Pike Lake State Park Bridle Trail Among Those To Close During Winter Months

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(ODNR Release) – Bridle trails on most of Ohio’s state forests and all-purpose vehicle (APV) areas at Pike, Richland, and Perry state forests will close for the winter season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry. Bridle trails will close on Monday, November 28, 2022, and APV areas will close on Monday, December 12, 2022.
 
Ohio’s state forest APV areas stay open longer than bridle trails because horseback riding during deer gun season can cause a user conflict. State forest APV areas remain open during regular deer gun season to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to have greater access to the state forests with APV trails.
 
“Bridle trails and APV areas are very popular with visitors to Ohio’s state forests. That’s why it is important that the Division of Forestry manage these trails in a way that allows them to be sustained for the long term,” ODNR Division of Forestry Assistant Chief Dave Lane said. “The Division of Forestry is implementing these seasonal closures to help minimize traffic during the wettest months of the year in order to protect these trails.”
 
During this seasonal closure period, trails can be more safely maintained by forest staff and organizations with approved volunteer agreements. Strong summer storms in 2022 had a major impact on some forests’ trails and those areas will receive attention during the closure. Signage will be installed at parking areas and trailheads designating the trails as closed.
 
Bridle trails will reopen for riding on April 1, 2023, and APV areas will reopen April 7, 2023. Bridle trail rides can be requested during the closed season by completing a Special Use Permit (SUP) application and submitting it to the local forest manager at least five days prior to the event.
 
Maumee State Forest’s bridle trails and APV areas are not affected by the seasonal closures and will remain open year-round. The seasonal closures have been proposed in previous annual state forest work plans and have received public input.