Back Country Horsemen of Grays Harbor

2026 Fund Ride

June 20, 2026 • Schafer Grade • Grays Harbor Chapter

2026 Grays Harbor Trail Fund Ride

Join us for our annual Fund Ride at the Schafer Grade! All proceeds support trail maintenance on the Olympic National Forest and our Schafer Grade trail system.

2026 Grays Harbor Trail Fund Prize Ride Flyer - June 20, 2026

Click flyer to download →

Ride Details

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
Entry Fee: $25 per person — Kids under 12 ride free!
Routes: Two options — 7 miles and 12½ miles
Riders Out: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Prize Drawing: All prize tickets drawn at 11:30 AM
Food Truck Closes: 4:00 PM
Location: Schafer Grade (see directions below)

Direction signs will be out from Brady and Matlock for the day of the ride.

About the Rides

The rides wind through new trees, old trees, with some hills, alder stands, and old roads turned into trails (this is where you might wish you have boots or shoes for your horses). You’ll ride along a creek, rivers, and a portion of the old railroad grade.

There is a stop for water, places to get off with mounting blocks, and photo opportunities. On the longer ride there are two small seasonal water crossings — both may be dry. One is optional, one is not.

Tip: If you plan to ride the long loop (12½ miles), it is suggested you leave earlier rather than later for a leisurely ride. At 4:00 PM the food truck will be closing and registration/prizes will be gathered up.

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Ride Map

The Schafer Grade Fund Ride offers two route options through working timberland and along the historic railroad grade:

  • Short Ride (Blue Loop): 7.28 miles
  • Long Ride (Blue & Red Loops): 12.6 miles

View Trail Map (PDF) →

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Camping

Informal Potluck Friday night — come join us!

On Site Camping

There is plenty of room for permit-free but rustic camping. All camping and day parking is along both sides of a very wide logging road (with little or no traffic during the event). One section is set aside for campers.

Because of the layout and safety, you will not be able to park side by side with each other, but you can park in line if you all come together. You may need to highline or put up corrals using your trailer as part of your containment system.

Depending on when you arrive and who gets the good spots, you may have to open up a horse area, so bring saws and loppers. There are trees for the horses, with many larger trees to highline to and a quiet, shaded place to set your camp up next to the trees.

This is not a designated campground but is very doable if you are used to primitive camping. Manure can be tossed into the brush. The good part is that the parking is mostly level. An outhouse and potable water will be available sometime on Friday.

Registration and the trailhead are located close by. There is enough riding to spend a couple of days!

Questions? Contact Lori Lennox: [email protected]

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Directions to Schafer Grade

GPS Coordinates: 47.234508, -123.514974

⚠ ROAD UPDATE: MIDDLE SATSOP RD. REOPENED
Middle Satsop Road between mileposts 3.0 and 3.3 is now open. The roadway consists of two lanes with a gravel surface. A reduced speed limit will be imposed until the roadway is paved at a later date. Traffic will no longer be detoured to East Satsop Road.

The site will continue to be an active work zone for the coming weeks. Motorists can expect flaggers and one-way alternating traffic during weekdays.

Cook Reload Gate — Important

DO NOT BLOCK THE GATE! This is the only safe place to park with horse trailers and the only gate that has a horse trail (with eco blocks) that you can ride around. Ample parking for several rigs.

This area is private timberland — we are guests. Please clean up after your horses. This is not a public road. There is very little traffic but do watch for log trucks during the week.

Coming from the East / Elma

  1. Get off Highway 12 at the Fourth/4th Avenue Exit (by Highline Homes).
  2. Go to the stop sign on Monte-Elma Rd./Old Hwy 410.
  3. Turn left. Cross the railroad tracks and go to the East Satsop Road.
  4. Take a right.
  5. Follow the East Satsop Road approximately 9+ miles, staying left at the intersection.
  6. Go through beautiful Schafer State Park to the next stop sign on Matlock-Brady Road.
  7. Turn right. Follow it for approximately 2.25 miles to Boundary Road.
  8. Turn left on Boundary Road and continue to Kelley Road.
  9. Turn left on Kelley Road, cross the bridge and go 0.09 of a mile.
  10. You will pass one logging gate. Take the first road to the left and follow it for 0.01 mile.
  11. The gate is on your left.

Coming from the West / Montesano

  1. Get off Highway 12 at the Brady Exit.
  2. Go to the 4-way intersection on Monte-Elma Rd./Old Hwy 410.
  3. Continue straight on Middle Satsop Rd. for approximately 10 miles to West Boundary Rd.
  4. Turn left on West Boundary Rd. and continue to Kelley Road.
  5. Turn left on Kelley Road, cross the bridge and go 0.09 of a mile.
  6. You will pass one logging gate. Take the first road to the left and follow it for 0.01 mile.
  7. The gate is on your left.

From Matlock

(Matlock is located approx. 24 miles from Highway 101 on the Shelton–Matlock Road.)

  1. Continue southwest past the grocery store on the Matlock-Deckerville Rd for 1 mile.
  2. Take a right on W Deckerville Rd.
  3. Go 4.5 miles (road changes name to Boundary Rd.) to Kelley Road and take a right.
  4. Cross the bridge and go 0.09 of a mile.
  5. You will pass one logging gate. Take the first road to the left and follow it for 0.01 mile.
  6. The gate is on your left.

Get Directions to Schafer Grade

For more about our Schafer Grade trail system, visit the Trails page →