CHISHOLM TRAIL CHAPTER
The Chisholm Trail Chapter of Back Country Horsemen is one of two new chapters in 2022.
2023 OFFICERS
President – Laura Smyth
Vice President – Melissa Martinez
Secretary/Vol Hours Coord – Joyce Ellis
Treasurer – Sarah Johnson
Vice President – Melissa Martinez
Secretary/Vol Hours Coord – Joyce Ellis
Treasurer – Sarah Johnson
Trails included in the Chisholm Trail Chapter:
El Dorado State Park - The equestrian camping facility is located in the Boulder Bluff Area of El Dorado State Park just north and east of the city of El Dorado. Boulder Bluff #2 camping area has 19 sites with 50 amp electric and water hookups. Water is available at 2 non-utility sites. Each of these sites provides individual 20’x20’ pipe corrals. Campground includes shower building, pit toilets, water hydrants, poles for cross tying or picket lines, tables and charcoal grills. A wash bay and manure bunker are also provided. A welded pipe fence arena is available for working your horses. The arena may be rented for group horse events. A shelter house may also be rented. Twenty miles of equestrian trails through native prairie surround the lake. Several trailheads leave from the west end of both Boulder Bluff Area Campgrounds. Horses are not allowed to be tied to trees in the Boulder Bluff areas. Swimming horses in the lake is allowed. Boulder Bluff 1 offers primitive camping, pit toilets, tables, grills and horse tie-ups.
The best way to enter the park is to travel north out of El Dorado on Hwy 77 approximately 3 miles and turn right on Meyers Road, which is just south of Kansas Turnpike Exit 76 for Hwy 77 (North El Dorado Exit). Follow the winding Meyers Road until it ends at the lake. Turn north and enter the Boulder Bluff Area.
For more information call 316-321-7180 or e-mail kdwpt.eldoradosp@ks.gov or www.ksoutdoors.com
Harvey County East - 5.5 miles of trails. ‘No Horses Allowed’ on the area of hard surface and walking trail and two bridges on Osage Trail. There are campgrounds at the trailhead with corrals, water, 50 amp electrical service, fire pits & covered picnic area. Pay fees at trailhead. Trails may be closed during hunting season. Trails are mowed and easy to ride, marked with colored t-posts. No shoes necessary; great trails for conditioning or training a young horse. Open flat areas, gentle slopes, bridges, by streams and a lake, in and out of shade. Trails are multi-use for horses, hikers, and bicycles. No motorized vehicles. Ample parking for large rigs and room to safely tie your horses. Please obtain daily use or seasonal permit before riding.
From Newton exit 31 on I-135 (First Street) go east; from intersection of First and Spencer go 6 miles east, turn left (north) on Eastlake Road, go 1 1/2 miles. Horse sign with arrow will point left. A long drive on left will bring you to Circle H trailhead.
Call 316-283-5420 for further information. Trail maps available.
Harvey County West - 6.5 miles of trails. North trailhead is at Walnut Grove campground just off NW 36th Street. Day use or overnight camping permitted. Water available and group electric boxes. Bring long, extra heavy-duty extension cord to reach the box. Primitive camping also available. Tie horse to trailer, picket, or bring portable pen. South trailhead is on NW 24th Street just west of bridge and is for day riding only with room for parking on road. Pay fees at bait shop or Walnut Grove campground. Trails are closed during deer rifle season. No shoes necessary; great trails for conditioning or training. Open flat areas, gentle slopes, bridges, by streams and a lake, in and out of shade. Trails are multi-use for horses, hikers, and bicycles. No motorized vehicles. Ample parking for large rigs and room to safely tie your horses. Please obtain daily use or seasonal permit before riding.
From Newton at I-135, take exit 30 and US 50 west. Go 13 miles west on US 50 to Halstead Rd.; turn north (right) and go 4 miles to NW 36th Street. Turn west (left) and go 3 miles; just before bridge is the Walnut Grove camping entrance, turn south (left) and camp area sign will be on right. Call 316-283-5420 for further information. Trail maps available.
NE Sedgwick County Trail - Park consists of 600+ acres of grassland and some wooded areas; no defined trails, but there is a perimeter path around the property lines. Parking for vehicles and stock trailers (at the intersection of 77th N & 127th E) only. There is a movement by the Board of County Commissioners to promote this park, and to develop it more. No motorized vehicles, no bicycles, no camping. www.sedgwickcounty.org
Pawnee Prairie Park - SW Sedgwick County. Five-mile bridle trail named Plumlee Trail. Parking area for horse trailers at the east entrance, 2625 S. Tyler Road. To view a detailed map of the trail, rules, and regulations, visit https://www.wichita.gov/ParkandRec/CityParks/Pages/PawneePrairie.aspx. Located west of Eisenhower Airport and south of Kellogg. 316-268-4361.
Sand Hills State Park - North of Hutchinson on Hwy 61; east on 56th or 69th to trailheads. Includes 15 miles of multiuse trails, 6 trailheads. Vault toilet available at one trailhead, one along trail. Ponds and creeks along trails for water. Off-trail riding is allowed; absolutely no riding on dunes. Camping is available at Sand Hills State Park, which includes a total of 64 utility sites with 50-amp service; 44 sites have water, sewer, and electric; 20 sites have water and electric. There are 14 pull-thru sites with double 12’ x 12’ horse pens. Please call 316-542-3664, kdwpt.cheneysp@ks.gov, www.ksoutdoors.com for more info.
The best way to enter the park is to travel north out of El Dorado on Hwy 77 approximately 3 miles and turn right on Meyers Road, which is just south of Kansas Turnpike Exit 76 for Hwy 77 (North El Dorado Exit). Follow the winding Meyers Road until it ends at the lake. Turn north and enter the Boulder Bluff Area.
For more information call 316-321-7180 or e-mail kdwpt.eldoradosp@ks.gov or www.ksoutdoors.com
Harvey County East - 5.5 miles of trails. ‘No Horses Allowed’ on the area of hard surface and walking trail and two bridges on Osage Trail. There are campgrounds at the trailhead with corrals, water, 50 amp electrical service, fire pits & covered picnic area. Pay fees at trailhead. Trails may be closed during hunting season. Trails are mowed and easy to ride, marked with colored t-posts. No shoes necessary; great trails for conditioning or training a young horse. Open flat areas, gentle slopes, bridges, by streams and a lake, in and out of shade. Trails are multi-use for horses, hikers, and bicycles. No motorized vehicles. Ample parking for large rigs and room to safely tie your horses. Please obtain daily use or seasonal permit before riding.
From Newton exit 31 on I-135 (First Street) go east; from intersection of First and Spencer go 6 miles east, turn left (north) on Eastlake Road, go 1 1/2 miles. Horse sign with arrow will point left. A long drive on left will bring you to Circle H trailhead.
Call 316-283-5420 for further information. Trail maps available.
Harvey County West - 6.5 miles of trails. North trailhead is at Walnut Grove campground just off NW 36th Street. Day use or overnight camping permitted. Water available and group electric boxes. Bring long, extra heavy-duty extension cord to reach the box. Primitive camping also available. Tie horse to trailer, picket, or bring portable pen. South trailhead is on NW 24th Street just west of bridge and is for day riding only with room for parking on road. Pay fees at bait shop or Walnut Grove campground. Trails are closed during deer rifle season. No shoes necessary; great trails for conditioning or training. Open flat areas, gentle slopes, bridges, by streams and a lake, in and out of shade. Trails are multi-use for horses, hikers, and bicycles. No motorized vehicles. Ample parking for large rigs and room to safely tie your horses. Please obtain daily use or seasonal permit before riding.
From Newton at I-135, take exit 30 and US 50 west. Go 13 miles west on US 50 to Halstead Rd.; turn north (right) and go 4 miles to NW 36th Street. Turn west (left) and go 3 miles; just before bridge is the Walnut Grove camping entrance, turn south (left) and camp area sign will be on right. Call 316-283-5420 for further information. Trail maps available.
NE Sedgwick County Trail - Park consists of 600+ acres of grassland and some wooded areas; no defined trails, but there is a perimeter path around the property lines. Parking for vehicles and stock trailers (at the intersection of 77th N & 127th E) only. There is a movement by the Board of County Commissioners to promote this park, and to develop it more. No motorized vehicles, no bicycles, no camping. www.sedgwickcounty.org
Pawnee Prairie Park - SW Sedgwick County. Five-mile bridle trail named Plumlee Trail. Parking area for horse trailers at the east entrance, 2625 S. Tyler Road. To view a detailed map of the trail, rules, and regulations, visit https://www.wichita.gov/ParkandRec/CityParks/Pages/PawneePrairie.aspx. Located west of Eisenhower Airport and south of Kellogg. 316-268-4361.
Sand Hills State Park - North of Hutchinson on Hwy 61; east on 56th or 69th to trailheads. Includes 15 miles of multiuse trails, 6 trailheads. Vault toilet available at one trailhead, one along trail. Ponds and creeks along trails for water. Off-trail riding is allowed; absolutely no riding on dunes. Camping is available at Sand Hills State Park, which includes a total of 64 utility sites with 50-amp service; 44 sites have water, sewer, and electric; 20 sites have water and electric. There are 14 pull-thru sites with double 12’ x 12’ horse pens. Please call 316-542-3664, kdwpt.cheneysp@ks.gov, www.ksoutdoors.com for more info.