Lake Lou Yeager near Litchfield, Il is a great place to ride if you like steep verticals and wide open woodlands. There are plenty of creek beds, most of them dry this year. This is about as steep as you can get in central Illinois.
The trail head is pretty sparse, they have a porta-potty for the summer months, and there is water for the horses and some picnic tables, there are no ties so it's high lines or trailer ties only.
The area has several campgrounds for non-equestrian uses and they have more permanent bathrooms and possibly showers. There are also some cabins that can be rented, though again, nothing in the equestrian area.
There are a lot of trails although they aren't marked very well, so keep an eye on your compass. You can almost always reach a road if you get lost so you don't have to worry too much.
Shoes are not necessary as the trail is very easy on the hoof.
Directions:
Take I-55 get off on the Carlinville exit, go east, take the frontage road south, you will go by the Midway Trailer Sales, keep going. Turn east on N14th Avenue, then south on Harrison Trail. Turn east on Co Hwy 14 also called Beach House Trail. You should see the signs from there.
The trail head, some picnic tables a fire pit, that's about it, easy in and out though
Another view of the trail head and the water.
You start off with some open woodlands and get right into some vertical hills right away
There are several lakes you will run into and one you can ride all the way around
Another shot of the lake
There is a pine forest in one area that is pretty extensive and hard to follow the trails through, very nice riding though.
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creagcridhe