Getting your horse off property is one of the best things you can do for them. Not only is it great to change things up so they don’t get bored, it’s also necessary to continuously expose them to new things.
For people who don’t board at a barn with lots of hills or trails, going off property is also a great way to strengthen your horse’s hind end, tendons and ligaments.
It’s also a great way for you to get out into nature, maybe see some wildlife, take a break from drilling that canter half pass and reconnect with why we all fell in love with horses in the first place.
So grab some snacks and some friends and go hit the trails!
Here is a round up of horse friendly parks and trails around Atlanta. (I have not been to all of the places on this list, so cannot speak to terrain, how well trails are marked or ease of access)
Little Tallapoosa Park, Carrollton, GA: 9+ miles of horse friendly trails, 10 equestrian campsites with hookups. $3 fee per rider if 2 or more. click here for official website & more info.
Birmingham Park, Milton, GA: free use. Several trails, some up and down with creek crossings, others are a little more flat and open. click here for website & more info
Bouckaert Farm in Chattahoochee Hills, GA: $25 per horse/rider combo to hack around their cross country course and trails. Please make sure to check their website for when the course is open. *note that Bouckaert Farm has been sold at the time of publishing this post, but is supposed to remain an equestrian facility until 2026 or 2027. You can find more info on their Facebook page or website here.
F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Pine Mountain, GA: 28 miles of trail. $7 per day but also must pay to enter the park. Can accommodate large rigs, primitive camping and stall rentals available. (you can also book a trail ride on one of the park’s horses). Visit the Georgia State Parks official page for information on this park. Click here for specifics on bringing a horse to FDR State Park
Dauset Trails Nature Center, Jackson, GA: 5.3 miles of trails. Visit their official site for more details at Dauset Trails Nature Center. Scroll down to get to horse trails. Website starts off by listing hours, but that is for the Nature Center. Trails are open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset.
Ocmulgee River Trails, Forsyth, GA (the city not the county): 30 miles of trails. $5 day use fee. Be aware that trail is shared with hikers and mountain bikers. There is an equestrian campsite available but no stalls for horses, just ties. click here for more information
Kennesaw Mountain, Kennesaw, GA: I cannot find any official information about Kennesaw Mountain but know that it is horse friendly. Alltrails.com will give you information about specific trails, but you’ll want to do your own investigating about where to park and fees associated with this location. 1578 Cheatham Hill Rd Marietta GA is an unconfirmed trailer parking area
Conyers Horse Park, Conyers, GA: 30+ miles of trails. Free to ride. Be aware that trails are shared with mountain bikers and hikers. click here for more information
Yellow River Park, Stone Mountain, GA: Open sunrise to sunset. 12 miles of trails. There is very little information on the website. I recommend using alltrails for trail maps. Official Website for Yellow River Park
Equestrian Entrance: 3374 Juhan Road, Stone Mountain.
Harbins Park, Dacula, GA: 7 mile equestrian trail. Open sunrise to sunset. No admission fee. Very little info online but there is some info on the website here and additional info here
Equestrian Entrance: 2405 Indian Shoals Road
Little Mulberry Park, Dacula, GA: Open sunrise to sunset. There is very little information on the website. I recommend using alltrails for trail maps.
Equestrian Entrance: 1300 Mineral Springs Road, Dacula
Garland Mountain, Waleska, GA: Roughly 19 miles of trails shared with hikers. They also have a horse playground and mounting block. Open Dawn til Dusk. As of 2024, make sure to use the 2019 Map for accurate trails. There is a 2016 version online that isn’t up to date
Address: 1411 Garland Mountain Way
Don Carter State Park, Gainesville, GA: 14.5 miles of trails. $15 per rider in addition to parking pass. Must provide proof of negative coggins You can find park details on the Georgia State Parks website.
Dawson Forest, Dawsonville, GA: Must have a Hunting license, fishing license, or GA Lands Pass available for purchase here . The trails do close during firearms deer hunting season. Parking is available at the Orange/Blue Trailhead off Dawson Forest Road. If you search Dawson Forest Mountain Bike Trail, Campgrounds for Dawsonville Forest WMA or Horse Parking Dawson Forest, it should show up on google maps. More information can be found here
Jake and Bull Mountain, Dahlonega, GA: 36 miles of trails, shared with bicyclists and hikers. Free to ride here. Parking off Nimblewill Church Road. Official website here with mape with map
McIntosh Reserve Park, Whitesburg GA: Open from 8am to 8pm. $5 for one horse and $3 per horse if 2 or more. Click here for more info
Cochran Mill Park Chattahoochee Hills, GA: 18 miles of trails are shared by hikers, horses, mountain bikers and trail runners. $36 for an annual pass or can pay the day rate (unsure of cost). Features waterfalls and the ruins of 3 historic mills. Open sunrise to sunset
Mingo Trails Saddle Club Toomsboro GA: 25 miles of trails. Membership is not required in order to camp or ride at Mingo Trails. Non Members (riders and non riders) are REQUIRED to complete, sign and date a waiver for EACH/EVERY visit. This should be done upon arrival BEFORE unloading horses/setting up camp. Waivers are located at the Sign in Station on the back wall of Pavilion (green metal building). Place waivers and payments in the silver lock box.
27 stalls for rent $10 per day per stall and $10 per person per day to ride on the trails.
They do not have a website, only a private Facebook page- Mingo Trails Saddle Club – contact info Nancy Waugh 478 957-0744.
Address: 3566 Little Sandy Creek Rd, Toomsboro, GA 31090
Hard Labor Creek State Park Rutledge GA: 24 miles of trails, camping with stalls and an arena. $12 per horse or buy an Equestrian Trail Pass. Horse trails are open to hikers on the weekdays, otherwise you will have the trails to yourself. Click here for more info
Fort Mountain State Park Chatsworth, GA: at the time of publishing this blog- equestrian trails are closed but will reopen eventually, so still worth keeping an eye out on the website for more info. 25 miles of trails with water available every 2 miles or so on longer trails.
Dry Creek Equestrian Trail Summerville GA: 26 miles of mixed use trails. $5 per day or buy an annual forest pass for $25. More info and trail maps can be found here. *Note, crappy gravel road to get to trail head, but there have been 5 horse trailers with living quarters, so just take your time. Lot can fit 30 rigs, so plenty of room.
Pinhoti Trail (Several trail heads): The Pinhoti trail is over 160 miles and links the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama to the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain. Horses are allowed on most of the trail. Trailheads with trailer parking, maps and additional information can be found on this website
Oakfuskee Trails at Pyne Road Park LaGrange GA: Open 7 am -9:30 pm. Shared trails for horses and mountain bikers. 7ish miles total. Very little information available online.
Watson Mill Bridge Comer GA: 14 miles of trails, campsites with stalls. Trails are horse friendly, no bicycles or dogs allowed. Day fee required along with parking pass. Can also buy an Equestrian Trail Pass. Official Website here
A.H Stephens State Park, Crawfordville, GA: 21 miles of trails, camping available with 30 stalls. $10 per day or free with the Equestrian Trail Pass. More info can be found here
You can also buy an Equestrian Trail Pass which allows a rider to ride without a trail fee at the following parks for a year.
- A.H. Stephens (Crawfordville, GA)
- Cloudland Canyon (Rising Fawn, GA)
- Don Carter (Gainesville, GA)
- General Coffee (Nicholls GA)
- Hard Labor Creek (Rutledge, GA)
- Watson Mill Bridge (Comer, GA)
For more trails, check out www.tophorsetrails.com
**Always remember to pack extra water and snacks for you and the horses, charge your phone fully before you go and make sure more than one person knows how to drive the rig you brought, and if you’re out riding alone, make sure someone knows where you are at all times. I recommend turning on find my friend and sharing your location.
