Don't be a Ghost Rider

Dear Ghost Rider,

  Well here goes, I know this post is going to make some folks mad but it needs to be said. I'm going to address horseback riding and camping. This can go for anywhere you ride not just Uwharrie. This is for all you "ghost riders"

   Folks at this point you are wondering what a ghost rider is. Well a ghost rider is someone who rides horses, pays very little if at all to ride and / or leaves a mess. This mess could be as simple as leaving horse manure in the parking lots for day rides or throwing your trash on trails , leaving your trash, hay and manure at a campsite when you leave. Why do you think this is ok?? These are the very same folks who complain  about the rules, trails closing or complain campsites are not to their liking. I mean really?
  Here's the deal, its up to everyone to save our trails. Its up to everyone to keep our campsites and trails open and clean.
  I went camping the other week in Uwharrie National Forest outside of Troy, NC. I was going to park in primitive camping. When I got there it was full!! I then took a chance to see if any sites would be open in Canebrake Horse Camp. Well I thought it would be full after seeing how full primitive was. Boy was I wrong. Now I know folks park in primitive for all kinds of different reasons. Just keep reading.. Canebrake to my surprise was about empty! I really didn't understand this. So I went and started asking questions. Why is Canebrake empty? Canebrake has everything you need. Full hookups, water for horses, bath houses and nice campsites. Then I realized why. It hit me like a slap in the face. Canebrake is not free and the host will make you follow the rules.
  Before you folks get fighting mad keep reading. You know what I'm saying is true. You can come up with a hundreds of reasons but you know this is true too.

Primitive camping at Uwharrie

   I got to say I'm guilty of this myself. Thinking I can park at Heathen Camp for free and do what I want too. Who cares. Well it hit me that weekend. I realized that this is not a good way to think.  Here is the thing, if you don't pay at Canebrake the state of NC doesn't know you ride there. They don't know you use the trails. What they do hear about is the trash, trash on the trails and no money coming in to help. They get calls about the host being a bad person and trash everywhere. Why keep the place open? Why put money into a place to fix trails? Fix camping? To even mow? Think about this because its an idea we all need to look into. Did you know 4wheelers put more money into Uwharrie? Well they do. 4Wheeler riders pay for a day pass or a yearly pass. That puts more money into Uwharrie. Horse riders do what? Pay to camp at Canebrake? Not if the place is empty. we don't have passes like that. But we need them. Did you know we could lose the right to ride at Uwharrie? We could if folks don't start doing their part. Now folks are sitting there going why should I pay to park in primitive? Well, Do you use the trails? Do you camp? Do you go to Canebrake to get water? To use the bath house? Why do you think you should not pay??
 
  There is a great group of folks working hard to save your trails and your right to ride. They are try to be your voice. They are the Back Country Horseman of Uwharrie but they need your help. You want better trails, better campsites, better marked trails? Well folks get out and help and pay. Its going to take us all. Because if all you do is camp at primitive and ride, and never clean up after your horse or your self you my friend are a " Ghost Rider"

You can pay fees at this box
in Canebrake. It even tells you
what to pay.

   Its time we all get involved with all our trails. See how we can help. Yes I'm even talking to myself.
Let's get the whole horseback riding world involved. Let's fill Canebrake, lets tell the ranger we are here to help do our part. Let's see if we can do a yearly pass or day pass. Until then go to Canebrake and get a pay envelope and pay for  primitive its not going to hurt you. Show them we are here. Show the rangers we can do just like the hikers, bikers, and 4wheelers. Let them hear your VOICE! This goes for anywhere you ride. We either use it or lose it. Its really that simple.

                           Sincerely,
      A fellow trailrider who is from this point on
             going to do their part.

Uwharrie BigFoot Ride

Uwharrie BigFoot Ride

                                                                   

What is the Uwharrie BigFoot Ride

Some of the original BigFoot Riders

The BigFoot Ride is the one time of year we fill up Uwharrie National forest with horse back riders looking for Bigfoot!
Really it's just a crazy reason to get together with good folks and ride horses. THIS IS NOT AN ORGANIZED RIDE. Never has it been. Its more like a meet and greet. You can ride with a group if you choose to do so and there will be lots of folks there to show you the trails. Or you can ride by yourself. It's your choice! Great time for first timers to com...e out and ride Uwharrie. Most the time big groups will leave out of Canebrake Horse Camp around 10am on Saturday morning. Also they will meet at the lunge pen for now on so the roads in Canebrake are not blocked.
Food, drinks, entertainment and camping are all on you. You can camp primitive at the Badin Lake Horse Camp (Heathen camp ) or at Canebrake overflow. You can also reserve a site at Canebrake Horse Camp. Canebrake has full hook ups​ and they also have bathhouses.


Tailgate of one of the BigFoot Riders. This is pretty cool.
 

How did this ride get started?

So 7 years ago me and my friends started this ride. It all started because some guy said he seen BigFoot in the Uwharrie National Forest. They had all kinds of ...people up there that weekend looking for him. And one person really not sure who posted "Let's go look for Bigfoot on horses" and we went up to Uwharrie on that cold Feb. Sunday, right around Valentine's Day . Some of us meeting for the first time. We rode and rode that day looking more for the TV crews than anything. It turned out to be a great ride with great friends. So we hope this keeps going. Meet up at Uwharrie , meet new and old friends and ride horses. That's what it's all about.


BigFoot showed up for the 2017 ride.

Where in Uwharrie is this ride at?

The Uwharrie BigFoot Ride is held really all over Uwharrie. Folks are free to ride and go as they please. One of the main places folks meet up is in Canebrake Horse Camp.

Overview

Canebrake Horse Camp lies in the Badin Lake Recreation Area, a hub for outdoor activities in central North Carolina's Uwharrie National Forest. The facility is a scenic and restful overnight spot with both single and double campsites and numerous amenities for equestrian camping, though it is not exclusive to visitors with horses.

Campers will delight in nearly 40 miles of forested horseback riding trails as well as hiking, off-road vehicle riding, mountain biking, swimming, fishing and boating opportunities in the area. The campground is open year-round.

Natural Features:

Bath House in Canebrake

Canebrake lies in a quiet forest of pine, oak and hickory near the shore of 5,000-acre Badin Lake.

Winter temperatures range from the low 30s to upper 50s, while summer brings temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s and high humidity. Weather is pleasant in spring and fall, with high temperatures in the 60s and 70s.

Recreation:

The equestrian trail system is extensive, with miles of forested paths wandering through forests, over hills and across streams. The trails can be accessed from Canebrake using the Home Trail, which skirts the campground. Trails range from easy to difficult, accommodating riders of every level.

Facilities:

This campground offers many conveniences for horse campers, including a horse washing station, hitching racks, tack tables, parking spots for horse trailers and direct access to trails.

Campsites are arranged around two loops. Each site is equipped with an electric hookup, picnic table, grill, campfire ring and lantern post, and many sites are shaded. The facility also provides drinking water, showers, flush toilets and a centrally-located dump station.

There are also two primitive camping areas. One is the Canebrake Overflow parking and Badin Lake Horse Camp, also known as the Heathen Camp.


Badin Lake Horse Camp (Heathen Camp)



One of the campsites at Canebrake Horse Camp



The Uwharrie BigFoot Ride is just a fun way to meet other horse folks and for people new to Uwharrie to come out and try out the trails. If someone gets lost there is always enough folks in the woods to help you find your way out.  The ride is in April. You can follow the Uwharrie BigFoot Ride page to see when the next ride will be. https://www.facebook.com/BigfootRide/. Hope to see you out on the trails!

My boy Sonny , me, my husband Dwayne and his horse Tucker.



Raven Rock

Crystal Thompson's beautiful mare April
playing in the water.

 

 

Riding at Raven Rock State Park

 

Leesa T Wright

 

Need a great place to do a little day riding? Raven Rock Bridle Trails are just the place for you. Located outside of Fuquay Varina and Lillington, NC.

 

Make sure you use the address 1550 River Road, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 to get to the bridle trail parking lot.

 

Parking lot is a big gravel area. Trucks and trailers have no problem getting in, parking or leaving.

There is a restroom but its a vault toilet, so be sure and bring water on hot days.

 

Restroom located in the parking lot.

My daughter Boo and her step dad's horse named Tucker
hanging out at the waterhole.

Trails are broke up into two 4 mile loops. Both loop around and start and stop in the parking lot. Trails are clean and well maintained. So if you pack it in please pack it out.  If it has rained within a few days of the day you plan to ride be sure and check with the park to make sure the trails are open. They do close after heavy rain and bad storms. This keeps the trails from eroding await.

Crystal Thompson and her mare April coming down the trail
steps to the waterhole.

Trails are easy to moderate. Trails can be a little rocky at times. Most horses have no problems barefoot or shoed.  

 

Crystal Polfliet and her horse Sterling on the
trail heading to a land bridge.

There are land bridges, water crossings and even a set of steps horses must cross along the trails. Most horses have no problems with these things.

So if you need a good place to day ride, head out to Raven Rock. Beautiful well maintained trails and not to mention the great people you see out on the trails. I found the trails to be a great place to work a young horse. They get to see and do new things.

Happy Trails Folks!!

Happy Trails from Handsome Sonny Boy and Me. Photo taken at Rock Raven State Park.