Heyburn Lake, Sheppard Point | Buckskintrailblogs

Heyburn Lake, Sheppard Point, Kellyville OK

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'Heyburn Lake Equestrian Trail Riders"

Scatter in the woods or Bag manure and throw it away (this includes for the day riders)

Type in "Sheppard Point, Oklahoma" into google maps for the location *DO NOT TAKE 66 IN- DROP IN OFF OF HWY 33
DAY PARKING is right before you enter the campground. It is a half circle pull through area. It is smaller, but can fit about 6 decent sized trailers. There were 2 BP Trailers and a (i think 3h) GN when we arrived then my 4h GN and my friends 3h GN all in the same area with plrenty of room for others to leave. At the entrance of the road that leads to the campgrounds, there is an overflow parking area as well. (BOTH ARE MARKED WITH SIGNS)
Recreation.gov to reserve sites
- sites 31-37 are horse sites at Sheppard Point
Is considered a barefoot friendly place to ride but is challenging trails.
- I gained knowledge of trails 2-20-23- I consider them barefoot friendly- rocks are few and far between and more so in random patches- mostly sandy. We rode barefoot- if horses are tender i would shoe or put boots on
Heyburn Lake WMA is closed for hunting Oct 1- Jan 15 and April 6 - May 6
Sheppard's point and Old Rocky Point area are open year round for riding and camping. NO HUNTING
Water hydrants at campsites are shut off during winter
Water at primitive are open year round
electric is available year round.

Heyburn Review: 2/20/2023 : Here are a few things to know and expect

The drive down:

We came from the Maud/Seminole Area and my friend Dawn was coming from the Jones area. We both took the turnpike and google maps took us for a loop- It told us to get off at Bristow and take 66 in and it dropped us in below. It wanted us to turn on a road that no longer was a road that went all the way through. This road was very rough and filled with pot holes until it turned into a washboard windy dirt road all the way to hwy 33 then took us back East to the lake. So I advise no matter the direction you are coming from- to take 33 in and back out regardless.

Trails:

We completed a 10 mile ride (round trip) to the waterfall and back. The trails are a work in progress that i came to find out. I do consider it barefoot friendly place but you may want shoes if your horses are tender footed. The rocks however are few and far between. Just little patches of them here and there mainly at the creeks. The Markers are here and there- I don't feel that they have redone many of these trails lately but are again, working on it. The trails are a little overgrown in some areas and have some limbs and briars that need to be trimmed back. Bring some trimmers. There are also a few deep gullies to climb and could be slick if muddy. I would not advise riding here day after a heavy rain.

There was a creek wash out I believe was in between the "2 trees and a rock" and "Rocky Stair Step" points on the map. It was passable but we personally dismounted because I was on a green horse, (trees on both sides of me on either way to drop down in, along with water and then the trail went straight back up and was narrow) so i did not feel like falling off into the water or running into the trees LOL. My husband was on an older mare and then my friend Dawn didn't want to risk falling off and getting hurt either so she dismounted and we crossed it. On the way back, it was a better way to get up the creek side. But watch your knees because its a jump up and a quick turn to the right.

We had to get off a little bit before that because of a large tree down- It was passable as well but briars and low limbs were in a crashing zone and our feet kept getting tangled up in them. So I had gotten off the clear the way. Other than that the trails were great. (which again I am not complaining even of this as some people have already thought about- I am just informing others who may of never been here)

I do rate this place a 7/10: It was a good trail just a little confusing at times and I felt it was advertised as a well maintained trail from other people I had heard from about the trails as well.