Actually we did both. It's 650' up in elevation from my creek to the house. Some areas were pretty steep and we cut trails after we cleared, my woods are thick. My neighbor was very fast, I was very slow. But the trails are nice and worth the effort. Mostly horizontal and a couple up and down the hillside but nothing straight due to the trees.
I was surprised at some of the things I found. I picked a old horse shoe out of a tree, the bent nails were still in it. Loads of bones, deer I suppose, deer stands, old mineral block pools. I was concerned about skunks, didn't surprise any so it was a good weekend.
The kids (post high school age) will be here for the weekend to ride, so that will be nice.