| Bridle Trails State Park , a 482-acre day-use park, is well-known for its horse trails and equestrian shows. The park's two largest horse shows are "C" rated hunter-jumper shows, one the third weekend in May and the other the fourth weekend in June. The forested park is on the northeast edge of the Seattle metropolitan area. Sometimes called "the wilderness in the city," this park is a popular getaway destination for Seattle residents. Horse trails double as hiking trails, though horses have the right of way. Joggers are asked to "speak up" when overtaking horses on trails. Horses must not be left unattended. The park does not provide a horse rental concession. The park is a lowland forest, typical of the vegetation which once covered Puget Sound. The woods abound in Douglas-fir and western hemlock, with some western red cedar, big-leaf maple, and alder mixed in. The park has been under state ownership since the 1880s. By the 1930s, the area was popular as a place for horseback riding, and a trail system had been developed by community riding enthusiasts. Concerned about protecting the land, citizens petitioned the state legislature to make Bridle Trails a state park. The petition was granted, and today local groups, especially those with equestrian interests, work hard to maintain and improve the facility. |
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