Ringed by mountains, national forests and protected wilderness, McCall has always been a spectacular place to ride. And as a resident of Blackhawk, you won't have to go far to enjoy it.
McCall's only equestrian center.
The 40-acre Blackhawk Equestrian Center currently operates from two recently renovated onsite barns with 13 horses, including two fillies born in 2006. Construction is complete on a new 150' x 200' outdoor riding arena.
Equestrian Center Facilities.
The Blackhawk Equestrian Center is located at the south end of the community. Construction on the center's other permanent buildings and other facilities is planned to begin within two years. At completion, the center will include:
- A 150' x 200' outdoor fenced sand arena
- A 150' x 200' indoor arena
- A 50'-diameter round pen
- Boarding facilities for the use of Blackhawk residents
- Other 100-year-old, recently renovated support buildings from the original Blackhawk Ranch
Over 500 miles of scenic trails to enjoy.
Miles of riverside and forested trails exclusively designated for horseback riding will traverse the property, connecting to over 500 miles of Forest Service trails just across West Mountain Road from Blackhawk. A corresponding trail system on the Blackhawk property will be reserved for hiking and mountain biking.
For the latest on the Center's events, facilities and services, please call 208-634-6050.
Come Visit the Equestrian Center
Sign up for our Discovery Weekend Tour and learn more about Blackhawk's equestrian center and tour the beautiful, unique real estate that Blackhawk has to offer.
Jil Wickander
Director of Outdoor Pursuits and Environmental Stewardship
Jill comes to Blackhawk with a lifetime of experience working with horses and creating quality programs to educate others. An avid horsewoman and educator, her passion for the care of animals and their environment is infectious.
Jil was raised around horses and outdoor activities in Wisconsin, eventually managing a schooling barn program in which she oversaw equestrian care, horseshoeing, stabling and care of hunting/jumper horses. She then lived and worked in an Amish community shoeing, training, and boarding horses under saddle.
Jil later managed operations for the Nevada City Carriage Company in California. In addition to training horses and drivers, she established a grade school education program to teach children about how draft horses were used in early state history. Her summers were spent at Yosemite National Park where she developed a horse and wagon campfire program for guests.
She is a graduate of the Midwest Horseshoeing School in Moab, IL and has also studied Journalism and rural Sociology and the University of Wisconsin. Jil has a keen interest in local plant life and considers herself as an Herbalist Apprentice, working with local experts in this field. Her work involves wild crafting of native plants to take advantage of their medicinal properties.
Jil joins the Blackhawk team as director of Outdoor Pursuits and Environmental Stewardship for a wide range of family activities form horseback rides to old-west camp outs.
