This form does NOT secure your dates for these Horseback Trail Rides. We will confirm your reservation by either email or phone, and will contact you if we have any questions. 

The dates given have to be at least two or more weeks notice in order to get Trail Guides.

Trail Rides

There is a 5-horse minimum and maximum of 12 horses

Non-BSA Units are not allowed to do Trail Rides due to insurance purposes.

Pricing for BSA Group In & Out of Council:

  • 1 1/2 hour ride $30 per rider
  • 3 hour ride $40 per rider
  • 6 hour ride $55 per rider
  • Overnight Rides $100 per rider – eat and sleep overnight out on the trail. Must provide food for the Trail Guides (two – three Trail Guides).

Availability:

Trail Rides are available the morning and afternoons of Saturday and Sunday during the months of September, October, March, April, and May. There are only afternoon sessions available in January and February.

Trail Rides are closed for the months of November and December.

For March Trail Rides are only available on Sunday.

Overnight rides are only available during the months of April, May, September, October.

All rides begin and end at Nagel Base Camp located at Beaumont Scout Reservation.

All rides are weather permitting (i.e. rain, snow, severe cold, extreme heat).

Trail Ride Age Requirements:

  • All riders must be a minimum of Scouts BSA age.
  • 1 1/2 hour and 3 hour rides are for Scouts/Venturers 11 and older.
  • 6 hour and overnight rides are for Scouts/Venturers. No Webelos or Cub Scouts.

Horses & Equipment:

Only horses and equipment owned by the Greater St. Louis Area Council will be used for all horse-related programs and activities.

Clothing:

Dress according to the weather. When riding it is best to wear long pants and boots or hard soled shoes (tennis shoes not recommended). If the weather looks like the possibility of rain bring rain gear. For cold weather trail rides, dress warm in layers, wear gloves and ear protection (riding helmet must still be able to fit properly over stocking cap). The trail guide or camp ranger will not permit any Scout or leader to ride if the rider is ill-prepared or dressed inappropriately. All riders wear an equestrian helmet provided by the Greater St. Louis Area Council while on the trail ride.

Leadership:

Every trail ride has a trail guide from the council’s Trail Guide Committee to lead the ride. Units going on a trail ride are required to have the necessary adult leadership for the ride: two registered adults minimum on the trail ride.

Getting to Nagel Base:

Once inside Beaumont, follow the main road where it ends at Nagel Base. Along the way, you will pass Cub World, Emerson Center, Camp May pool, and several camporee fields. The road winds around for approximately 2.5 miles from the Beaumont entrance to the Nagel Base gate.

Arrival:

Units should arrive at Nagel Base at least 30 minutes before the scheduled trail ride time or hayride. Morning trail riders saddle the horses, afternoon riders unsaddle the horses. All riders wear an equestrian helmet provided by the Greater St. Louis Area Council while on the trail ride.

Restrictions:

For safety reasons all riders must weigh under 230 pounds. Weight will be checked at camp. Rangers and/or trail guides have the authority to restrict any person from taking part in a horse-related activity who may pose, in their opinion, a safety risk to themselves, others, or the horses.

Picnic Areas / Recreation Hall:

Near the parking lot at Nagel Base are two picnic areas for your unit to use before and after your trail ride. Picnic areas are on a first-come, first-served basis, but are big enough to handle more than one unit.

If your unit prefers to stay inside you can reserve the Nagel Recreation Hall. The Rec Hall has kitchen facilities, fireplace, tables and chairs, and a furnace for those cool nights. The Nagel Rec Hall is a great place to hold a pack meeting, troop court of honor, or a Venturing crew/Explorer post activity.

Cancellations and Refunds Policy:

Refunds will be given when the trail guide and/or ranger cancels the ride due to weather or poor conditions. All requests for refund by the unit must submit a refund request form here four weeks prior to the date of the scheduled ride