Click here for a printable "Horse Use Regulations" bulletin:
(Adobe Acrobat pdf format, 8.5" x 14" - legal-size format)

There are numerous trails in Shenandoah National Park well suited for riding horses and the use of pack animals. Legally defined, horses, mules, burros, and llamas are all designated as "pack animals"; collectively, we refer to them as "horses."

Horse Trails
To prevent conflict with other trail users, horses may be taken only into areas designated for their use. Horse trails are marked with yellow blazes; these include most of our fire roads.

The Appalachian Trail (white blazed), Nature Trails, and other hiking trails (blue blazed) are for foot traffic only and are not maintained for horses. The paved roads and developed areas in the park (such as lodges and campgrounds) have high vehicle traffic and other visitor use and are not suited for horses. Use of horses in these areas is prohibited.

Trail Maps
We recommend PATC Trail Map #9 for the trails in the North District, from US Hwy 211 to Front Royal. Map #10 shows the trails in the Central District, between US Hwy 211 and US Hwy 33. Map #11 is for the South District, south from US Hwy 33 to Waynesboro. Horse trails are specifically shown on these maps, which are sold throughout the park and local stores.

Hitching Posts
Hitching posts have been placed in areas of high horse use. Please use them wherever provided. Please don't tie your horse to a tree; the horse's pawing causes "doughnuts" of eroded areas around the tree, compacting the soil and killing tree roots. Pickets and other tethers or restraints that will not damage trees or other vegetation should be used where hitching posts are not available.

Grazing is not permitted; you must bring your own feed for your horses. We encourage the use of pellets or certified clear feed for your animals, since oats and hay bring damaging nonnative grass species into the park.

Parking of Trailers
Many horses are trailered into the park and ridden out on the horse trails from points on Skyline Drive. Trailhead parking may be very limited, on both Skyline Drive and the park boundary access points. Please be considerate: do not block private property or park access roads. Please remember to clean up after your animals in the paved parking lots and around high-use developed areas.

Safety Concerns
Please slow down to a walk when you pass hikers. There may be vehicle traffic on several of the fire roads; please ride single file until they pass by.

No unattended horses: please leave someone to watch the horses while your group is away, especially in Big Meadows, Skyland, and other developed areas. Young children have been known to approach horses and may be kicked or bitten. Bears are present in all areas of the park and may frighten your animals. Picnic tables have been placed near hitching posts in developed areas for your convenience while you rest with your horses.

Reporting accidents and getting help: in an emergency, please call the Park Communications Center at 1 (800) 732-0911. Cell phones have limited range from many trails. Pay phones are located in most developed areas in the park, including lodges, campgrounds, visitor centers, gas stations, and entrance stations.

Overnight Stays
Shenandoah National Park has no facilities for horses to stay overnight. The campgrounds and concessions are not able to accomodate horses. Horses may not be kept at the lodges overnight, nor left overnight in trailers.

Several commercial facilities near the park will board horses and their riders overnight to facilitate early starts on the trail. See local chambers of commerce pages in the Adjacent Visitor Attractions section for details.

Backcountry camping with horses is strongly discouraged in the park: horses are required to remain on the trails at all times to reduce their impact on the natural resources. A free permit is required and all backcountry regulations apply. Please contact us ahead of time when making your plans.