allowed to be brought into Lake Catherine State Park,” said Vincent. “The riding stables have their own horses for the public to ride for a guided tour. These tours are an hour long including the time to mount and dismount with some brief instructions at the beginning." More details about further outdoor adventures at Lake Catherine State Park can be found at this Arkansas State Parks article. 

Mount Magazine State Park

There is a trail at Mount Magazine State Park known as the Huckleberry Mountain Horse Trail. Riders can bring their own horses and ride here but please note that only a small portion of this multi-use trail is within state park boundaries. “It is a very small portion of the multi-use U.S. Forestry managed Huckleberry trail that starts from our Horse Camp and extends 20+ miles of trail,” said Alex Hedegard, Park Interpreter at Mount Magazine State Park. “Motororized vehicles and horses, aside from the very small section of Huckleberry trails, are not allowed on Mount Magazine State Park trails to preserve sensitive habitat.”

There are options for riders to overnight too. “Equestrians can gather and camp with self-contained campers at what we call Horse Camp,” said Hedegard. “It is the first stop on the eastern most boundary of the park reached from the Paris, Arkansas side of the mountain off of Highway 309. Campers must call or register in-person at the Visitor Center.”

Riders can also explore more outdoor options while at the park. “While we don't allow horseback riding throughout most of the park, we encourage guests to make use of Horse Camp as their gateway to the Huckleberry trail,” said Hedegard. “We further encourage this user group to check out park programming and all the wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities our park has to offer while they are here.”

Devil’s Den State Park 

Horseback riding has long been a popular pursuit at Devil's Den State Park and the park recently upgraded the horse campground there. More details about riding there and the horse campground can be found at this Arkansas State Parks article. Please note that horses can’t go on Monument Trails.

Hobbs-State Park Conservation Area 

Hobbs-State Park Conservation Area near Rogers is located on the southern shore of Beaver Lake. 

The state park has a diverse trail system where many outdoor adventures can take place, including horseback riding. According to Steve Chyrchel, Park Interpreter at Hobbs-State Park Conservation Area, horseback riding is open at the park on multi-use trails that include Bashore loop, Dutton Hollow loop, War Eagle loop and Little Clifty Loop. He added that there are two large parking lots for horse trailers at Piney Road and at Townsend’s Ridge Road, which is the largest. “The rest of our trails are either hiking only, or hiking/biking only,” Chyrchel said. Please note that horses can’t go on the park’s Monument Trails. 

Here is a map of the trails at the state park. 

At this time the park doesn’t have equestrian campgrounds but there are some private campgrounds in the area. If there is an organized horse-riding event scheduled on the trails at the park, it needs to be cleared with the park superintendent beforehand.

Chyrchel added that different user groups, from bikers to hikers, are also using these single-track multiuse trails along with equestrians. “Each of these user groups has a right to be there,” he said. “Yield to other users where appropriate and be kind to other trail users.

Village Creek State Park

Horseback riding can also be a way to experience Crowley’s Ridge at Village Creek State Park near Wynne. 

“Village Creek State Park offers 31 Class B sites in the Equestrian Camp area (sites 66-96), available for rent year-round,” said Village Creek State Park Park Interpreter Emiley Purvis.   

“We have 66 horse stalls located within the center of the campground, equipped with a horse washing station, ceiling fans, two electrical outlets per stall, water spigots, and a composting station for easy horse waste disposal. Nearby are also two round pens and a mounting step available for visitors to use. The Equestrian Camp area provides direct access to our 25 miles of multi-use trails, open daily from sunrise to sunset.”

More details about horseback riding at the park can be found at this Equestrian Trail Guide.

The soil at this state park is fragile and care is needed while riding the trails there.“To preserve our trails and ensure the safety of horses and riders, our horse trails close when they become wet and muddy,” said Purvis. “Riders should stay informed about trail closures by speaking to park staff and checking for additional posted signage indicating specific section closures. Additionally, we ask visitors to help us protect our park by practicing Leave No Trace principles when on our trails by packing out any trash and staying on designated trails only.”

Purvis mentioned that for those not planning to camp but enjoy a day ride, a designated day-use trailer parking area is available at the trailhead near the Equestrian Camp. Riders can check in at the Visitor Center to pay the trailer fee and receive a day-use parking pass. She noted that all visitors with horses coming into the park must stop at the Visitor Center to show proof of a negative Coggins test too. 

Village Creek State Park is the second largest state park in Arkansas with many miles of multi-use trails. “Our horse trails provide a unique perspective of the park that few visitors experience.” said Purvis. “They offer one of the most enjoyable ways to explore the characteristic features of the Crowley’s Ridge geographic formation, while also allowing for a peaceful retreat into nature. While the majority of park visitors typically explore only a small portion of Village Creek's nearly 7,000 acres, riding the trails offers a broader and more immersive view of the landscape.”