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Best Equestrian Camping near Herod, IL

233 Reviews

Hayes Canyon Campground near Herod, Illinois offers horse corrals for equestrians camping in the Shawnee National Forest. The campground provides horse-friendly amenities including water hookups, electric hookups, sewer hookups, showers, and sanitary dump stations. Campers can choose from tent sites, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping accommodations, all accessible via drive-in access. The campground maintains dedicated horse corrals, making it suitable for travelers with horses. High Knob Campgrounds, also in the area, caters specifically to equestrians with extensive trail access. The campground features stalls that are designed for safety, though some users note that shower facilities can be less than ideal. Sites typically offer some shade for both horses and riders.

Numerous marked trails traverse the rocky, hilly terrain of Shawnee National Forest, connecting equestrian campers to scenic destinations including Garden of the Gods. Maps are available at both High Knob and Hayes Canyon campgrounds, though some trails would benefit from better markings. Horse campers can access portions of the River to River trail that meanders through the region. Both campgrounds accommodate larger rigs necessary for horse transport, with High Knob allowing extensive staging areas for equestrians planning multi-day treks. The entire area provides excellent trail riding opportunities with varied terrain featuring hills, rocks, and cliff areas. Horse owners should note that High Knob strictly serves as a horse camp and does not accept tent-only campers without horses, according to visitor reports.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Herod, Illinois (24)

    1. Camp Cadiz Campground

    6 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    11 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
    6 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
    26 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
    8 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
    9 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
    11 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. Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    15 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 995-2411

    "Ferne Cliffe State Park is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, in the southern part of Illinois."

    "Dog friendly, pretty well spaced out campsites but some are used as paths with to get to farther back campsites. Good set up, not too close to neighbors and it’s heavily wooded in between."

    8. Double M Campground

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

    9. Harmonie State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    New Harmony, IN
    44 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."

    10. Dutchman Lake Camp

    3 Reviews
    Buncombe, IL
    27 miles

    "Beautiful spot with easy access and not far off the highway"

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Herod, IL

2 Photos of 24 Herod Campgrounds

Equestrian Camping Reviews near Herod, IL

233 Reviews of 24 Herod 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.

  • 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
    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.)

  • Cindy C.
    Aug. 7, 2018

    South Sandusky Campground

    Wonderful for all ages. Located on Rend Lake Illinois.

    North and South Sandusky campground is located in southern Illinois on Rend Lake. It is a large state park with tons to do. From boating and swimming to hiking and relaxing. The sites have many areas that fit different needs. I have stayed this year in both. My site at North Sandusky was on the water and I could pull my pontoon right behind my campsite. The kids were close enough to the bathrooms and showers to walk. And there was fresh water located there as well. There was a park a bit further down the way as well. But no need as the lake was in the backyard.

    South sandusky site was across from a park, bathrooms, showers and water. The beach was a 2 mi hike on a beautiful trail. But we could walk across the street to a fishing swimming spot as well.

    The beach is super clean and monitored well.

    The bathrooms were cleaned every morning before 7 am. Water had great pressure and was always nice and hot.

    I love these campgrounds and can’t wait to go back.

  • M
    Aug. 19, 2018

    South Sandusky Campground

    Picture perfect

    Full hookups to tent camping and spacious sites. This is a Corps of Engineer Campground so bring your America the Beautiful pass! Well maintained on beautiful Rend Lake in southern Illinois. Reservations accepted on reservation.gov. Walk ins also welcome.

  • 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 ;)

  • Travis R.
    Sep. 14, 2020

    High Knob Campgrounds

    Horse camp only

    They do not accept tents, this is strictly a horse camp, they will rudly tell you so if you call.

Guide to Herod

Equestrian camping near Herod, Illinois offers access to the rocky terrain of Shawnee National Forest at elevations ranging from 300-1,000 feet. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures often reaching the 90s and mild winters with occasional snow. Campsites in this area typically feature shaded areas with dense deciduous forest cover that provides natural cooling during summer months.

What to Do

Trail exploration: Garden of the Gods is accessible from several campgrounds in the area. At Camp Cadiz Campground, campers can access the River to River trail. "I wanted to see grades of the gods. What I didn't want was to camp on top of someone else... Cadiz was spacious, quiet, and the other campers wanted to camp not party," notes Jeremy G.

Historical sites: Explore old cemeteries within walking distance of campsites. At Camp Cadiz, visitors discovered hidden historical spots. "The hiking trails that headed out from the camp were wonderful. We even hiked down the forest road and found a hidden cemetery tucked away," shares Art S.

Seasonal mushroom hunting: Spring visitors to the area can participate in the local tradition of morel mushroom hunting. "It was also morel mushroom time so some people were hunting for them," reports a visitor to Camp Cadiz Campground, highlighting a unique seasonal activity not widely advertised.

What Campers Like

Quiet atmosphere: Many equestrian camping areas near Herod maintain a peaceful environment. "This small, rustic camp is at the edge of Shawnee and only had a few campers staying multiple nights with us," notes Art S. about Camp Cadiz Campground.

CCC stonework: The Civilian Conservation Corps historical structures add character to camping areas. Chelsea D. from Camp Cadiz appreciates these historical features: "I love this campground. It's super quiet despite the gravel road nearby... and I love the CCC stonework."

Spacious sites: Shawnee Forest Campground provides ample room for larger equestrian rigs. "The sites are spacious and have picnic tables and fire rings. Full hookups is a plus," notes Greg S., making it suitable for horse trailers that require extra space.

What You Should Know

Limited cell service: Many areas have spotty reception. Hannah F. from Camp Cadiz notes: "Stayed here in March 2020. My favorite part about this campground was that there were only 8 campsites so it was very quiet and remote."

Water availability varies: At Deer Ridge Campground, access to water requires planning. "Water only available at few spots and you would need a really long hose to attach if open faucet available," reports Glenda.

Dust control: Campsite location matters for dust exposure. "We had site choices that ended up being along the gravel forest road that goes by camp. Every vehicle that went by generated dust which then coated everything in our camp," warns Art S. about Camp Cadiz.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

TheDyrt.com has all 24 equestrian camping locations near Herod, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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