Finger Lakes National Forest | Backbone Horse Campground
NY · Burdett / Hector District
Backbone Horse Campground, County Route 2, Burdett, NY 14818
Finger Lakes National Forest | Backbone Horse Campground feels like the kind of New York ride you choose when you want a purpose-built Finger Lakes horse camp with direct trail access and easy loop-building. The setting offers nearly 20 miles of equestrian trails connected by backbone, interloken, and no-tan-takto routes, and the overall experience is more than a checklist stop—it has enough character to feel curated, memorable, and genuinely horse-centered when approached with a little planning.
Riding guide
Highlights
A true ride-and-stay destination where horse logistics feel as thoughtful as the scenery.
Riding
In the saddle, the experience is shaped by nearly 20 miles of equestrian trails connected by backbone, interloken, and no-tan-takto routes. That translates into a ride you can tailor to your horse, your confidence level, and the kind of day you want to have—anything from a calm conditioning outing to a more immersive trail adventure with scenery that feels distinctly New York.
Rideable terrain
20 miles
Trailer parking
This is one of the cleanest horse-camp setups in the Finger Lakes: campground-based access, direct trail connection, and a riding experience that starts almost as soon as you finish unloading.
Horse regulations
Follow Forest Service horse-camping and trail-use rules, close gates behind you, and prepare for wet sections in spring and fall. Respect campground and trailhead posted guidance. Ride with strong shared-trail etiquette, keep paperwork accessible, and let current conditions—not just the map—guide how ambitious your day should be.
Getting here
This is one of the cleanest horse-camp setups in the Finger Lakes: campground-based access, direct trail connection, and a riding experience that starts almost as soon as you finish unloading. Once you are onsite, take a minute to organize before you head out. These are the kinds of places where an intentional first ten minutes—parking straight, checking your tack, confirming your map, and reading the current notices—can make the rest of the day feel effortless.
Planning your visit
Backbone is especially attractive for riders who want a weekend that feels curated without feeling overly developed. The landscape is open, pastoral, and quietly beautiful, and the network gives you enough flexibility to keep one camp setup while still enjoying different rides over multiple days.
Where to stay
This is where the destination really separates itself for riders. Horse camping is allowed, and the setup is built around the realities of hauling in with a rig, settling your horse, and staying close to the trail system instead of commuting back and forth. For riders building a weekend itinerary, that ease changes the entire feel of the trip.
Trails
No trails synced for this park yet.
Campgrounds
No campgrounds listed for this park.
Photos
Stay near this park
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