Local Trails & Rides
Top Horseback Riding Trails Near Anne Arundel County
County park bridle paths, two equestrian centers, and private wooded trails — here is the complete local rider's guide.
Read articleThe Best Horseback Riding Trails Near Severna Park, MD
Beyond the B&A Trail
If you are hunting for the best horseback riding trails near Severna Park, MD, it helps to start with a surprising fact: the area's single most famous trail is not actually for horses at all.
This guide clears up that confusion and shows Severna Park riders exactly where to find genuine, horse-friendly trail country.
Key takeaways
- The B&A Trail is paved and reserved for walkers and cyclists — not horses.
- Real horse country lies south of Severna Park in rural Anne Arundel County.
- Solitude Stables in Harwood is about a 40-minute drive south.
- Guided trail rides need no horse, trailer or experience.
- The quiet drive south is part of the day's relaxation.
Why the B&A Trail is not a horse trail
The Baltimore and Annapolis Trail — the beloved B&A Trail — runs right through the heart of Severna Park, and it is wonderful. But it is a paved, multi-use path built for walking, running, strollers and bicycles. Horses are not permitted on it.
This trips up a lot of newcomers. Severna Park is a trail-loving community, yet its flagship trail simply is not designed for equestrian use. For horseback riding, you need natural-surface trails — and those lie elsewhere.
0
Horse access on the B&A Trail
~40 min
Drive to trail country
60 min
Length of a guided ride
Private
Wooded forest trails
Where Severna Park riders actually go
Severna Park sits in the busy northern stretch of Anne Arundel County, between Annapolis and Baltimore. The county's open, natural horse country is to the south, in the rural farmland and forest of South County.
It is a scenic drive of roughly 40 minutes — and many Severna Park families tell us that the drive south is half the point. By the time the subdivisions give way to fields and trees, the week has already started to fall away.
Make the drive part of the ritual
For a community as active and scheduled as Severna Park, the trip to a quiet farm can be a genuine reset. Treat the drive as the first chapter of the outing rather than an errand, and the whole day feels calmer.
A calm guided ride worth the trip
At Solitude Stables in Harwood, our guided trail rides wander quiet, private wooded trails with no traffic and no crowd. Each ride is a relaxed 60 minutes, guided the whole way, and paced for the least experienced rider in your group.
You do not need a horse, a trailer, or any experience. We provide a calm, well-matched horse and all the equipment, so the only thing you bring is a willingness to slow down.
Are there horse trails right in Severna Park?
Severna Park's best-known trail, the paved B&A Trail, is reserved for walkers and cyclists. For horseback riding, Severna Park riders travel south into rural Anne Arundel County, where natural-surface wooded trails and farms such as Solitude Stables welcome them.
paddock in the rural countryside of southern Anne Arundel County" width="1280" height="853" srcset="../../images/paddock-640.jpg 640w, ../../images/paddock-960.jpg 960w, ../../images/paddock-1280.jpg 1280w" sizes="(min-width:820px) 720px, 92vw" loading="lazy" decoding="async">The best time to ride near Severna Park
Spring and fall are the standout seasons. Both bring mild temperatures and firm, comfortable footing, and fall adds the bonus of golden Maryland foliage and far fewer insects.
Summer rides are best in shaded woods during the cooler hours, and crisp winter days can be beautifully quiet. Because guided rides are by appointment and fall is especially popular, booking ahead is always wise.
The B&A Trail is for the morning jog. The forest trail is for the part of the week you actually remember.
Plan your ride
Severna Park may not have horse trails of its own, but it has something better within easy reach: an unhurried hour in the woods. With a short drive south, the best horseback riding trails near Severna Park, MD are open and waiting.
Looking for where to ride?
We built the area's most useful trail guides so you do not have to dig. See our researched, sourced roundup of the best horse riding trails near Annapolis, or use the Maryland Horse Trail Finder to filter trails by level, drive time and trailer access — then go.
Ride with Solitude Stables
We are a small family farm in Harwood, MD offering horseback riding lessons and guided trail rides for riders across Anne Arundel County. We would love to welcome you.
Book a ride Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
More on this topic, answered simply.
No. The Baltimore and Annapolis (B&A) Trail is a paved, multi-use path designed for walkers, runners and cyclists, not horses. Riders looking for horse trails near Severna Park travel south into rural Anne Arundel County, where natural-surface wooded trails and farms welcome them.
Genuine trail riding is roughly a 40-minute drive south of Severna Park, in the rural half of Anne Arundel County. Solitude Stables in Harwood offers guided wooded trail rides at that distance.
Yes. Guided trail rides are calm, gentle and suitable for families, beginners and experienced riders alike. They make an ideal screen-free outing for busy Severna Park households.
Guided trail rides are by appointment, so booking ahead is best, especially for weekends and during the popular fall season. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable riding conditions.
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