Mountain Laurel Ride takes visitors through Rock Bridge Canyon

Riders make their way back the trailhead for lunch and bluegrass.

By Alison James

FCT Managing Editor

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

Horses and their riders took the trail Saturday for the second annual Mountain Laurel Ride at Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park.

The ride pays tribute to Mary and Jasper Avery, who originally owned the trails that now make up the Equestrian Park. It highlights the beauty of the mountain laurel that is in full bloom at this time of year – a time Mary Avery loved and loved to share with others.

“Every year she would come to my family and she would be like, ‘The mountain laurel is out. You need to come to the canyon,'” said activities director Tina Lawler, whose family has lived within a quarter-mile radius of the park her whole life. “So the ride is just kind of in memory of them. She loved the mountain laurel.”

Riders traversed 9 miles of the park’s total 37 miles of trails – about a three-hour slow ride. Led by guide Fernando Corodo, who Lawler said has been with them many years, the trail riders wound their way through the canyon before winding up back at the trailhead for a taco bar and a little bluegrass.

“There’s a peace that you find on a horse in nature, going down into the canyon and seeing the waterfalls,” Lawler said. “This world is so rush rush busy – The calmness you can’t find some places, you can find on the back of a horse.”

Riders were all ages, and many were repeat visitors to the canyon – including Jane Williams.

“It’s awesome,” Williams said. “The ride is just great here … It’s so pretty. I just love it here.