Step back in time at the Escure Ranch (officially the BLM Rock Creek Management Area). This 14,000-acre former sheep and cattle ranch offers a "lonesome western" feel that is best experienced from the back of a horse. Riding here in mid-April is the "sweet spot"—the balsamroot and lupine are in full bloom, the weather is mild before the summer heat hits, and the waterfalls are at their peak roar.

The Trails

With over 30 miles of trails, there is plenty to explore over a long weekend.

• Towell Falls: An easy, iconic 6-mile round trip ride south from the trailhead. You’ll follow an old jeep track through a slot canyon to find a thundering waterfall—a desert contradiction you have to see to believe.

• The High Plateau: For those wanting more distance, trails lead northwest toward Turtle and Wall Lakes, offering views of the Blue Mountains in the far distance.

• Terrain: Expect wide-open grasslands, basalt "scabs" (rocky outcrops), and some gravel roads. While some areas are soft, the volcanic rock makes horse shoes or boots highly recommended.

Know Before You Go

• Water: There is a spring-fed stock tank for the horses, but no potable water for humans. Please pack in all the drinking water you’ll need for the weekend.

• Requirements: This is BLM land; Certified Weed-Seed-Free Feed is required. 

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Silver Creek Campground is a remote, primitive campground located in the Colville National Forest in northeastern Washington. It is particularly well-known as a backcountry staging area for hikers and trail workers.

Key Details & Features

• Location: Situated on Silver Creek Road (FR 7078-070) near Leadpoint, about 30 miles north of Colville, WA. Maps Link.

• Amenities: This is a no-fee, first-come, first-served site. Amenities are basic:

  • Vault toilets and picnic tables.

  • No potable water: You must bring your own or filter water from the creek.

  • High-clearance vehicles are recommended as the forest road can be rough and rutted.

• Recreation: It serves as the primary trailhead for:

  • North Fork Silver Creek Trail #119

  • South Fork Silver Creek Trail #123 (accessible through the group site).

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Registration will open approximately 45 days before the ride or sooner.

Gypsy Meadows serves as a premier basecamp for exploring the rugged beauty of the Colville National Forest. Known for its remote setting and access to expansive wilderness trails, it is a favorite for backcountry enthusiasts who enjoy a mix of challenging terrain and tranquil forest scenery.

Facility Overview

The camp is designed to accommodate riders and packers with several key features:

• Space & Amenities: The camp offers plenty of room for trailers, access to water, and some existing highline poles for securing stock.

• Environment: Expect a true backcountry experience. The area consists primarily of Wilderness, featuring remote, steep, and scenic trails that reward riders with stunning vistas.

Trail Work & Maintenance

Gypsy Meadows is a hub for volunteer stewardship. Because of its Wilderness designation, maintenance often requires traditional skills:

• Crosscut Sawyers & Swampers: Essential for clearing downed logs without motorized equipment.

• Stock Support: Both riding and pack stock are highly valued for transporting tools and supplies to remote work sites.

• Community Effort: Work parties often include "grant-provided meals" and a community kitchen, making the hard work a social and rewarding experience.

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Registration will open approximately 45 days before the ride or sooner.

Gypsy Meadows serves as a premier basecamp for exploring the rugged beauty of the Colville National Forest. Known for its remote setting and access to expansive wilderness trails, it is a favorite for backcountry enthusiasts who enjoy a mix of challenging terrain and tranquil forest scenery.

Facility Overview

The camp is designed to accommodate riders and packers with several key features:

• Space & Amenities: The camp offers plenty of room for trailers, access to water, and some existing highline poles for securing stock.

• Environment: Expect a true backcountry experience. The area consists primarily of Wilderness, featuring remote, steep, and scenic trails that reward riders with stunning vistas.

Trail Work & Maintenance

Gypsy Meadows is a hub for volunteer stewardship. Because of its Wilderness designation, maintenance often requires traditional skills:

• Crosscut Sawyers & Swampers: Essential for clearing downed logs without motorized equipment.

• Stock Support: Both riding and pack stock are highly valued for transporting tools and supplies to remote work sites.

• Community Effort: Work parties often include "grant-provided meals" and a community kitchen, making the hard work a social and rewarding experience.

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Registration will open approximately 45 days before the ride or sooner.

End your summer at the top of the world! Riding the Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail from Sherman Pass offers a premier high-country experience. At an elevation of over 5,500 feet, you’ll navigate through lodgepole pines and open sub-alpine meadows. In late August, the huckleberries are often ripe, and the expansive views of the Curlew Valley to the west and the Columbia River to the east are unmatched.

The Trails

We will be staged at the Sherman Pass South Trailhead, providing access to some of the most scenic miles of the 44-mile Kettle Crest system.

• The Route: Expect a steady climb as you head south toward Columbia Mountain. The trail is well-engineered with manageable switchbacks, but the elevation gain will give your horses a good workout.

• The Reward: Huge vistas of the Selkirk Mountains and the Cascades on a clear day.

• Terrain: Forest soil mixed with granite rock. The trails are generally in great shape, but due to the "big country" nature of the ride and some rocky stretches, shoes or boots are highly recommended.

Know Before You Go

• Parking: The south side of the highway has a dedicated equestrian trailhead with plenty of room for trailers.

• Facilities: Vault toilets are available at the trailhead.

• Water: There is no water at the trailhead. While there are a few seasonal springs further up the trail, they can be unreliable in late August. Please haul in all water for your stock and yourself.

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Registration will open approximately 45 days before the ride or sooner.

Wrap up the riding season with a spectacular display of autumn gold. Rustler's Gulch (the West Branch Little Spokane Wildlife Area) is a gem for fall riding. As the temperatures dip, the larch trees turn a brilliant yellow and the brush along the wetlands blazes with deep reds. This 2,700-acre wildlife area is quiet, scenic, and offers a perfect blend of pine forests, lush cedar groves, and open meadows.

The Trails

With over 35 miles of trails and old roadbeds, there is a variety of loops to explore.

• The Holly Road Loop: A popular 7-mile route that drops down through three distinct forest types—from open ponderosa pines to a deep, moisture-rich cedar forest at the bottom of the gulch.

• Terrain: Expect generally wide trails with good footing, though the descent into the gulch can be steady. There are some stream crossings and occasional seasonal muddy spots near the wetlands.

• Recommendation: While the footing is often softer than the basalt of the "scablands," there are enough rocky stretches that shoes or boots are highly recommended.

Know Before You Go

• Parking: We typically use the Holly Road Access. The parking area is an open field—please park thoughtfully to ensure larger trailers have plenty of room to turn around.

• Requirements: A Discover Pass or WDFW Vehicle Access Pass is required to park.

• Facilities: This is a primitive, day-use-only site. There are no toilets or water on-site, so please come prepared with everything you and your horse need for the day.

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Registration will open approximately 45 days before the ride or sooner.