Lily Glen Equestrian Park, Oregon

I used to live in the Medford area and so I had been to Lily Glen before, many years ago, in fact back when the historic barn was still standing. This used to be a stagecoach stop, but unfortunately the barn has since burned in 2003. I had never camped there, except for once with a gelding I used to own, we drove there, went for one ride, spent the night, and the following day I turned around and drove home, not because I wanted to, but because the gelding refused to drink a drop of water. So this time I stayed three nights, and was able to ride and explore the rest of the area.

Lily Glen Horse Camp.

Lily Glen is a county park and it has two different camping areas, two large group sites that you can reserve, that are pretty level, with log corrals. They have their own hand pump with potable water, a bathroom, manure bin with a wheelbarrow and a handicap rider mounting block.

The water tower still stands in between the group sites at Lily Glen.

The other loop has 12 back-in, first come first serve sites. Only 5 of the spots have steel corrals, but you can set up your own corral or highline. This loop also has a bathroom, hand pump and manure bin. Spot #26 is handicap accessible. None of these sites are very level and most of them will not accommodate bigger rigs. I was in #20 which was one of the largest and easiest to get into.
It is $18.00 per night, plus $2.00 per horse.
There are plenty of garbage cans, and a day use area with a $4.00 a day fee.
The hand pump is right near the entrance, so if you are camped fairly far from it, be prepared to drag water a bit of a distance.
This camp has some cell service, I could always text, and sometimes email would work as well, but it was sporadic.

Spot #20 at Lily Glen Horse Camp.

I arrived mid day and set out for my first ride. The main event at this camp is to ride along the banks of Howard Prairie Reservoir. You have to cross Grizzly Creek to get to the trail system and then there are a few well used trails going in several different directions, however most of them end up heading the same way which is towards the reservoir.
You will also be riding amongst a series of cross country horse jumps, since there is a fairly dilapidated course out in the meadow and also in the trees. It was so tempting to just pop over a few of them, since it made me nostalgic for back in the day when I used to do three day eventing.

When you are on the main trail that follows the water, it is marked with orange horseshoes nailed to trees. This trail is named after Beth Bliss who was an endurance rider, I remember hearing about her passing, since it happened while she was riding at the Bandit Springs endurance ride in Central OR.

Easy, well used trails with good footing.

The Beth Bliss Memorial sign.

This trail goes all the way to a junction with the PCT where you can continue riding for as long as you want, but I rode just past the dam, which is nearly to the junction, and then turned around. I had been on that section of the PCT in the past when I rode there from Hyatt Lake Horse Camp.

The trail is marked with orange horseshoes in memory of Beth Bliss.

Howard Prairie Reservoir.

The trail crosses water and keeps going along the reservoir.

The dam at Howard Prairie Reservoir.

Back at camp the group sites were pretty busy and full of people, but I had the other campground to myself.

The next day I took a slightly different way towards the reservoir riding along the creek for awhile but then I crossed over the Keno Access Rd. and followed forest service roads all day. Most of it was forested but I also found a few nice meadows and a couple of views of Mt. McLoughlin.

Riding along the side of the creek that runs into the reservoir.

Lots of small meadows.

Got to an area with a view of Mt. McLoughlin.

Found some meadows and flowers while out exploring.

Lunch break, while exploring random roads.

Sunset at camp, a herd of cows graze in the meadow.

On the last day I followed a trail that lead to the west between the two group sites, I was hoping for it to continue on, but it was just a short jaunt to another view of the large meadow that the camp sits in.
So I crossed over Dead Indian Memorial Rd. and followed more roads to the north for the rest of the day.
There is a gate across the street from the camp, but there was a sign that said it was on private property, so I went up Shell Peak Rd. instead which is the way to the Mountain Trails Youth Camp.
A lot of people don't enjoy road riding, but these were quiet roads and my theory has always been if you follow one long enough and try to head uphill, you may find a view, and I certainly did this time!

A short trail leads to views across the meadow.

This was once a Devil's Dyke, where you jump downhill, then over water, and then back out the other side.

Riding on FS Rd. 3710.

A beautiful viewpoint all the way to Medford.

Mt. McLoughlin views from FS Rd. 080.

That night my friend Connie came for a visit, she was my neighbor for a couple of years when I lived in Southern Oregon and it was really nice to see her and to catch up.


I had run out of options for any more riding, so I headed home, deliriously happy to be back camping with my wonderful horse, after her being laid off for a few months.


GPS COORDINATES TO LILY GLEN