Are you intrigued by the idea of a long-distance trail ride? The Metolius-Windigo Trail in Central Oregon is an excellent place to try distance riding for the first time.
The Metolius-Windigo Trail
The Metolius-Windigo Trail (or the Met-Win Trail, as most locals call it) is 150 miles long, with horse camps dotted at intervals along its length. Located in Central Oregon, the Met-Win offers easy riding, beautiful scenery, and sunny summer weather. But long-distance trips require planning. Our guidebook, Riding the Metolius-Windigo Trail, provides the information you’ll need to plan your through-ride.
It’s possible to travel the length of the Metolius-Windigo Trail with a packhorse, of course. Alternatively, you can use ultra-light packing techniques and carry all your gear on your saddle horse. Or you can through-ride the Met-Win by moving your trailer each day as you ride along the trail.
The northern half of the Metolius-Windigo Trail has horse camps located about a day’s ride apart. The southern half has more significant gaps between the horse camps, so you’ll have to camp out instead.
The Met-Win Trail offers few grazing opportunities, so if you’re using a packhorse, you’ll need to carry food for your animals. If you’re ultra-light packing, your horse can’t carry you, your gear, and all his food as well, so you’ll need to “pre-stage” your ride by caching feed at intervals along the trail. Water sources are few on the southern part of the trail, especially in late summer, so water availability will dictate where you camp for the night.
If you’re moving your trailer each day, you can carry all the hay and stock water you’ll need. But you’ll need to find suitable places to park your trailer every night.
If you’re contemplating doing a distance ride on the Met-Win, Riding the Metolius-Windigo Trail is your indispensable guide. So start planning now for your through-ride on the Metolius-Windigo Trail. You’ll make memories that will last a lifetime.
For more information, see Riding the Metolius-Windigo Trail, by Kim McCarrel, available at www.NWHorseTrails.com.