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

Gerber Horse Camp, Oregon

It took some time this year, due to bad weather, and most importantly not having a horse to ride for awhile, but I finally managed to get out camping for a few days. My horse needed some time off because of an undiagnosed lameness, so I bought a little Mustang mare in the meantime, and this was her first time camping.

I went over to the Gerber Recreation Area, which is in Southern Oregon near Klamath Falls and has a huge reservoir, several people campgrounds, and a very nice horse camp.

Miller Creek.

I only heard about this BLM camp about 4 years ago, but it has been open since 2011 and clearly does not get a lot of use. There are limited designated trails, about 12 miles total, but it is surrounded by 100,000 acres of forest, so there are other riding opportunities.

The turn off for the horse camp.

Gerber has what they are calling 7 sites, although the first two are kind of like double sites but numbered differently, for example 1A and 1B.
The spots are large enough for big rigs, graveled and level, and they are back in, except for #5 which is a pull through.
The camp is designed well with each end of the loop having it's own bathroom, complete with hand sanitizer, access to water, a manure bin, and a hitching rail. Water is potable from spigots, and you can attach a hose to them. There is a recycling can, a mounting ramp, and a $2.00 fee for the day use area, where they provide a small water trough you can fill up. The camp is generally open May through October. Like most BLM campgrounds the corrals are steel and larger than normal, and the camping fee is low at only $7.00 a night.

The other campgrounds in the area are so far away you will not see anyone, and only people with stock are allowed in the horse camp, although it's hard to say whether they enforce that.
There is an RV dump station located at the entrance to the recreation area, you can use on your way in or out.

Gerber Horse Camp.

Spot #3 at Gerber Horse Camp.

When I got there, I found myself completely alone, which was not surprising, this happens a lot especially during the week, and so I pulled into spot #3. I got busy right away riding on the Gerber Potholes Trail which runs right through camp, and I headed south, where it meanders above another campground, and then along Miller Creek. On this section of trail I noticed a few ticks were out and about, trying to crawl onto myself and my horse. Once you get to a road that crosses the creek, the trail continues on the other side, but only for about half a mile, where it ends at a small roadside camp spot. From there I followed the main road for awhile and then finally turned around and got back onto the trail and continued on the loop that heads back to camp. I came across the Gerber Potholes, (it looks like a lake) then shortly after that I went through a gate and had to ride through a herd of cows. In one area I found a small island in a body of water, which I have now named Cow Island!

Riding along Miller Creek on the Gerber Potholes Trail. 

Miller Creek from where the road crosses over it.

Back on the loop trail...this area looks like a meadow but is full of water.

The Gerber Potholes.

Cow Island!

The camp hosts came by later on that evening and said hi, they also said I was the first horse person they had seen use the camp so far this year.

It was absolutely perfect weather, not hot and not cold, and after my ride I walked over and checked out the reservoir up close.

The Gerber Reservoir is very large.

The following day I went north. Since this area is grazing land, there are many fence lines, cattle guards and gates to go through. The trail went over a small stream and then crossed over a road and petered out fairly quickly at the Stan H Spring Campground. I was able to get another look at the reservoir from there and then I started following random dirt roads. The first one actually took me out into a huge area called Dry Prairie. I rode through it for awhile, and then did a little bushwhacking back towards camp. It is not the easiest area to bushwhack, as it is quite rocky country.

A rocky section of trail heading north.

A water crossing.

Signs with mileage are at most junctions.

Lupines.

Dry Prairie.

Dry Prairie.

Stopped for a snack at a small watering hole.

When I got back to camp I was somewhat surprised that all of my hay and water had mysteriously disappeared from the corral. It did not take long to figure out that cows had come through while I was gone. In fact they came back again later that night, hoping there was more food to steal. You don't realize how much noise cows actually make until it's after dark, and they are hollering at each other right outside your trailer. But luckily they did quiet down at bedtime.

After dinner I went for about a 3 mile walk over to the boat ramp by the south campground, and checked out the information and history about the reservoir.

Cows wondering where the convenient edibles went.

Info at the boat ramp about the Gerber Reservoir.

Unfortunately after two amazing weather days, it got a little chillier on the third day, but I saddled up and headed west, again just following red dirt roads. The first one did not get me very far, I was hoping to arrive at Goodlow Mt. but the gate by the cattle guard had not been used in years, and would have taken superhuman strength to open.

I got rained on for awhile as I headed back over towards the reservoir. I was pleased to find a 4x4 road that followed alongside it for a little while, which was nice since so far I had just found roads that ended right at the water, but did not continue. There were big white pelicans swimming around, and more cows.... if you need somewhere to desensitize your horse to cows, this is the right place.

Heading west towards Goodlow Mt.

Found a road that followed along the reservoir.

A pelican on the reservoir.

The weather cleared up later on and I did my third evening walk, since there is nothing much else to do when you camp alone! There is cell service in the camp, so I chatted with a friend as well. She was also horse camping at the time so we joked that we were camping together...separately.

My last evening walk along the reservoir.

The next day was a pack up and head home day. I was happy to have finally gotten a trip under my belt, and wished it could have been longer, but I didn't want to completely tire out my new horse. 

The camp was great and hopefully more people check it out!

GPS COORDINATES TO GERBER

Cultus Corral Horse Camp, Three Sisters Wilderness, Oregon

Cultus is one of those camps that gets overlooked in favor of Quinn Meadows which is close by. It's one downfall is that although there are several nice loops with a lot of lakes, most of the rides require a short trailer trip to get to, or a lot of added riding mileage.

Kershaw Lake.

Cultus is a really nice camp with 11 level spots that have steel corrals except for spot #4 which has a highline. There is a bathroom with garbage cans, a manure bin with a wheelbarrow,

and potable water from a hand pump. You can also get stock water from the Cultus River, although it is a bit of a trek to get to it. Most sites are sizeable enough for larger rigs. There is a separate day use area but you have to be careful where you park, since it is heavily treed and the corners are sharp. It is $14.00 per night and it is not a gated camp, so it can still  be accessed when it is officially closed.

To get there:
From Bend, drive south on Hwy 97 and take exit 153 towards Sunriver.
Follow this road ( it eventually becomes Spring River Rd.) for almost 7 miles
and take a left on Forest Service Rd. 40, following a sign that says Cultus Lake.
Continue on Rd. 40 for 15 miles until it ends, then take a left, go almost a mile and take a right
on Rd. 4635 into the Cultus Lake area. After almost a mile take a right at the sign for the horse camp, follow the gravel road another mile, and the camp will be on the right.

Cultus Corral Horse Camp.

Cultus Corral Horse Camp.

Day use parking at Cultus Corral.

The Cultus River is nearby.

The Benchmark Butte Trail leaves from camp and it is a mostly forested ride that takes you over the butte, to the Corral Swamp Trailhead. The Corral Swamp Trail will loop you back to Cultus Lake. And then from there you take the Winopee Tie Trail back to camp for a 15 mile ride.

The Corral Swamp Trailhead.

On the Corral Swamp Trail.

Cultus Lake.

There are also a few riding options which leave from Little Cultus Lake's day use area, a 4 mile drive from the horse camp, where parking is limited. One of the rides is on the Many Lakes Trail and the Deer Lake Trail. This is a 12 mile loop or you can extend it by taking a short detour over to Irish and Taylor Lakes where you meet up with the PCT. I have followed the PCT north from there as far as Brahma Lake. You can also take the trailhead from Rd. 4636 over towards Charlton Lake.

Kershaw Lake on the Many Lakes loop.

The Three Sisters Wilderness sign.

Brahma Lake.

Watching kayakers on Little Cultus Lake, from the Deer Lake Trail.

Another nice ride is over to Winopee Lake  which is a 15 mile out and back, and passes by an old cabin at Muskrat Lake. This is a 2.5 mile drive from camp or you can ride there on the Winopee Tie Trail. There is a very large paved area at the boat ramp at Cultus Lake, which is the best place to park, since the actual trailhead is quite small.

The cabin at Muskrat Lake.

Winopee Lake.

For downtime in between rides, Cultus Lake has a resort with a restaurant, store, and watercraft rentals, and the lake is really nice for swimming.

Happy Trails!


GPS COORDINATES TO CULTUS