Best Equestrian Camping near Elizabethtown, IL

High Knob Campgrounds offers comprehensive equestrian facilities for riders visiting the Shawnee National Forest near Elizabethtown. The campground specifically caters to horse owners, with stalls available for overnight stays. Campsites accommodate large rigs with high lines positioned behind each site for horse tethering. The campground provides water access, electric hookups, showers, and toilet facilities to support multi-day riding excursions. Firewood is available on-site for evening campfires after a day on the trails. The campground primarily serves equestrians rather than tent campers, with numerous reviewers noting the clean stall areas and designated horse facilities. Sites feature some shade to offer relief from summer sun for both riders and horses.

Hayes Canyon Campground, located approximately 15 miles from Elizabethtown, features dedicated horse corrals that distinguish it from other area campgrounds. The trails are well-marked with maps available to navigate the extensive network through the Shawnee National Forest. Riders access multiple trailheads directly from the campground, allowing for varied daily excursions. The trails traverse hilly, rocky terrain with cliff areas that provide scenic views throughout the forest. Electric hookups, water access, and sewer connections support extended stays for equestrians traveling with their horses. The campground accommodates tents, RVs, and offers cabin options for those preferring indoor lodging after riding. Permanent sites are available for seasonal riders who frequent the area. The shower facilities maintain good cleanliness standards despite heavy use during peak horse riding seasons.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Elizabethtown, Illinois (22)

    1. Camp Cadiz Campground

    6 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    10 miles
    Website

    "On a gravel road, in the back country like most everything else on this side of Illinois , fill your gas tank up and your food locker or you will be driving back out a ways to refill. "

    "It's super quiet despite the gravel road nearby. The vault restroom is kept very clean. It has easy access to the River to River trail, and I love the CCC stonework."

    2. High Knob Campgrounds

    4 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 275-4494

    "deffinitly caters to equestrians, my only complaint is the shower houses. The potty area is clean but showers are usually kinda gross."

    "High Knob is a Horse campground in Shawnee National Forest near Garden of the Gods off Il1. The entire area has extensive trails through some awesome, hilly, rocky, cliffy areas."

    3. Shawnee Forest Campground

    36 Reviews
    Vienna, IL
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-0619

    $40 / night

    "We followed our GPS to the clearly marked CG entrance but our GPS showed we still had about a half mile to go."

    "Super friendly camp host, conveniently located off the interstate and feels pretty secure and tranquil. I will say some of the gravel was washed out which is surprising given how dry it’s been."

    4. Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground

    3 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    17 miles

    $30 / night

    "Little Lusk is the most Spacious and beautiful equestrian campground in southern IL.    Bring your horses, or just come and camp and stay in the lodge. "

    "I will be back next time I'm near shawnee."

    5. Hayes Canyon Campground

    1 Review
    Eddyville, TN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 672-4751

    $15 - $32 / night

    "A luxurious crowded but nice campsites older stalls cabins available great trails and maps available store and cowboy church. Permanent sites available"

    6. Bear Branch Campground

    2 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 672-4249

    $30 - $200 / night

    "Under new ownership buy many cabins from 40 a night on up nice shower houses electric sewer and water at a lot of sites great trails well marked maps available stalls available store and restaurant to"

    7. Canal Campground- Lake Barkley COE

    21 Reviews
    Grand Rivers, KY
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 362-4840

    $20 - $256 / night

    "Right outside Grand Rivers , Ky and along the canal that connects the two lakes. Reserve WAY ahead if you want one of the premium sites."

    "The area is feels like you stepped back in time. You’ll never want to leave because everyone is so nice."

    8. Union County Fair

    1 Review
    Morganfield, KY
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 333-4107

    9. Double M Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 275-4440

    10. Harmonie State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    New Harmony, IN
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 682-4821

    $20 - $30 / night

    "It is located back in the hills, far off the highway. Very little cell phone signal. Very relaxing and enjoyable."

    "Located in Southwest Indiana, about 40 miles from Evansville. 

    This is a typical Indiana State Park. Some sites are pretty close together, some are spacious."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Elizabethtown, IL

2 Photos of 22 Elizabethtown Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Elizabethtown, IL

222 Reviews of 22 Elizabethtown Campgrounds


  • Michael M.
    Oct. 23, 2017

    Giant City State Park Campground

    Campground Improving in 2017

    There are currently 25 equestrian camp sites in this park in a different area than the normal RV and Tent campground. The campground is being upgraded this year in which I belive they are adding 50 amp full service to many of the electric only sites. There is currently walk in only unless you are reserving a horse camp. There are fantastic hiking trails and equestrian trails here and you would think you are in the mountains here. The geology is much like the Missouri area near the other bank of the Mississippi river. I have tent camped here and camped in a pop-up camper in the fall both times. Hiking is the best activity here unless you ride horses and that is great here too. This one and Wolf Creek on Lake Shelbyville are the best parks in Illinois for horse trails.

  • d
    May. 29, 2019

    Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground

    A beautiful equestrian lodge and campground. Ride out of several trail hea

    Address: 50 Barger Rd, Stonefort, IL.

    Little Lusk is the most Spacious and beautiful equestrian campground in southern IL.    Bring your horses, or just come and camp and stay in the lodge.  Ride or hike in the beautiful Shawnee National Forest.  Campsites are spacious and can accommodate very large rigs. High lines behind sites.  Stalls can be reserved. some sites are full hookup. Primitive camping also available.  CALL them for more info at 270-205-7138.  Arena and huge event barn on site. Event barn can be reserved for weddings.  Numerous sites have electric and water.  They have a Facebook page with numerous photos.

  • Myron C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 15, 2019

    Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

    Campground with a Lot of Activities but Doesn't Feel like a Gated Community

    Pennyrile Forest State Park was a pleasant surprise, especially compared to the many state parks I visited in my earlier years in North Carolina. However, when you reserve your site make sure you ask about the specific site’s terrain. Site 48, where I was, was sloped with no grass and had just been repaired. There were a lot of grassy sites, and they were much better. When I talked to the campground host, he was very pleasant and explained that you do not have to have a horse to camp in the equestrian sites. Those sites are level pull-through sites. There is a camp store, although it is small and limited, but they do sell firewood. Not only does this state park have a putt putt course, but it also has an 18-hole golf course complete with pro shop. The thing I enjoyed best about his state park is the waterfront. There is a large sandy beach and a place to rent canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats. Also at the beach are picnic tables, grills, a playground, and concessions. From the beach area, you can hike the lake trail, but it is moderate. There is a good view of the lake from the trail, and if you walk to the left before crossing the wooden bridge, you can see a very small waterfall. Even though you have to drive a little from the campground to get to it, there is a swimming pool and a lodge. Other activities include tennis courts and basketball. Staying at the campground, other than the sloping site, was a pleasant experience. It was not crowded and the bathrooms have hot showers, but I would suggest paying the extra$15.00 to get one of the equestrian sites.

  • A
    Aug. 12, 2018

    High Knob Campgrounds

    Lots of trails

    deffinitly caters to equestrians, my only complaint is the shower houses. The potty area is clean but showers are usually kinda gross. Love the sites most have a little shade and the stallsa are nice and safe. The trails are great maps available some trails need marked a bit better.

  • Anton T.
    Jul. 31, 2016

    Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    Ferne Cliffe State Park

    Ferne Cliffe State Park is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, in the southern part of Illinois. It is not among the best known parks, and its distance from bigger cities makes it more obscure and less frequented than other places I have visited. The campground is small, situated on a limestone bluff which is cut by a small rivulet and some seasonal small waterfalls. The area is really a hidden gem - one has to hike down to discover the natural canyon with the awesome sites. The campground is clean and well maintained. A site of interest nearby is the Garden of the Gods wilderness, which 300 million years ago was the bottom of a sea. The whole area was spared by the glacier activity, yet the weathering of the rocks has given us a sandstone plateau with numerous hoodoos. Close nearby are also Cave in Rock and Land Between the Lakes, both worth seeing.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2017

    Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

    Going down

    Pennyrile Forest State Park off Ky69 outside Dawson Springs, Ky. A newer trail Pennyrile Nature Trail is 13.5 mile long hiking trail, from Dawson Springs to the park. There is also a site for the Pennyrile Trail which is a 75 mile driving loop connecting several Kentucky parks.

    The park is multi-leveled with the views and some cool rock formations. The beach has some confusing parking signs, but we figured it off. It was busy and had some loud visitors with loud vehicles and loud vehicles. Not surprising considering the neighborhood it is located in.

    The campground has some interesting sites all along the roadway. The campground and horse campground are connected. Several of the sites can be challenging due to not being level or being shallow, but they are workable.

    I'm not sure if biking would be great due to the hills but it would be challenging. Hiking and backpacking definitely and of course swimming and horseback riding( on your own horse)

  • Kacie E.
    Aug. 22, 2018

    Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

    Beautiful and Spacious

    First of all, the drive to Dawson Springs is GORGEOUS. Rolling hills, farmland, trees, really gets you in the mood! Upon arrival, the camp store worker was very friendly, gave us a campground map and hiking map and answered all of our questions. We stayed in the regular campground but they also have a campground for people with horses/horse trailers, as the park has horse trails to go on as well! We didn’t swim in the lake, but it did look beautiful and looked to be a nice place to swim and kayak and paddle boat (which they have for rental as well). The hiking trails are gorgeous and vary in length and intensity. The spot that we were at had plenty of room to spread out and relax. One side had the picnic table and fire pit, and the other side was a grassy area with trees where we hung our hammock. It was stunning! We will definitely be back!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2018

    High Knob Campgrounds

    The way to travel

    High Knob is a Horse campground in Shawnee National Forest near Garden of the Gods off Il1. The entire area has extensive trails through some awesome, hilly, rocky, cliffy areas. There are some excellent things to see. The trail traverses some of the River to River trail that meanders through the area. There used to be an annual ride through “One Horse Gap” I don’t know if it’s still a thing. 

    The campground has options in addition to sleeping in your rig, cabins, travel trailers and a “hotel” . There’s also stalls and tie outs in the area you park in. A good staging area for Shawnee NF treks with several trailheads to pick from. Groups can set up in here and either stage or use it as base camp. Quiet , depending on who you are camping with, all amenities available on site too. (showers, laundry, store)

    We enjoyed the trails though we went no where near as far as the horse people do. (There is so much to see, we have been going to Shawnee NF for over 20 years but I still find something or somewhere new almost every visit.)

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 20, 2018

    Camp Cadiz Campground

    Right at the old tree stump

    Camp Cadiz in Shawnee National Forest was fun to find :) The GPS is a little off BUT it gets you in the area.

    On a gravel road, in the back country like most everything else on this side of Illinois , fill your gas tank up and your food locker or you will be driving back out a ways to refill. 

    IL1/Ohio River Scenic Byway(in Illinois, who knew;) off the ferry from the Kentucky side, not much phone signal in these parts so bring the old fashion paper map. 

    There is a sign for Camp Cadiz, trust the sign. Stay right onto the gravel road at the Y and you will pass JJ’s.

    This is a very cool little basic campground with two stone fireplaces and several other sites with shade. A pit toilet and water source that’s about it. 

    This is a campground you wanna use if you like being off the beaten path out on your own. Would also be a good group outing. 

    This is the Eastern trailhead for the River to River trail , there is also a shorter trail , Beaver. Good one to practice your backpacking skills on. Very dark at night, bring your headlamp. Good times to be had ;)


Guide to Elizabethtown

Horse camping in Illinois offers a unique blend of scenic trails and equestrian-friendly facilities, making it a great choice for riders and their horses.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like stalls and trails

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

  • The trails surrounding High Knob Campgrounds are extensive, offering beautiful views and challenging terrain for riders.
  • From Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground, campers can easily access the scenic routes of Shawnee National Forest, ideal for both riding and hiking.
  • Camp Cadiz Campground is close to the River to River trail, providing a great opportunity for horseback riding adventures.

Equestrian campgrounds include essential facilities

  • High Knob Campgrounds offers amenities like showers and laundry facilities, ensuring a comfortable stay for both horses and riders.
  • At Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground, the campground features a spacious arena and event barn, perfect for gatherings and horse events.
  • Bear Branch Campground has well-maintained shower houses and a market, making it convenient for campers to stock up on supplies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Elizabethtown, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Elizabethtown, IL is Camp Cadiz Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Elizabethtown, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 22 equestrian camping locations near Elizabethtown, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.