A Visit to the Forest Preserves 



By RANSOM KENNICOTT 



THE most interesting places to visit are the Cook 

 County Forest Preserves. The finest way to visit 

 the Preserve is on horseback. Even though the 

 horse is used as a means of conveyance only, it is the 

 best means of conveyance through the Preserves. Rail- 

 road trains, street cars and automobiles may take one 

 to the Preserves, but unless one hikes the horse is the 

 only means of transportation through the Preserves. 



If a way were made for automobiles to the choice wild 

 spots in the Preserves their charm would be marred. 

 The distances are too great for most men and women to 

 walk, so a horse is the only solution. If we wish to have 

 more than one outside acquaintance with these charming 

 natural parks, we must make that acquaintance on foot 

 or on horseback. 



Bridle paths through the Preserves tend to add to its 

 charm; it needs nothing artificial. The horse and his 

 rider prefer the natural turf to cinders. A path through 

 the forest winding among the trees, uphill and down, 

 crossing ravines and fording streams in shallow places, 

 narrow where it is necessary, then widening out through 

 a clearing or across a meadow for a gallop — this is a 

 delightful bridle path. With this Forest Preserve bridle 

 path as contemplated, it will he the greatest opportimity 

 for horseback riding to be foimd anywhere in the United 

 States. 



What more charming than to follow the winding banks 

 of the Des Plaines River mile after mile without a fence 

 or a hindrance? To establish these bridle paths entails a 

 very small cost; the cutting out of a few shrubs, the 

 lopping off a few limbs and the thing is done. 



We are rapidly buying the connecting lands between 



the stretches of forest already owned, and as soon as that 

 is done the bridle paths will be open to the riders. Fences 

 are disappearing as fast as we come into possession of 

 the property, and wire fences are the greatest obstacle 

 to the equestrian. 



The Forest Preserve is using its influence to have a 

 bridle path on Peterson Avenue, being constructed one 

 hvmdred feet wide, from the heart of the North side 

 riding district through our Preserve. We are expecting 

 to open an avenue from the Caldwell Preserve southwest 

 to the Des Plaines River Valley. Along this way also we 

 plan a bridle path. 



We hope to establish stables at various points on the 

 Preserve where horses may be boarded at reasonable 

 rates, and where they may be rented by people desiring 

 to ride. Also, if our present plans are carried out, we 

 will have burrows for the children, a safe and delightful 

 way to penetrate through the innermost recesses of our 

 wilderness. We believe that the horseback riders will 

 not only find great joy in riding these trails, but will add 

 much to the picturesque charm of the Preserves. The 

 canoe on the waters, log cabin in the woods, and the 

 horseman on the trails were the first step from the wilder- 

 ness and seem most appropriate in our natural woods. 



A few years ago everyone rode horseback; now it is a 

 luxury enjoyed by a few and chiefly the wealthy class. 

 We hope that the Forest Preserves will be the means 

 of bringing back, if not universal horseback riding, at 

 least that it will become a popular pleasure. We want 

 nothing on the Preserve which seems unnatural, but in 

 our great scheme of "Saving the Outdoors" we feel that 

 the man on horseback fits in. 



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