A local nonprofit is looking to establish a new equestrian trail route through the Port Oneida Rural Historic District.
The trail route proposal, introduced by the Sleeping Bear Equestrian Club, a recently organized nonprofit that focuses on equine sport, equine tourism, and education, was submitted to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore personnel just last month. Along with the pursuit of solidifying a trail route, the group hopes to establish a formal relationship with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SBDNL) in the process.
According to the club’s proposal, the equestrian community in the region recognizes a need for safe and accessible riding trails in Leelanau County. Sleeping Bear Equestrian Club founder and board chair Gretchen Knoblock said that there is no equestrian trail system anywhere in the county with the exception of SBDNL’s Alligator Hill Trail, the only trail in the lakeshore where horseback riding is allowed. The group fears that the pressure from equestrian use will increase as more riders discover and use the trail and hope that the creation of another route option not only balances that pressure, but also provides riders with a safe and beautiful new experience.
