The North Umpqua Trail stretches 79 miles from its headwaters at Maidu Lake to Swiftwater Park near the town of Glide. Some trail segments are not horse-friendly, with narrow tread across steep drop-offs high above the North Umpqua River. However, you'll find several delightful sections of this scenic trail near Kelsay Valley Campground, 75 miles east of Roseburg.
The Lemolo Segment of the North Umpqua Trail is especially fun. It travels west from Kelsay Valley Campground, along the river, and past Lemolo Lake. The trail doesn't have much elevation change, and the sights are a delight.
The Ride
The Lemolo Segment is an out-and-back ride that's 12 miles long if you go all the way to the Lemolo Dam. The first part of the trail parallels the North Umpqua River as it meanders through lush meadows. Seasonal wildflowers bloom along the riverbank.
When the river flows into Lemolo Lake (a reservoir created by the dam), the trail continues along a hillside above the lakeshore.
The Camping
You can camp with your horse at Kelsay Valley Campground, which features 16 sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Most sites have 4-, 3-, 2-, or 1-horse pipe corrals, and the other sites can accommodate highlines. The camp has a toilet, a manure pit, and a camp host. Stock water is conveniently available from a nearby creek.
More Information
The Lemolo Lake Segment of the North Umpqua Trail is covered in Riding Southern Oregon Horse Trails by Kim McCarrel, available at www.nwhorsetrails.com.
