Embark on a Horseback Adventure from Wranglers Campground! Over 100 miles of horse and wagon trails plus an extensive network of old roads lead to some of the most scenic spots at LBL.
Wranglers Campground GPS Coordinates:
N 36° 44' 15.24" W 87° 59' 56.78"
Want to spend the night? At trail's end awaits Wranglers Campground, the Southeast's premier horse camp. Stalls, hitching posts, hot showers, and more make it a comfortable night for both horse and rider!
For more information, call 270-924-2201.
Ready to ride?
Wranglers Campground and its network of horse trails are located in one of the most scenic spots at LBL. Bordering Lake Barkley and beautiful Fords Bay on the east, and nestled between Laura Furnace Creek and Lick Creek on the West, it's the only place at LBL designed for horseback riders and wagons.
Trails wind through rolling hills, forests filled with wildlife, and along the shores of Lake Barkley. Some of LBL's most unique historic sites are found along the trail. Ride to the ruins of Laura Furnace, silent now for over 100 years. Deer, wild turkey, majestic hawks, and a shoreline teeming with waterfowl are just a few of the pleasures you'll find along the trail! Click HERE for a recent Wranglers video! (courtesy RoundAbout U.)
Rocking U Riding Stables |
Rocking U Riding Stable, at Wranglers Campground, is open daily April - October from 9am to 4pm. Operated by Rocking U, LLC. |
• Trail Rides leave on the hour with the exception of 12-1pm
• Rides are available for up to 15 riders at a time for ages 6 and up
• Pony rides available for ages 6 and under
• Riders under 12 must wear helmets, which are provided
• Long pants and closed toe shoes are recommended
• Cost is $18 for a 45 minute ride and $30 for a 90 minute ride
• Rocking U accepts cash or traveler's checks |
For more information or to make a reservation call 270 924-2211. |
Scenic Hot Spots
Blue Hole. Laura Furnace Creek empties into Blue Hole, a deep spring that most of the year is a rich blue color. Located on the south end of our horseback riding area, it's a favorite spot for riders because of the peaceful scenery, cool water and proximity to many historic sites. Notice the abundance of shiny blue rocks on the ground? That's slag, evidence of the Laura Iron Furnace, which ceased operations more than 100 years ago but left its mark on the landscape.
Wildlife Hot Spots
When you're surrounded by water, it's hard notto see waterfowl. But Wranglers' shoreline trail travels a peninsula just opposite a Kentucky state waterfowl refuge. It's an emerald-green island in the middle of Lake Barkley filled with ducks, geese, herons, gulls and a variety of other feathered friends. So pack your binoculars and field guides and be on the lookout for some shorebirds!
Hawks, owls, and eagles are frequently seen soaring over LBL's amber fields -- looking, no doubt, 
for mice and other delectables. Red-tail hawks are frequently seen in the Wranglers' area, and one bird in particular can usually be found greeting visitors at the Bacon Creek entrance to Wranglers Campground.
Historic Hot Spots
Little Drummer Boy. Seven-year-old Nathan Futrell was said to be the youngest drummer boy in the Revolutionary War. The childhood adventures of this little American patriot have become the stuff of legend; by 1820, the North Carolina-born Futrell had settled right here on Ford's Creek, where among other things he planted the area's first apple orchard. He and his wife, Charity, are buried up a hill a mile or two beyond Wranglers Campground. The Daughters of the American Revolution erected a plaque in honor of Futrell's war contributions. (Kindly tether your horses outside the cemetery when you pay your respects.)
Tobacco Barn. Tobacco was a staple crop in the region. Evidence of its importance can be seen at this abandoned farm and homestead, in the southern end of Wranglers off Road #172. This old tobacco barn has been standing for decades, yet its construction was so solid, it barely shows the passage of time. Other structures nearby -- an old chicken coop, shed, and the homestead itself -- wear their age with grace and dignity.
Laura Furnace. Iron ore production helped the area prosper during the mid-1800s, but it also took its toll on the environment. On the eastern boundary of Wranglers, Laura Furnace Creek flows right by the site of the old Laura Furnace. Notice the blue slag covering the forest floor, a by-product of the smelting process. Up the hill, large stones are testament to the furnace structure, now long gone. 
Now observe the uniform size of the meadow's trees. This means they are all about the same age. Timber near an iron furnace was cut for charcoal, the iron furnaces' fuel supply. The Laura Furnace ceased production in 1880, and the forest is still recovering
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