Lee County offers equestrian trails

Many in North Fort Myers

Story by Meghan Bradbury

There are an assortment of equestrian trails offering scenic views for the rider in Lee County, many of which are under utilized Lee County Natural Areas Coordinator Lee Waller said although the majority of the equestrian trails are located in North Fort Myers, there are other trails throughout Lee County

Waller said it is an excellent time of the year to use the equestrian trails, as Southwest Florida is in its dry season.

"We don't close the trails down when they get flooded Most of our sites, the trails do go under water during a significant time of the year, " he said

It is important to stay on designated trails while riding Waller said with equestrian users being high up, they can see more, making them curious to go off the trail and check things out.

"The next thing we know, new trails are popping up, " he said, adding that sensitive vegetation is trampled in the process "Please don't go off the trail Rules are there for a reason "

The largest trail is located in North Fort Myers at Prairie Pines Preserve This 17-mile equestrian trail opens into a network of trails after going about two miles to a ditch crossing

"We have a lot of ' you are here' trail signs and then there are markers. The trail system is color coordinated. We have posts out there with the color of the trail you are on There are major intersections

Lee County

Equestrian Trails:

that show the whole network and exactly where you are, " Waller said.

This site has a large asphalt parking lot with plenty of space for horse trailers

Another longer trail of almost 7 miles can be found at Telegraph Creek Preserve in Alva This preserve includes two entrances, with the western one dedicated to horses

"It is kind of tucked away on Argo Drive, which is not even labeled. It looks like this little driveway. You have to GPS it, search for Argo Road," Waller said.

This trail system is a cool one for riders.

"You have a little bit of a ride to get out to the prairie It is a prairie plant community that has extremely low vegetation, so you can see miles out across the prairie It's one of the plant communities that we really don't have much of anymore in the state of Florida That is one of our really good examples of an old prairie system that definitely should be seen to be enjoyed."

Pop Ash Creek Preserve offers 6 miles of equestrian trails that goes around a filter marsh, which cleans the water before going into the Caloosahatchee River This trail is primarily grass trails that are mowed every so often It gets wet during the rainy season

"It's a more scenic site because there are so many ponds. It's all weaving around the different portions of the filter marsh. It is kind of a mix of sun and shade." Waller said. "The site is cut into two pieces. (There is a) dividing fence that goes through the middle, but there are walkthroughs available, not restricted to one side or another "

Pop Ash Preserve is among the busiest for equestrian users Waller said the trails are pretty quiet during the week

This site includes cattle on the north side, which he said are barely ever there.

Another option offers 6.35 miles of equestrian trails at Caloosahatchee Regional Park

"Because bikes are allowed in the same area, everyone has to be cautious. A lot of equestrian users don't go to Caloosahatchee Regional because of that issue They are very under utilized especially during the middle of the day when there are fewer bikers out," Waller said

He recommends checking the county website, www leegov com/parks, before they head out to Caloosahatchee Regional Park

"They have to shut down the north side, which is the horse and bike section because of clay material," Waller said of the trails when it rains. "They have to close it down to not damage the trails from use The bikes and horses can chew up the trails immediately, plus slip and fall "

The Buckingham area also offers 5 miles of equestrian trails at Buckingham Trails Preserve

"It is a sunny, not much shade trail system and it tends to be white sands walking on the trails," he said.

Waller said this preserve weaves through some military cultural resources, as it was part of a gunnery training base at Buckingham Army Airfield in the 1940s

"There are remnants of a track system," he said, which included jeeps driving around with targets during training "They would have to aim for moving targets on top of the Jeep. We also have some bunkers out there. There are trap throwing enclosures. They are cool old military structures low in the ground "

There is also a smaller, more limited trail system at Alva Scrub Preserve, offering equestrian users 2 8 miles to ride Waller said this one also closes during the rainy season as the trails are clay

"It is open now and will be for quite a while until it rains heavily and regularly," he said. "It does have a designated crush shell parking lot that is kind of small."