Equestrian Trails and Facilities
Highland Springs Equestrians are a growing group of volunteers that have been maintaining and developing the trails and protecting the natural resources at the Highland Springs Recreation Area since 2000. We have an expanding group of equestrians and members from Clearlake Horsemen, Back Country Horsemen, Lake County Dressage Society, Mendo-Lake Arabian Club, Hooves and Wheels Driving Club, Sierra Club, Audubon Society, Callifornia Native Plant Society, youth groups and other community groups. We are also involved with the BLM Master Plan Trail Projects, Konocti Regional Trails, Friends of Boggs, and the Mt. Konocti trails planning. We collectively put in 50-150 hours per month and generally have someone at Highland Springs everyday horseback riding or hiking, actively trailworking, or patrolling trails. We are organized, committed, very effective, and totally dedicated to this beautiful watershed. We were originally invited to give input and help with the trail system by Bob Lossius in 2001, and later worked with Pam Francis of Water Resources, and are currently working with Scott Deleon at Lake County Water Resources. Below is some information on our group. Of note, our trails have been endorsed by Lake County Search and Rescue and Sierra Club. PURPOSE: To maintain, preserve, and advance the historic foot and horseback trails at Highland Springs Recreational Area, educating and encouraging active participation in safe, sustainable trail recovery, and protecting natural resources. HISTORY: Hunting and horseback trails have existed at Highlands for over 50 years. We have maintained these trails informally and formally for 10 years and recovered approximately 28 miles of overgrown trails and fireroads. We have picked up trash, organized over 25 public trailwork days since 2007, cleared brush and downed trees, reported illegal ORV users, campers, and pot growers, sprayed poison oak, located county monument markers, GPS'ed all trails, started a botanical survey, identified and protected endangered plants, given presentations of the trails system, cleared critical fire breaks, led Sierra club and wildflower hikes, made signs, blocked sensitive areas to illegal ORV use, rerouted trails from sensitive serpentine areas with endangered species, collected historical information and are working toward locations of historic resort buildings with the former owner of the property. We have created and are updating a current trail map and are actively fund raising for trail signs. In 2010, with our encouragement, Hooves and Wheels Driving Club sought and received permission to develops suitable driving trails in a 600 acre parcel of rolling hills and pastureland behind the current gun range. Several parking and staging areas for horse trailers exist, with a staging and picnic areas near the main lake area. We seek volunteers who will help maintain trails, participate in public work days or help with signage. POLICIES
You know who you are...if you horseback or hike at Highlands....this means you! Do your part... volunteer with the trails that you ride or hike, be a proactive trailuser and report trail issues, or OMG! fix them yourself!!! Who woulda' thought that ANYONE could do trailwork or fix things on the trail....but, it's true! If you see a probelm or issue with the trails, please contact us. If you have a questions about trailwork or any questions regarding this email, please contact us! Kim and Karen Kim Riley riley4@hughes.net Karen Sullivan greymare56@gmailcom |