Matthiessen State Park Equestrian Campground offers primitive campsites specifically for horse owners traveling with their mounts. Located near Utica, approximately 70 miles southwest of Aurora, this facility provides access to bridle trails within the 1,938-acre park. The camping area includes basic amenities with vault toilets but no electric hookups or showers. Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground in Bourbonnais offers another option for riders, featuring a rustic camping area with toilets, trash collection, and access to the park's trail system. Both campgrounds require that horses remain in designated areas and on established trails. The campsites tend to be spacious enough to accommodate trailers, though specific corral facilities are not provided at either location.
Access to the 12-mile trail system at Matthiessen State Park allows riders to explore diverse terrain through wooded areas and around the park's characteristic canyons and rock formations. Kankakee River State Park provides 10 miles of multi-use trails running alongside the Kankakee River with terrain suitable for riders of various experience levels. Neither park offers stall rentals or permanent equine facilities, so campers must bring their own portable corrals or tethering equipment. Water for horses is available, though limited in some areas during drier seasons. Both parks maintain restrictions on grazing and require prompt manure management from horse camping areas. Sites typically accommodate 1-4 horses per reservation depending on the specific campground regulations.
"Clean, with large sites, about a 5 mile walk around the nearby lake- saw several deer and rabbits - T-Mobile worked just fine- no Wi-Fi"
"Away from All the City Noise And Not Very Far Away Dump Station And Potable Water Supply"
from $18 - $35 / night
"The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."
"Half of them were in the Prairie and the other half was tucked into wonderfully private spots with burn pits and picnic tables. We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies."
from $12 - $35 / night
"Quiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities"
from $37 / night
"Many miles of paved and crushed limestone trails. The actual Kankakee River access is sort of outside of the campground- that would be my only complaint."
"Right at the start of Osage is an entrance to the crushed gravel bike path. It gave us a great hike through the trees. You can find picnic areas and playground equipment by following the bike path."
"Very Friendly Staff I received warm welcome from nice staff at the entrance gate. Tent Campground is nicely tucked inside by the lake. Quit place night time I can hear fish jumping from the water."
"We biked around the campground during the days and took advantage of the adult only hot tub hours at night. It was a nice getaway from Chicago."
from $43 - $73 / night
"In the Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den, there is a short path between sites 60& 61."
"Trails were geared more towards horses and bikes, but there are plenty of walking paths, and we were able to find some hidden trails along the lake (read: unofficial)."
"We can both drive to work and then come back to relax. Close to some great places for antiquing if you don't want to hike the trails or fish."
"There is a lot to do at this park from hiking to water sports to horse back riding. We did a nice short hike in area. We had a great time at this campground and would visit again."
"hey, there were some pretty outstanding trails to hike during the day and the friendly on-site ranger made a call over to nearby Starved Rock SP to secure me a camping spot over there, so not all was"
"quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update: Highlights: (1) Great hiking abounds in this particular Illinois"
from $10 / night
ScoutNice, clean, quiet, simple state park set up. Many miles of paved and crushed limestone trails. The actual Kankakee River access is sort of outside of the campground- that would be my only complaint. You have to walk or bike a little distance to be near the river. Seemed very well maintained and we loved it!
ScoutAway from All the City Noise And Not Very Far Away Dump Station And Potable Water Supply
ScoutJJust ok. Facilities were disappointing
RangerFirst, you have to make reservations in advance online. The website says otherwise. They are spacious sites and well maintained the water. Spicket are a significant distance from each campsite so come prepared for that.
TravelerI had a private, large spot in one of their "neighborhoods " Host was knowledgeable, friendly and I was a walk in. Beautiful stroll along the river with my pup.
TravelerThis was my first camping trip with family. After lots of research, I picked Kankakee river state park. This is a reasonablly priced campground with all facilities in great condition. And it is very spacious with woods separating your neighbors. The only complaint is the noise level after 10pm. The quite time was not strictly enforced. It could be we are there on a Saturday night.
TravelerMy fiancé and I stayed in the Hickory Loop spot 3. We are very new campers, so we just have a very basic tent setup. When we checked in with the host, there were bundles of firewood for $8 (either cash or cash app). The spots are not huge, and not super private (you have next door and across the street neighbors), but we didn’t mind that! There were two outlets available, and a small rectangular fire pit with a grate on top. There are a few water pumps and vault toilets within walking distance, but we were pretty close to the shower house, which had stalls for toilets and showers. The showers were pretty great for a camp ground!
It rained a ton during our trip so we didn’t explore much, but would definitely recommend for a simple camping trip where you want flushable toilets, showers, and some electricity.
ScoutI reserved 5 nights, paid in full. After just one night, management cancelled my stay because my service dogs(Maltese) supposedly barked. I was fully cooperative, kept them quiet, and even documented this in emails. There was a stray cat near my RV that caused the issue, but instead of solving it, they forced me to leave. No refund for 4 nights. This is unfair, discriminatory, and against ADA law.
TravelerThis is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade.
The flush toilet building was very clean, but there was no TP in the ladies' room. And I have to wonder why you would build a new campground without showers?
It is very close to the cities so we will stay here again.
Equestrian campgrounds near Aurora, Illinois offer primitive to standard camping facilities for riders and their horses. Located approximately 70-100 miles from Aurora, these specialized sites provide access to bridle trails through diverse Illinois terrain. Trail systems range from 5 to 12 miles in length, accommodating riders of various experience levels through woodland, prairie, and riverside landscapes.
Trail riding through diverse landscapes: Kankakee River State Park provides extensive riding opportunities with terrain suitable for various experience levels. "Very big campground with mostly seasonals. Atmosphere is the perfect balance of fun and relaxing," notes a visitor who appreciated the trail system.
Fishing from horseback-accessible areas: Many equestrian campgrounds provide access to fishing spots along riverbanks and lakes. At Chain O' Lakes State Park, riders can access multiple fishing locations. "We canoe, and both times we stayed there it was October, so I can't tell you how crowded, but the vast number of picnic areas must be there for a reason," notes one camper describing the water access.
Exploring woodland trails: The trail systems often connect to larger park networks. "The highlight of our experience is the hiking. There are miles of trails. On one hike we were on paved, sifted gravel, grass and single trek trails," reports a visitor to Paul Wolff Campground, which connects to bridle paths.
Spacious campsites for trailers: Big Rock Campground provides ample space for horse trailers and camping setups. "Nice campground with big, level sites. Even though they don't take reservations, there is plenty of space and availability," notes one camper who appreciated the room to maneuver.
Natural isolation: Many riders appreciate the remote feel despite proximity to urban areas. "For those that bring their noble steed to this campground, you'll have it basically all to yourself," writes a visitor about Matthiessen State Park Equestrian Campground, noting its uncrowded nature.
Seasonal riding opportunities: Fall offers some of the best riding conditions. "As a Troop we would rent one of the cabins for late season campouts. Clean facilities but the nice part is the scenic hiking for being close to town. Gentle hills and beautiful color," shares a visitor about seasonal experiences.
Registration and fee requirements: Most equestrian campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served basis with self-registration. "There's a registration envelope that you'll pick up when you arrive at Matthiessen SP, where you'll simply need to fill this out with your name, # of days that you are planning to stay and then deposit the envelope in the drop-off kiosk along with the nightly fee," explains one camper.
Limited facilities: Basic amenities are standard at horse campgrounds. "If you do plan on camping here alongside your horses, you will want to note that there is no reservation system and that all sites are offered on a first-come, first-served basis," notes a visitor to Matthiessen State Park.
Water access considerations: Water supplies for horses can be limited, especially in drier months. "Water hookup is far behind camping pad - bring extensions!" advises one camper about general campground water access in the region.
Plan for limited shade: Many equestrian campgrounds have limited tree cover. "No Shade, and no showers. This is a relatively new campground not too far (about an hour drive) from Chicago. We looked at this place when we were looking for a spot to camp for a local wedding. But, no shade in the Illinois heat and no shower made it unacceptable," warns a visitor about summer conditions.
Pack horse-friendly entertainment: Children may enjoy observing wildlife along trails. "I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far," shares one visitor to Turner Lake South, describing the natural attractions.
Bring portable corral equipment: Since designated horse containment is limited, families should pack portable solutions. "Great hiking abounds in this particular Illinois SP where there exists a combination of EZ, intermediate and difficult hiking and riding paths," notes a visitor about the trail options available.
Water and electrical considerations: RV sites with horse accommodations often have hookups positioned differently than standard sites. "The water hookups are kind of far from the individual sites (make sure you have extra hose)," advises one RVer about site layout.
Level sites for trailer parking: Look for campgrounds with level parking areas for both living quarters and horse trailers. "The sites are pretty level. The trees will be terrific in about 20 years. There is nothing much to do here, or nearby. It's clean and the comfort stations are new."
Self-sufficiency preparations: Limited services mean RVers should arrive prepared. "The dump station is good. It's expensive, for what is there, if you are not a Kane County resident."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Aurora, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Aurora, IL is Big Rock Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 19 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Aurora, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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