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Partner with Us: Trails & Work Parties
Partner with Us: Trails & Work Parties
Our chapter thrives on community. Spend the morning clearing a trail and the afternoon enjoying it on horseback! Check out our schedule below to find work parties that maintain our public lands and group rides to explore them.
Click the drop down arrow for more information on an event that interests you!
First Friday Ride Series - Mt Spokane State Park (June 5th) Registration is Open
First Friday Ride Series - Mt Spokane State Park (June 5th) Registration is Open
Mt. Spokane is often described as a "wilderness experience in miniature," offering over 100 miles of multi-use trails. For a great introductory ride from the Selkirk area, you can head toward the Big Sky Loop.
The Ride Experience
Terrain: In early summer, the forest is lush with towering old-growth cedars and hemlocks. Unlike lower-elevation rides that can be rocky or dusty, these trails often feature soft "forest duff" underfoot. However, be prepared for some rocky sections as you reach the ridges.
Views: Riding through the Selkirk Mountains provides sweeping vistas of the surrounding valleys. Keep an eye out for local flora like Ladyslippers or Arrowleaf Balsamroot along the trail edges.
Trail Highlights:
The Big Sky Loop: A 4-mile centerpiece that offers a steady, gentle climb to some of the park's best viewpoints.
Saddle Junction: A common meeting point for various trails including the Kit Carson Loop Road.
The exact trails or routes taken on the First Friday Ride Series are subject to change and are under the guidance of the NEBCHW ride leader.
Quick Rider Tips
Permits: A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access. If you are riding in the winter (though equestrian use is limited then), a Sno-Park permit would be required instead.
Sharing the Trail: These are multi-use trails. You will likely encounter hikers and mountain bikers. The park is known for its "Chapter Pride"—many of these paths are maintained by local backcountry horsemen, so the saw-work you see along the way is often the result of volunteer efforts.
Safety: Standard backcountry rules apply. Cell service can be spotty in the deep timber, and it's always wise to have a printed map from the official park website or the ranger station.
Jungle Hill Loop - Volunteer Work Party (June 12-14) Registration is Open
Jungle Hill Loop - Volunteer Work Party (June 12-14) Registration is Open
Jungle Hill Loop & Campground Overview
Jungle Hill Loop & Campground Overview
The Jungle Hill Horse Campground is a primitive, spacious equestrian campground located in the Colville National Forest, serving as an excellent backcountry staging area for pack and saddle users. It provides direct access to the Jungle Hill Trail #16 and the 44.6-mile Kettle Crest National Scenic Trail.
Key Details & Features
Key Details & Features
Location: Situated off the Sherman Pass Scenic Byway (Highway 20). From Kettle Falls, travel 18.4 miles west on WA-20W, turn right onto Albian Hill Road (FR 2030), and proceed north for 0.6 miles to the trail sign, then west 0.2 miles into the campground.
Amenities: This is a no-fee, first-come, first-served primitive site.
Vault toilets, picnic tables, tent pads, fire pits, and a loading ramp are available.
No potable water: Non-potable stock water can be retrieved from the nearby creek but must be treated/filtered for human consumption.
Certified Weed-Free Hay is required on all National Forest lands.
Trail Layout: The Jungle Hill Loop is a gorgeous, challenging backcountry route featuring lodgepole pines, western larch, and panoramic ridgeline views. Be prepared for a steady climb gaining over 2,000 feet of elevation up to the Kettle Crest, and steep descents (some sections exceeding a 20% grade) returning down to the creek and campground area.
Gypsy Meadows - Volunteer Work Party (July 24 - 27) Registration is Open
Gypsy Meadows - Volunteer Work Party (July 24 - 27) Registration is Open
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
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
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.
Gypsy Meadows - Volunteer Work Party (August 14 - 17) Registration is Open
Gypsy Meadows - Volunteer Work Party (August 14 - 17) Registration is Open
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
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
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.
Kettle Crest Trailhead (Sherman Pass) Trail Ride (August 28 -30)
Kettle Crest Trailhead (Sherman Pass) Trail Ride (August 28 -30)
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
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
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.
Registration will open approximately 45 days before the ride or sooner.
Rustler's Gulch *Fall Colors* Trail Ride (October 10)
Rustler's Gulch *Fall Colors* Trail Ride (October 10)
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
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
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.
Registration will open approximately 45 days before the ride or sooner.
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