You and your horse will not have more room to ride at Newport State Park after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources denied a variance on Friday. 

The proposed variance would have allowed the DNR to increase the mileage of authorized equestrian trails from 4-6 miles to up to 10 miles. It would also extend the trails into Newport State Park’s Management Area 2 and co-locate them where hiking and biking trails currently exist. 

The reaction from the over 100 responses received by the DNR was mixed, with some saying there needs to be more horseback riding opportunities in northern Door County, especially since the network of equestrian trails using private land has deteriorated recently. There was concern about how many people could take advantage of the opportunity based on the location and the number of horses in the county. Safety of interactions, spread of invasive species, erosion, and crowding were other concerns during the public comment period. 

In the end, the department recognized the desire of horse owners to access safe and enjoyable places to ride but decided that the proposed location for expansion was not a change the department wished to pursue. The department did approve the construction of a new parking lot to accommodate up to six vehicle-horse trailers. The new lot will include additional toilet facilities, four to six hitching posts, and a mowed grassy area in a former gravel pit on Newport Lane. You can read the entire decision from the Wisconsin DNR by clicking this decision.