Actually two rides with pretty much the same route! Started the first ride from the west trailhead, then turning onto the switchback trail, but following it to its end instead of turning. There we turned left, keeping to the west side of the Serengeti until we got to the south end of Coldwater Lake. We turned left to head towards the ridge trail, but turned left at the bottom! of the hill to follow along the east side of the swamp. We followed this trail until it terminated back at the switchback trail. We turned right to take the more eastern switchback to the North Hassler Creek Ridge Trail. We turned left onto the trail to cross Hassler Creek. We then turned right at the top of the hill to ride along the base of Toboggan Hill to connect with the Pineapple Trail (which connects Toboggan Hill to Coldwater Rd. We turned left on Coldwater Rd and took it to the trails between Coldwater Rd and Stanley Rd on the west side of the park. We turned right at the first entrance to the northern trails. We took the first right to head to the backwaters where Hassler Creek joins the Holloway Reservoir where we made a left to parallel the water. Where the trail ends, we made two quick rights to take us to a small stream crossing, following that trail to where we could make a left. We then turned left onto the Holloway Ridge Trail. We continued on the Holloway Ridge Trail to where it merged with the trail north towards Stanley Rd. On the first trip we turned on the first left down to the North Beaver Pond Trail. The second trip we went further north towards Stanley Rd, then turned around before Stanley, then turned right down to the Beaver Pond Trail. We followed the North Beaver Pond Trail past where there are a couple culverts to cross the stream out of the beaver pond just south of the dam. From there, we made the first right onto the West Trail that loops around to the trail back to Coldwater Rd. We took the more right trail that goes through the wooded area back to Coldwater. We then backtracked to the campground. We turned left onto Coldwater Rd and made the first right onto the Pineapple Trail. We turned left to follow the trail across the base of Toboggan Hill, making the first left to cross Hassler Creek. We turned right onto the North Hassler Creek Ridge Trail. We turned left before the big hill to take the switchback, turning right at the top of the hill. We took the left to return to the west trailhead.

Horseback Riding

This trip minus the loop along the swamp before taking the switchback is our favorite trail for the western trails. The Hassler Creek crossing and Pineapple Trail avoids using the Coldwater Bridge. The Pineapple Trail is the trail between Toboggan Hill and Coldwater Rd. It gets its name from the pattern on a willow tree near the Coldwater Rd entrance. There is a marked workaround section avoiding a deep mud pit where horses were in up to their bellies. It is marked with orange trail tape. The North Hassler Creek Ridge Trail overlooks Hassler Creek from the northeast. (The same side as the Campground.) The Holloway Ridge Trail overlooks the west side of the section of the Holloway Reservoir south of the Stanley Rd Bridge (referred to locally as "The Tubes"). The North Beaver Pond Trail follows along a beaver pond that starts at Stanley Rd and continues to the dam about halfway to Coldwater Rd. You will notice many trees with beaver chompings!

Elba Equestrian Complex, Genesee County Parks, Elba, equestrian trails, horseback riding, Genesee County, Lapeer County, equestrian camping, Hogbacks, Hogback Hills

Oregon Township, Michigan, United States

time : Sep 26, 2025 11:02 AM

duration : 5d 2h 32m

distance : 11 mi

total_ascent : 1424 ft

highest_point : 772 ft

avg_speed : 2.8 mi/h

user_id : fletchrider

user_firstname : Steve

user_lastname : Keim

Actually two rides with pretty much the same route! Started the first ride from the west trailhead, then turning onto the switchback trail, but following it to its end instead of turning. There we turned left, keeping to the west side of the Serengeti until we got to the south end of Coldwater Lake. We turned left to head towards the ridge trail, but turned left at the bottom! of the hill to follow along the east side of the swamp. We followed this trail until it terminated back at the switchback trail. We turned right to take the more eastern switchback to the North Hassler Creek Ridge Trail. We turned left onto the trail to cross Hassler Creek. We then turned right at the top of the hill to ride along the base of Toboggan Hill to connect with the Pineapple Trail (which connects Toboggan Hill to Coldwater Rd. We turned left on Coldwater Rd and took it to the trails between Coldwater Rd and Stanley Rd on the west side of the park. We turned right at the first entrance to the northern trails. We took the first right to head to the backwaters where Hassler Creek joins the Holloway Reservoir where we made a left to parallel the water. Where the trail ends, we made two quick rights to take us to a small stream crossing, following that trail to where we could make a left. We then turned left onto the Holloway Ridge Trail. We continued on the Holloway Ridge Trail to where it merged with the trail north towards Stanley Rd. On the first trip we turned on the first left down to the North Beaver Pond Trail. The second trip we went further north towards Stanley Rd, then turned around before Stanley, then turned right down to the Beaver Pond Trail. We followed the North Beaver Pond Trail past where there are a couple culverts to cross the stream out of the beaver pond just south of the dam. From there, we made the first right onto the West Trail that loops around to the trail back to Coldwater Rd. We took the more right trail that goes through the wooded area back to Coldwater. We then backtracked to the campground. We turned left onto Coldwater Rd and made the first right onto the Pineapple Trail. We turned left to follow the trail across the base of Toboggan Hill, making the first left to cross Hassler Creek. We turned right onto the North Hassler Creek Ridge Trail. We turned left before the big hill to take the switchback, turning right at the top of the hill. We took the left to return to the west trailhead.