Horseman's Park at Sand Ridge State Forest accommodates trail riders with RV and tent camping options. The primitive campground provides necessary facilities for equestrians exploring the extensive trail system. Campsites include picnic tables and fire rings, with drinking water and toilet facilities accessible throughout the area. While there are no dedicated horse corrals on-site, the campground layout allows for trailer parking and temporary tie-outs near camping areas. The spacious sites can accommodate multiple vehicles including horse trailers. The clean, well-maintained grounds create a comfortable base camp for riders. Sites are reservable, making advance planning possible for equestrian groups traveling together. Bathroom facilities are basic but functional for overnight stays.
The forest surrounding Horseman's Park features numerous trails suitable for day rides directly from camp. Sand Ridge State Forest encompasses over 7,000 acres of diverse terrain with miles of marked trails that wind through oak-hickory forest and restored prairie. Trail difficulty varies from easy, flat routes to more challenging paths with moderate elevation changes. While no electric hookups are available at the equestrian campground, the natural setting compensates with scenic riding opportunities and quiet camping. The campground's layout provides reasonable space between sites for those traveling with horses. Many riders appreciate the forest's natural beauty and uncrowded trails when compared to more developed horse camps. Advance planning is recommended as the campground can fill during peak riding seasons, particularly during spring and fall when weather conditions are optimal for trail riding.
"Needed a couple nights stay near Bloomington and chose site #29 sight unseen. Ended up having to grab a different site since #29 was too unlevel. The campground office was very accommodating."
"Located just northwest of Bloomington, which is located absolutely smack-dab in the middle of the state of Illinois, you’ll discover a nature wonderland over here nearly hidden from plain site."
"I never did all of the trails but spent an afternoon hiking with a friend last summer."
"It’s also never super convenient to need to pack up just to go to a dump station but as long as your fine walking to the community restrooms, you should be fine."
from $40 - $20 / night
from $22 / night
"Near the back you can camp right alongside the river. Amenities are minimal, there are just port-a-potties for restrooms but they are very clean."
"This is the campground for horses and their riders. Tie up posts are in each campsite along with picnic tables."
"Lots of trails nearby, and plenty of beautiful green trees. Outhouse on site. One of the more quiet sites that doesn’t get a lot of action."
from $8 / night
Guide$25 a night for 30 amp hookup is pretty good! The sites are clean and spacious. It’s quiet too! Pretty lake, but sites aren’t right on the lake.
The bathrooms need some work. Water had a boil order on it and showers only worked in the men’s room. Water was HOT! Which is great! However, the water smelled metallic…
ScoutListed on app as free, but it actually requires a reservation and fee.
GuideBeautiful, quiet, and clean park. I stopped for a quick overnight but will definitely be back to stay when I have more time. Sites could use more space as there is no privacy at all but that's the only thing that needs improvement.
LegendWe were looking for a quick place to spend the night, like a Walmart or gas station when we found this gem. It is only a few miles off the highway, making it super convenient for a quick overnight stop. The campground is very big with lots of sites and since we were there at the end of October, there were not many other people around. We got a beautiful spot right on the lake.
The campground has nice bathrooms and hookups.
LegendLocated just northwest of Bloomington, which is located absolutely smack-dab in the middle of the state of Illinois, you’ll discover a nature wonderland over here nearly hidden from plain site. One moment you’ll be driving down the well-paved country road with golden tassles of corn popping up on either side of you and the very next, you’ll turn into a wooded sanctuary that is punctuated by the marvelous Evergreen Lake, which was built in 1970 and is some 925 acres in size with an average depth of nearly 20 feet and 50 feet at its deepest.
It is this fresh body of water that really makes Comlara County Park stand-out from just about anything else in the surrounding area. It has not one but two outstanding boat launches as well as a separate launch for canoes and kayaks. There are simply tons of little nooks and crannies all around the lake to get some decent fishing in – which you will predominantly find largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, saugeye, muskellunge and crappie – as well as a small individual isle called Deer Island, although when we explored the small land mass, no deer were to be found. There’s boat rentals and a bait shop that is available on the weekends only as well as a proper beach head with swimming available 7 days a week during the summertime (Memorial Day – Labor Day).
As far as the campground(s) are concerned – if you look closely, there's actually not 1, not 2, not even 3, but actually 4 to choose from – but if you add up all of the 144 campsites (apart from the primitive camping options) collectively, they are spaced a little too close to comfort for my taste, which when you add on top of that there isn’t much brush or anything separating you from your neighbors camping alongside of you. This is likely my biggest complaint: privacy. If that doesn’t matter to you and you enjoying being in a large wide open space chock full with other tents, RVs and 5th wheelers, then Comlara County Park is a great choice for you.
I would first begin by pointing out that the entire Comlara Park is very well organized, kept impeccably clean and very easy to navigate with relatively good roads and decent signage. It feels as though whether you are looking for a trail to hike, a spot to launch your kayak, biking trails to navigate or finding a fishing hole to cast a line, everything seems as though it is in very close reach and just a short walk away. All of the 144 campsites are made available on a first-come, first served basis, with 94 including 30 / 50 amp electric while 23 are non-electric sites, with the 11 remaining devoid of any hook-ups.
For my tent-pitching primitive bredren, there’s 16 walk-in sites in the main recreation area (I guess that is situated amongst or in-between the other 3 campgrounds that exist here), but there is a completely separate whole other area (oh, and located completely in a different county altogether), which is technically a completely different campground in a completely separate physical location with these 16 primitive campsites.
With amenities in mind, aside from the greatest asset being Evergreen Lake itself and beyond the associated amenities that have already been highlighted (e.g. boat launch, beach, canoe / boat rental, bait shop) there’s 3 kid’s playground, at least 5 large shelters by my count, at least 3 his / her bathroom and shower facilities as well as scattered in-ground fire rings, water spigots (basically planted every 3rd or 4th site) stand-up BBQ grills as well as the prerequisite picnic tables, all of which were in very condition during our stay. There’s only one dump station, which seemed odd considering that there’s at least 3 campgrounds if not 4 here and 144 sites collecting garbage at a single time. There is firewood, ice and fishing worms available at the visitors center and campground station in the main area.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If like me you are a primitive tent camper and on the look out for some pretty amazing, not-so-EZ places on earth to really feel like you are out enjoying pristine, undisturbed nature, then you’ll want to have a very close look at the primitive camping areas west of Evergreen Lake over near White Oak. There’s 16 or so simply excellent lakefront sites over here along with your own boat dock; (2) Should you be ‘herd camping’ with a much larger group, there’s actually a simply fantastic hidden group camping oasis over here in White Oaks as well that you can get away from it all; (3) In the event that you grow weary of cooking up franks & beans again for dinner, you’ll have a decent drive to either El Paso, where there’s a Monical’s Pizza, Dairy Queen, Casey’s, El Paso Mexican or, upgrade yourself to The Local Tap, which is a craft kitchen and alehouse serving up some excellent fare. Of course, you could head into Bloomington, of which you will find everything, but that’s a bit of a hike unless, like me, you would make that drive to either have some of the best deep dish pizza Chicago has to offer, Giordano’s, or one of the greatest sausage and Italian beef joints in the world, Portillo’s.
Happy Camping!
LegendBeautiful lake view site. Steep drop to water so not good for those w/little kids. Great trees for hammock-overlooking lake! Pad level. Water very close. Outhouse close walk. Kayak launch close walk. Boat dock close. Shower house short walk
LegendVery large non electric site near water. Quieter area of campground. Site level. Water close by. Pit toilets close.
LegendSite 31 is for those who want more privacy. It has woods on 2 sides with a trail thru woods to outhouse. Nice shade, site is level and on cul-de-sac so way less traffic. Water spigot very close. Very short walk to lake/dock and shower house. Park kept clean and very friendly staff.
LegendSite 28 unlevel. Requires several lifts. Site is very large however. Does have nice shade.
Horseman's Park offers equestrian camping facilities in the Sand Ridge State Forest area, located approximately 60 miles northwest of Bloomington, Illinois. The campground sits on sandy soil formed from ancient glacial deposits, creating unique terrain compared to typical Midwestern forests. Summer temperatures average 85°F with high humidity, while spring and fall provide cooler riding conditions in the 60-75°F range.
Trail riding adventures: Sand Ridge State Forest features nearly 15 miles of marked equestrian trails through pine forests and sandy terrain. "Most trails in this natural area are accessible to horses. Trails head out from camp. The longest being almost 15 miles," notes Art S. about Horseman's Park.
Water recreation: Comlara County Park offers multiple lake activities beyond trail riding. "The dock was just a short walk away. It's very cool that the folks at Comlara put that dock there for the tent campers to use," shares Scott N. about Comlara County Park.
Seasonal fishing: Many parks near Bloomington maintain stocked fishing areas. "Nice lake for fishing and kayaking. Excellent restaurant on site also," Kelly M. mentions about Moraine View State Recreational Area.
Peaceful environment: The horse campground area provides a quiet atmosphere away from more crowded recreational sites. "A Breezy, Isolated Campsite... Lots of trails nearby, and plenty of beautiful green trees. Outhouse on site. One of the more quiet sites that doesn't get a lot of action," says Jesse B. about Horseman's Park.
Spacious campsites: Many equestrian campsites offer ample room for trailers and equipment. "The outer ring sites are more private and up against the woods. A set of vault toilets is commonly located. Along with garbage cans there are multiple spots to pile manure," reports Art S. about the Sand Ridge horse camping area.
Beach access: Some campgrounds near Bloomington provide swimming options. "Nice place and people very helpful and beach is so clean," shares Leslie about Deer Creek Campground.
Seasonal considerations: Spring and fall offer the most comfortable riding conditions. "The bugs (of all kinds including ticks and mosquitoes) are pretty terrible and I would recommend going either in the early spring or late fall. Not June," warns Joy H. about Sand Ridge State Forest.
Trail conditions: The sandy soil creates unique riding challenges. "If you have an energetic horse that you want to work hard, head into the yellow loop. The ranger said it tires everyone because it's steep hills of sand," explains Art S.
Fee structures: Additional costs may apply for certain activities. "The kicker is the $20.00 fee per boat/kayak to get on the lake plus the fee for the swimming area was a bit much for us," notes Marcie J. about Moraine View State Recreational Area.
Playground accessibility: Several parks include child-friendly areas. "There are a few playgrounds for the kids to stay busy as well as small marked trails to follow. Not too populated," mentions Sage C. about Comlara County Park.
Rustic site selection: Family campers should consider site location carefully. "Upon finding the rustic tent sites, we'd wished we'd known about that area before going. Those were still a little close together but were at least wooded and you could walk from your car," advises Ryan M. about Moraine View State Recreational Area.
Safety considerations: Trails around horse campgrounds require awareness. "Hiking and hunting also happen here so keep an eye open on the trails," cautions Art S. about Sand Ridge horse campground.
Site selection: Choose sites based on needs and time of year. "We got a beautiful spot right on the lake. The campground has nice bathrooms and hookups," Sarah S. reports about Comlara County Park.
Limited hookups: Horse camping areas typically offer fewer amenities. "$8. The staff isn't always there, so you could end up with a free place to stay (especially if you come late)," notes Jesse B. about Horseman's Park at Sand Ridge.
Site spacing: RV sites vary considerably between campgrounds. "Sites could use more space as there is no privacy at all but that's the only thing that needs improvement," explains Kimberly L. about Comlara County Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bloomington, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bloomington, IL is Comlara County Park with a 3.6-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bloomington, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Bloomington, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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