Trail ride Saturday at Kaw Lake

T he Fourth Annual Cherokee Strip Trail Ride is this Saturday, Sept. 19, on the Five Fingers Trail at Kaw Lake in north-central Oklahoma.

Reservations for the ride and/or camping may be made by contacting Rick Boyd at (580) 716-7425 or the Kaw Lake Association at (580) 762-9494.

Organized by the Kaw Lake Association in commemoration of the opening of Oklahoma’s Cherokee Strip Outlet in 1893, the ride begins Saturday morning at the Sarge Creek Cove Campground, east of Kaw City on Kaw Lake.

Riders will depart at 11 a.m. from the group camp site pavilion and will be divided into gaited and quarter horse groups for a guided ride out to the Big Ravine where the group will break for lunch. Riders should bring a sack lunch.

Whether you are a horseback rider or just want to mingle with horses and their riders, everyone can join us that afternoon for barbecue from Danny’s BBQ Head Quarters (formerly Head Country Barbecue). Dinner is $10 per plate and serving will begin around 4 p.m. at the Sarge Creek Pavilion. This will be followed by live entertainment and karaoke.

Participants may come just for the day ride or come Friday evening and join others for the weekend camping at the reserved sites at Sarge Creek. Cost for the ride is $15 and camping is $36 for the two nights. Riders are encouraged to register in advance, preferably by Thursday, according to Kathy Tippin, executive director of the Kaw Lake Association.

Trail boss for the ride is Rick Boyd accompanied by Lori Young. Other trail scouts will assist in leading the groups and will be wearing bandanas to identify them.

Mare sponsors are Eastman National Bank and Tractor Supply. Pony sponsor is Boyd’s Rock-a-Bye Ranch. Other sponsors include Grant and Deanna Hodges and Garroutte Products.