West Tower Equestrian Trails

Area Status: Open

Sandy wide trail seen through a horses ears and top of its head surrounded by green shrubs and pines

West Tower is located approximately 6 miles from State Road 441 in Lake City. Four interconnected loops traverse over 50 miles of trails through the scenic Osceola National Forest. These trails originate at West Tower Campground where there is a camping area with horse stalls, drinking water and a flush toilet.

The West Tower Equestrian Trails offer four levels of trails for riders from novice to experienced.

The 5-mile Green Trail is the shortest trail. It is mostly on main roads and is perfect for the novice.
The 20-mile Red Trail passes through pine flatwoods and cypress sloughs. It is the driest of the trails and is recommended during the wet season. If you're in the mood for a shorter ride, take the cutoff in the middle of the trail and save 10 miles.
The 20-mile Blue Trail traverses an old railroad grade across pine flatwoods and cypress swamps, meandering along the western boundary of the Big Gum Swamp Wilderness (area is unavailable).
The 16-mile Gold Trail passes through two bay swamps and crosses Robinson Branch which can be deep during wet periods. Novice riders should not ride the trail when it's wet.

All trail loops start and finish at the trailhead where parking and horse stalls are available. A bulletin board with additional information is located at West Tower Campground.

At a Glance

Reservations:	First come, first served
Fees:	Free
Permit Info:	Organized rides of 25 or more people may require a special use permit.
Usage:	Light-Medium
Restrictions:	Use certified weed-free hay and feed to prevent noxious weeds from spreading in the forest. For public health and safety reasons, horses are permitted anywhere in the forest except in developed campgrounds and recreation areas. Trail-ride camping is permitted anywhere in the forest, except during general gun season (mid-November through early January) when camping is limited to designated hunt camps.
Closest Towns:	Lake City
Information Center:	Please review these safety considerations before hitting the trail: A portion of the horse trail is located on maintained forest roads. Please watch for vehicles. Be aware that high water levels in some creeks can make for dangerous crossings. Bring insect repellent . During hunting season (mid-September through mid-January) riders are advised to wear large amounts of blaze orange for personal safety. Trails are marked with color-coded, diamond-shaped aluminum markers on trees and posts along the routes. Double diamonds indicate a turn along the route. They are marked with arrows on the side of the trail indicating the direction of the turn.