EQUESTRIAN TRAILS SOUTH HAVEN TO SAUGATUCK

Horseback riding along equestrian trails in southwest Michigan is understandably popular with residents and visitors. The peace and natural beauty is amazing.

Allegan State Game Area

One of the best horse riding opportunities is less than 30 minutes from South Haven or Saugatuck MI. The Allegan State Game Area has a 55 mile Equestrian Trail System (ETS) which is a collaborative effort between Allegan County Parks and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Horseback riding has been popular with area residents and visitors alike for many years. Most of the equestrian activity takes place in the 50,000-acre Allegan State Game Area. To make riding in the Game Area more user-friendly and to protect sensitive ecosystems, the Allegan County Parks has created a designated equestrian trail system in the "Allegan forest."

The Allegan County equestrian trail system consists of more than 50 miles of marked and mapped designated riding trails. This makes it easier for riders, particularly riders who are new to the area, to enjoy this recreational opportunity.

This network of horse trails consisting 25 miles of trails is connected to Silver Creek Equestrian Park and Campground, which is located near Hamilton, Michigan. Silver Creek Park has both day riding and overnight camping opportunities.

Along with Silver Creek, there are two other overnight camping and trail staging areas. One is located at Pine Point Campground and the other is located at Ely Lake Campground. Pine Point and Ely Lake are also connected by a riding trail network that is just over 25 miles in total length.

Please note that all Allegan County horse trails that are part of the Allegan State Game Area will be closed to riding from November 15 to November 30 each year. This is for safety and coincides with the firearm deer season

Kal Haven Trail

The Kal Haven Trail is a multi-use trail that runs nearly 34 miles from South Haven to Kalamazoo, Michigan. The trail starts in South Haven on North Bailey Avenue and ends in Kalamazoo on 10th Street. The beginning of the trail is paved, but the majority of the route is crushed slag and limestone and has a gentle downward slope.

The Kal Haven Horse Trail is a separate trail that runs parallel to the bike trail. This equestrian trail runs between 68th Street at the 3 mile marker to 52 1/2 Street at the 11.2 mile marker. The horse trail crosses the bike trail in a number of locations which is because it runs on both sides of the main trail.

The Horse trail on the Kal Haven is like the main trail in that it runs through the woods as well as open farm land, some dense brush and lighter woods. It's not a level trail like the main trai, which makes it a nice, challenging horse ride. The width of the trail will varies from 10 to 20 feet wide.

When you look at the Kal Haven Trail maps, the equestrial trails are shown as running all the way to the town of Bloomingdale but they don't. The original trail was proposed to run that far but it was never completed.

Horse trailer parking is available at CR 687 and the Kal-Haven Trail where there is an area large enough to accommodate horse trailers. Hitching posts for your horses are also provided there as well as along the trail at the rest areas.

Thanks for stopping by and

We'll see you on the trail _South Haven To Saugatuck and Beyond

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