Craig Waldron of Back Country Horseman of America (BCHA) McClellan Chapter took the Calhoun County Journal on a tour of the Camp McClellan Horse Trails. This county owned area was built around preexisting trails from the former Fort McClellan army base. Visitors are welcomed to come trail, ride, and camp with their own horse at the over 900 acres of pristine forests located at Camp McClellan Horse Trails in Anniston, Alabama, just off I-20. For those that may not be familiar with the area, the Camp McClellan horse trails are located at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and offer picturesque views down every trail. The BCHA-McClellan is a nonprofit group that is part of a nationwide organization that is committed to protecting the access of equestrians to public lands. They are devoted to equestrians that love to ride and explore new trails. They also assist with trail maintenance and improvement projects and are responsible for keeping other pubic trails clear for all user groups. They also welcome riders of all types, ages, and interests into their chapters.
The previous use of land was for training army troops for Fort McClellan army base; the base closed in 1999 and the land was put under control of the McClellan Development Authority (MDA). In 2018 the BCHA McClellan Chapter was formed and began a campaign to acquire the land for equestrian trails from the MDA. The MDA sold the land to Calhoun County. Soon after, work began on land to make way for horses and trailers. BCHA members worked long and hard to cut trails in the land by hand.
When visitors first enter the property they drive or ride under an archway. They next come upon the soon-to-be completed country store. This store will be a place where riders and campers can grab a quick prepackaged meal or a few necessities. Mr. Waldron mentions potential partnerships with local food trucks at some point in the future. There is also a covered pavilion with a stone fireplace which will also have water and power as well as restroom facilities. There is a 32-stall barn that is 60X80 with each stall measuring 10X10. Currently there are 50 primitive campsites with 150 more to come. Water and electricity is currently being run so that campers will have access to those amenities as well. An arena is also in the process of being built to showcase more horse events. There are also 900+ acres of dry trails and roads. These trails are closed to hikers, bicyclists, and dogs. When we asked Mr. Waldron about these restrictions, he mentioned that there are many bike trails that horses are not allowed on so he didn’t understand why it was so odd to have horse exclusive trails. He also went on to detail experiences where bikers and dogs have created issues with startling horses and causing accidents because the horse is a “fear and flight” animal, and that many horse people prefer trails where bikes, dogs, and hikers, are not allowed. The horse trails have hills and ridges from 1100 to 1300 feet in altitude with gorgeous views during any season. Trails are under a canopy of foliage in the summer and there are views for miles once the foliage is gone. There is also an abundance of birds and wildlife along with pine and hardwood forests with a diversity of plant life. During the Calhoun County County Journal’s visit the creeks created a tranquil environment to sit and enjoy nature.
Mr. Waldron was the first to credit the County Commissioners, particularly Commissioner JD Hess, for making this dream a reality. This has been a project that has been ongoing for over two years. There are over 25 miles of horse trails with the black trails (roads) being the old Vietnam era tank trails. These are wide trails that allow for side by side riding. The yellow trails also loop all the way around. Each trail is clearly marked with name and difficulty level and laid out where it is virtually impossible to get lost. Yahoo Lake trail was originally part of the horse trails, but has now been made for more public use and horses are restricted from that area.
The current focus of work is to continue to get water and electricity out to the various areas and to build another barn as well as continuing to develop more campsites. There will also be designated walking areas built for campers to utilize. The BCHA do understand that families travel and will need to walk a bit while their horses are in stalls or trailers. Many of these improvements are dependent on weather conditions to move forward. The County Commission and BCHA are hopeful that the weather will allow forward progress soon.
Mr. Waldron also wanted to point out that the horse industry is big in Alabama. It is currently a $2.4 billion industry. Having these horse trails developed will bring in tourism. Almost all the visitors will also frequent local restaurants and even local stores, and service stations. The development of stalls also allows visitors to stay for extended periods and take part in other local events that may be occurring. He stressed that the horse trails will be a money maker for Calhoun County and will only grow as development continues.
As Mr. Waldron was wrapping up the tour, Commissioner JD Hess came by and spoke with the Calhoun County Journal. First and foremost he wanted to credit the BCHA and particularly Craig with being such a “doer” and working so hard. Commissioner Hess stated he was proud of this project and he acknowledged it is a big project, but he also said it is a worthy project that will be here for years to come, He said “Camping is the way of the future and the trails will bring in a ton of money for Calhoun County.” He also bragged on Sassy Tails and the sweet children that are a part of the program. The BCHA’s outreach program, Sassy Tails is for special needs children so they can come together at the horse trails for therapeutic riding and games in the pavilion and participate in many events. Sherry Brown, is the program coordinator of the McClellan Chapter Sassy Tails Program and Mr. Waldron was proud to brag about her dedication “to make the love shine in these kid’s hearts.”
For those that would like more information on the horse trails you can call 256-490-6930 or email at [email protected]. The address is Mud Hole Road, Anniston, AL 36205. If you are a horse rider this is certainly a place where you can come and enjoy.
