Licking Park District

Naturally Yours!


 

Trails Status Report

Status updated as trail conditions change.

 

Trails at Infirmary Mound Park, Taft Reserve, and Lobdell Reserve are OPEN to horseback riding.

For more information about trail closures please call the Licking Park District at (740) 587-2535.

Due to horseback riders ignoring posted trail closed signs at Taft Reserve we have instituted a new procedure.   Effective immediately, gates at Taft Reserve's north entrance will also be closed when trails are closed to horseback riders.  

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our other patrons but it is a step we felt was necessary to protect the trails from further degradation by those who willfully ignore posted signs.  Hikers may still access the reserve's trails from the southern entrance at the William C. Kraner Nature Center on Fairview Road.

Horseback riders ignoring posted trail closed signs at any Park District facility will be subject to a fine.  We offer multiple notification options via Facebook, Twitter, Trail E-Bursts, our web site and the program and trail hotline so that patrons may stay informed of closures and other updates and avoid being inconvenienced. 

Your Donations Benefit Trails

You may have noticed a small gray box sitting near the trailhead at your favorite Licking Park District park.  They have been erected at several parks and are designed to help us collect donations for trail maintenance.   Boxes can be found in the Infirmary Mound Park horseman's parking area, Lobdell Reserve's disc golf course parking area  and main parking area, and Taft Reserve's north entrance.  Signs have been placed on the boxes suggesting a $2.00 donation per user.  Park Express Members are free.

Boxes have also been placed along the T.J. Evans Bike Trail at the Cherry Valley Road paring area and the Alexandria parking area.  A box will also be placed near Johnstown in the near future.  A $2.00 donation per user is also suggested and all donations will go towards bike trail maintenance.  Park Express Members are asked to contribute as well to the bike trail fund.

Donations are removed from the locked boxes on a daily basis.     

E-News and Twitter

Would you like to get instant notification of trail closures and openings? Join our new Trail E-Burst service.  As a member you will receive the important trail notices via e-mail as soon as they happen, avoiding any inconvenience and saving you time.  E-mail addresses are not shared so your privacy is protected.  To sign up click here.

In addition, if you are a Twitter fan you can add us as a friend. Click here to add us to your list.  You will get updates on program and special events along with facility information and more. 

You can also sign up for our E-News as well. Available since last fall, E-News provides periodic program and special event reminders as well as other Park District happenings. E-mail us at mail@lickingparkdistrict.com to be added to the list.                             

The Ohio Canal Greenway is also open to horseback riding. Visitors may park in the Hebron Fish Hatchery visitor parking area and at the parking lot south of Canal Park on Canal Road in Hebron. If you would like additional information regarding this alternative please call Park District Headquarters at (740) 587-2535.

To avoid any inconvenience, visitors are encouraged to contact the Park District's Program Hotline at 740-349-4823, check this web page prior to their visit or call our offices at 740-587-2535 to check on the status of facilities.
 

The Licking Park District maintains over 20 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails not including the T.J. Evans Recreational Trail. These trails are provided for the general public so that they may better enjoy the natural areas we manage. Trail users are required to stay on trails at all times. This is for your safety. Trails are maintained and inspected on a regular basis. If you wander off of the trail you or your horse could fall in a hole, disturb sensitive natural areas, or trespass on private property. In most cases, trails are at least six feet wide and mowed on a regular basis. Woodland trails are narrower and usually unmowed. Trails are marked with post indicators and where needed, painted markings. Straying from designated trails could result in a fine.

With the exception of Infirmary Mound Park, trail maps are marked with numbers that correspond to the trail marker posts. We hope that this adds to your enjoyment of the parks.

You can print a copy of a specific trail map or road directions by clicking on one of the links below. Copies of maps may be made, but the alteration of maps is not permitted without the permission of the Licking Park District.