Southwest Missouri Horseback Riding Trails
Being my main stomping grounds, the area around Springfield MO is my main focus for finding horseback riding trails. I’m constantly looking to update these horse trail pages, so if you know of some horse riding trails I’ve missed feel free to leave a comment!
*Note – most equestrian trails in conservation areas are closed during firearms seasons.
Find Public Horse Trails Near Me Close To Springfield MO:
Hercules Glades Wilderness Area
32 trail miles in Bradleyville, Missouri
View on Google Maps. Hercules Glades Wilderness Area is 12,413 acres of the most scenic and unique country in the Midwest. Its combination of open grassland, forested knobs, steep rocky hillsides, and narrow drainages offers unusual beauty and a measure of solitude within easy reach of wilderness lovers.
See the park website here: Beautiful Horseback Riding Trails – Hercules Glades Wilderness Area.
Read about my visit to Hercules Glades horseback riding trails here!
Big Buffalo Creek Conservation area: (unkown trail miles) (Benton and Morgan Counties, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. Two multi-use hike / bike / horseback riding trail systems on this 3,612 acre tract. Read more and view a trail map (PDF) at Horse Riding Trails – Big Buffalo Creek Conservation Area.
Bushwhacker Lake Conservation Area: (6.60 trail miles) (Bronaugh, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. There is a 6.6 miles of hiking and horse trails located southeast of the lake. The trail is closed to horse riding during all Deer and Turkey hunting seasons (see Area Regulations for deer and turkey hunting dates). Read more at Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Bushwhacker Lake.
Busiek State Forest & Wildlife Area: (18.00 trail miles) (Highlandville, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. Very close to Springfield MO! The West Trail System and East Trail System both have moderate terrain and are multii-use hike / bike / horse trails. The West is an 8 mile horse trail and the East is a 10 mile horse riding trail. Read more at Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Busiek.
Caney Mountain Conservation Area: () (Gainsville, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. A multi-use hike / bike / horseback riding trail skirts the perimeter of this 7,899 acre natural area. Horseback riding is also allowed on vehicular roads. Read more and view trail maps (PDF) at Horse Riding Trails – Caney Mountain Conservation Area.
Compton Hollow Conservation Area
5.50 trail miles in Rogersville, Missouri
View on Google Maps. Close to Springfield MO! Horse riding is allowed on service roads and designated horse trails. Closed to use during Spring Turkey season and Fall Firearms Deer seasons. Read more on the park website: Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Compton Hollow.
Read about my rides at Compton Hollow horseback riding trails here!
Flag Spring Conservation Area: (11.30 trail miles) (Washburn, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. This area is mainly forestland. Facilities/features: primitive camping, firearms range, 13 fishless ponds, and Flag Spring. Horseback riding is permitted on the multi-use hike / bike / horse trails. Read more at Horse Riding Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Flag Spring.
Fort Crowder Conservation Area: (11.00 trail miles) (Neosho, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. 11 miles of multi-use hike / bike / horse trails and service roads. Read more at Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Fort Crowder.
Huckleberry Ridge Conservation Area: (17.30 trail miles) (Pineville, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. Horseback riding is permitted on Huckleberry Ridge Trail (Difficult), a multi-use hike / bike / horse trail. Read more at Horse Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Huckleberry Ridge.
Lake of the Ozarks State Park: (16.75 trail miles) (Kaiser, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. Lake of the Ozarks State Park has three horse riding trails, including the 13.5-mile Trail of Four Winds, which crosses almost every kind of natural community in the park. Read more at Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri State Parks – Lake of the Ozarks.
Lead Mine Conservation Area: (22.20 trail miles) (Tunas, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. Close to Springfield MO! Five multi-use hike / bike / horse trails open to horse riding, ranging from moderate to difficult terrain. Read more at Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Lead Mine.
Pleasant Hope Conservation Area: (7.70 trail miles) (Brighton, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. Very close to Springfield MO! Easy horse trails and terrain, with a couple of creek crossings. This area also contains a shooting range, so be prepared if your horse is not used to loud noises (a great learning experience for green horses!) 7.7 miles of designated trails used for horse riding and hiking. Read more at Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Pleasant Hope.
Pomme De Terre Lake Management Lands: (Bolivar, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. Very close to Springfield MO! Multi-use trailhead at Bolivar access, open to horseback riding, hiking, bicycling. Read more at Horse Riding Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Pomme De Terre.
Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area: (10.50 trail miles) (Miller, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. 10.5 miles of multi-use hike / bike / horse trails open to horseback riding. Read more at Horse Riding Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Talbot.
Stockton Lake Management Lands: (14.00 trail miles) (Bolivar, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. Very close to Springfield MO! Hulston Mill multi-use hike / bike / horse trail is open to horseback riding. Riders MUST stay on the designated horse trails. Read more at Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Stockton Lake.
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
7 trail miles in Battlefield, Missouri
View on Google Maps. Close to Springfield MO! Horse riding is allowed on designated horse trails. Read more on the park’s website Horseback Riding Trails at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.
Read about my rides at Wilson’s Creek here!
Wire Road Conservation Area: (3.70 trail miles) (Crane, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. A 1.3 mile horse trail and a 2.4 mile multi-use hike / bike / horse trail are designated for horseback riding. Horses are strictly forbidden from entering Crane Creek. Read more at Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri Conservation Areas – Wire Road.
*Note – the pics above were taken through the ears of my amazing PSSM horse, Jax – for more info on PSSM and muscle disorders in horses, see my blog PSSM – Jax’s Story.
