Riverside State Park is a great place to ride horses. Being close to town, the park provides a place where we have a wide variety of riding areas without a long drive. At about 10,000 acres the park is the second largest park in the Washington State Parks system. There are trails that provide a pleasant easy ride along the river or a challenge on steep, narrow trails that prepare us to ride in the mountains. Some of the trails are suitable for wagons and buggies pulled by horses.

At the southern end of the park Trail Town Stables provides horses for rent. In this area there are trails through the trees and along the river. At the Seven Mile Bridge Rivermere Stables provides horse boarding and great riding into the park.

Trailheads suitable for horse trailers include an area just past Trail Town Stables at the south end of the park, Pine Bluff Rd. (at Seven Mile Rd), Old Trails Rd. (south of the ORV area), the Centennial Trail trailhead just south of Seven Mile Rd. and Carlson Rd. These trailheads provide access to many areas of the park.

Riverside State Park has primarily multi-use trails. This means equestrians share the trails with bicycles and hikers. There is a trail etiquette that says hikers and bicyclists yield to horses on the trail. We have found that there is a great sense of cooperation in the park and everyone shares the trails. The primary reasons for this success are well-designed trails, a realization that we need to share and an education program that informs everyone what we can do to cooperate and have a safe and fun day. The primary advice for non-equestrians approaching horses is to say something so that the horse (and rider) know that you are approaching. Most horses can handle being near hikers and bicycles if they are not surprised. Although horses have the right of way on a trail it is our responsibility to move off the trail where it is easiest for the horses.

For those of you new to the equestrian trail system at the park, you'll be amazed at the views. From atop the craggy rocks at the Carlson Road Trailhead (also accessible from the other end at Seven Mile & Pinebluff), where the horizon stretches for miles and the river meanders through the Park, to the peaceful valley floor below Old Trails, nothing compares with the riding experience you'll receive. The recreation areas continue to improve thanks to the various clubs and organizations, as well as Park neighbors and Friends who contribute their time and energy to maintaining this beautiful area.

Equestrians, including Backcountry Horsemen, have contributed to the design, construction and maintenance of the trails. This is our way of contributing to the success of the park. In addition, the Inland Empire Chapter of Backcountry Horsemen has created a multi-use trail map for the park. It can be purchased at the park offices and through many recreation retail outlets. The park's management plan identifies areas of the park where horses are not allowed. The map helps us understand what areas of the park horses are allowed in. As in all areas it is important that we use established trails and follow park rules.

It is a pleasure to have a place like Riverside State Park to enjoy horseback riding. We are fortunate to have such facilities and must do everything possible to ensure continued access. This includes being responsible visitors. One of the greatest joys is to have young children ask to pet the horses. It provides an opportunity for horses to add to the joy of other's day in the park.

The first orienteering event held at Riverside State Park was part of the 1989 Washington State Centennial Games. Since then the Eastern Washington Orienteering Club has held numerous local events in the park. The 2001 and 2003 Pacific Northwest Orienteering Festivals attracted orienteerers from across North America to major competitions in Spokane. The 2003 festival included a Trail Orienteering event, a variant of orienteering that is accessible to persons with physical disabilities and provides a challenge to the map reading skills of everyone.

Orienteering maps show many details (such as varying density of vegetation and the location of individual boulders) in addition to the trails and contour lines shown on standard topographic maps. To show such details, orienteering maps are printed at either 1:15,000 or 1:10,000 scales. The orienteering map of Riverside State Park covers the area of the park on the west side of the river south of Seven Mile Road.

Orienteering events include a variety of courses for different skill levels. Beginner courses will follow trails and roads while more advanced courses require accurate use of the compass and recognition of more subtle map features such as contours and vegetation boundaries. Advanced courses also present the orienteerer with problems involving route choice such as whether it is better to follow a straight line course between two points even if it goes through thick vegetation or over a high hill or to take a longer route that avoids these obstacles. Because a slower runner who makes a better route choice will often win the race, orienteering is sometimes called "cunning running."

Information about orienteering events in eastern Washington and north Idaho can be found at www.ewoc.org.