Hikers and Horses - Trail Issues

Background

I spent five days in August 2000 back packing and day walking in the Lake Louise Area of Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The situation there convinced me that horses and horse riding are not in the long term best interest of National Parks. 

Evidence Environmental Degradation

I went a day walk in the Lake Louise and Plain of Six glaciers area and back packed for three days in the Fish Creek and Skoki area about 23 kilometres north of Lake Louise village. I encountered:

• Eroded mud holes at creek crossing
• deep horse paths rather than foot paths on the surface of the ground
• multiple and parallel horse paths due to the eroded depth of the original trail. 
• Indistinct routes due to multiple horse paths
• Indistinct route due to Horse tracks not following designated trails routes. 
• Broken foot bridged due to horse traffic
• Mud holes where horses crossed boggy areas
• Degraded vegetation in fragile areas - vegetation dies, soil erodes leaving rocks, horses choose a different path, vegetation dies...

I grew up on a mixed farm in south western Manitoba, Canada. I recall the depth of the cattle paths that led to the watering points. The horse tracks around Lake Louise are already a lot deeper than that.

I have walked the more than 1300 kilometre length of the Heysen trail in South Australia. I have seen erosion that  results from too much livestock in an area. Damaged terrain will regenerate on its own, but not without scars on the landscape.  

Pollution Related to the Presence of Horses

Droppings from native animals are left somewhat randomly as the animals roam and graze. Horses are ridden on existing pathways. Horse droppings are typically land close to the centre of the pathway. Horse riders in the Lake Louise area have a poor record of clearing the pathway after their animals have fouled the track. 

Horse droppings were more common  on uphill sections. This is particularly unpleasant for hikers who breath deeply on these uphill sections. The slope of these areas combined with rainfall results in the pollution being washed into the creeks and lakes. 

I found evidence of horse droppings close to lakes and streams. This must surely compromise water quality. Horses and riders show a miserable regard for trail etiquette that hikers are asked to observe.  

The fresh clean smell of alpine meadow is is overpowered by the scents resulting from the presence of horses along many of the established hiking trails. I did enjoy the unpolluted scent of the wilderness in areas not frequented by horses and riders.

 Conclusion

The Lake Louise area of Banff National Park has been significantly damaged by horse traffic.

Existing foot tracks are not suitable for sustained horse traffic without substantial works at creek crossings and boggy sections. 

Horse riders have failed to clean up the pollution and droppings that result from horse traffic.

Banff National Park is not receiving the protection that it deserves. 

June 2002 Hiking in Banff and Jasper National Parks

In June 2002 I spent about 18 days hiking in Banff and Jasper National Parks. I found that degradation of trails relating to use of horses occurred mainly on the popular trails used commercial (horse riding) operators. Tracks designated for horse use, in the Banff area showed signs of degradation - horse manure, deep tracks, loose stones on the surface.

Some other trails designated for horse and hiker use did not show signs of significant degradation through over use. Although horse use was evident, the lesser amount of horse traffic resulted in less degradation.

Perhaps the hiker's requirement to "leave no trace" when hiking should be similarly applied to horseback traffic - pack out what is brought in. 

Last modified 14/06/2009