2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Hayes Canyon Campground provides horse-friendly camping facilities in the Shawnee National Forest region near Junction, Illinois. The campground features on-site horse corrals, allowing equestrians to keep their animals secure while staying in tent sites, RV spots, cabins, or glamping accommodations. Full campground amenities include drinking water, electric hookups, showers, toilets, and sanitary dump stations. The stalls are clean and safe with high lines available behind many campsites. Spacious sites can accommodate large rigs, making it convenient for horse trailers. Other equestrian-friendly options in the area include High Knob Campgrounds, which primarily caters to horse owners with trail access and stall rentals. The campground maintains clean stalls though some visitors note the shower facilities could use improvement.
Extensive trail systems throughout the Shawnee National Forest provide excellent riding opportunities for equestrians staying at these campgrounds. Riders can access multiple trailheads directly from Hayes Canyon, with well-marked trails and maps available for navigation through the forest's hilly, rocky terrain. Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground offers another option with spacious equestrian campsites and high lines behind sites for securing horses. Stalls can be reserved, and primitive camping is also available for those seeking a more rustic experience. The area attracts many equestrians due to its beautiful riding terrain and comprehensive horse facilities. Most equestrian campgrounds in the region require reservations, especially during peak seasons, and some feature arenas or event barns that can be reserved for group activities.
"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."
"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."
"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."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $33 / 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. "
"There are horses on the property, and it’s very cheap for tent camping. The staff was amazing. She showed us around with her 4x4 the whole property, the horses, and the pony or a donkey."
from $30 / night
"The tent pads are right by the water, offering stunning lake views. Each site comes equipped with a fire ring, picnic table, and access to toilets—everything you need for a comfortable stay."
"Lake mauzy is very quiet. No hookups but if you want to boondocks this is a great place."
"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."
from $40 / night
"A luxurious crowded but nice campsites older stalls cabins available great trails and maps available store and cowboy church. Permanent sites available"
from $15 - $32 / night
"One of the first campgrounds that you come to at Rend Lake when you get off the highway, this campground has lots of positives and few negatives."
"The lake had the most amazing sunset! Everyone is super friendly and we recommend the blue jay loop for best views and swimming access to the lake."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $30 / night
GuideQuiet clean campground, 8 sites, one water spigot, pit toilets, hiking and biking, 9 miles to Garden of the Gods. Campground is right next to road. Local traffic is minimal, most sites will accommodate 30ft trailer or motor home.
ScoutRend Lake, in Whittington, Il is just a great place to camp. From primitive to full hook ups they have what you need for a Corps of Engineers campground.
GuideNice quiet wooded campground. We were only here 1 night, but it was very enjoyable. Very large campground with shaded & sunny spots, mostly level, showers & bathrooms were clean, but no locks on the doors in women's & no doors in the men's, only curtains. Double lane dump station well laid out & good water pressure. We were here 2nd week in September on a Friday so it was not crowded, but I suspect during the summer it would be. The mosquitoes were bad so be prepared. All in all we would stay again.
GuideWe arrived at 7 picked a spot in the fcfs area and were surprised that it was almost empty. We got a premium site on the water, with no other campers in sight. The website says the reservation areas were full but that was not true, you have to book 4 days in advance. The camp host was great! It will be on my list of places to overnight in the future. But the lake is beautiful and you could spend multiple days there if you wanted!
GuidePaved roads and campsites. Convenient to the interstate but removed enough to be peaceful. Beautiful sunset at the lake. Bathhouse is outdated but functional.
ScoutVery family oriented place to camp and adventure with the kiddos
GuideMet up with some family at this campground had a nice time. Everything was clean. The bathrooms were magnificently clean at the South Sandusky in Rend Lake. The lake was nice. There was lots of trees very very nice campground.
GuideWe were on our hike in Shawnee National Forest, and we found this campground. And it was an amazing experience. It has a beautiful view of the sunset, and there are ponds. There are horses on the property, and it’s very cheap for tent camping. The staff was amazing. She showed us around with her 4x4 the whole property, the horses, and the pony or a donkey. The showers were pretty decent and cleaned
I would recommend this place for everyone
ScoutTook a road trip in are RV over the summer last year and stumbled across this place they had it all water hookup waste hook up and were very reasonable on price definitely recommend
Equestrian camping options near Junction, Illinois provide convenient access to the Shawnee National Forest's extensive trail systems. Located in southern Illinois where the terrain transitions from rolling hills to rocky outcroppings, the region maintains a humid continental climate with typically mild winters and hot summers. Camping elevations range from 350 to 500 feet above sea level, creating varied trail experiences with occasional steep inclines.
Explore diverse trails: Several trailheads accessible directly from Camp Cadiz Campground connect to the River to River trail for extended hiking adventures. "The entire area has extensive trails through some awesome, hilly, rocky, cliffy areas. There are some excellent things to see," notes one visitor to nearby equestrian facilities.
Discover hidden historical sites: Walk or ride to secluded areas containing remnants of early settlements. "We even hiked down the forest road and found a hidden cemetery tucked away," shares a Camp Cadiz visitor who appreciated the less-traveled paths.
Seasonal mushroom hunting: Spring visitors can search for prized morel mushrooms in the forest. "It was also morel mushroom time so some people were hunting for them," reports a Camp Cadiz reviewer who camped during this special season.
Swimming and water activities: Harmonie State Park Campground offers an Olympic-size pool during summer months. "Olympic size pool open during summer-has water slide, diving boards, separate baby pool with shade awning, and concessions," explains one camper describing the facilities.
Spacious, private sites: Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground receives praise for its layout. "Little Lusk is the most Spacious and beautiful equestrian campground in southern IL. Campsites are spacious and can accommodate very large rigs," notes one equestrian camper.
Well-maintained horse facilities: Horse owners appreciate the care put into equestrian amenities. "Love the sites most have a little shade and the stalls are nice and safe," comments a visitor to High Knob Campgrounds, one of several horse campgrounds near Junction, Illinois.
Quiet, rustic atmosphere: Many campers value the peaceful environment. "I love this campground. It's super quiet despite the gravel road nearby," writes a Camp Cadiz visitor who enjoyed the tranquility of the remote setting.
Access to multiple trail systems: The ability to ride directly from camp onto trails rates highly. "A good staging area for Shawnee NF treks with several trailheads to pick from," explains one equestrian camper describing the convenient trail access.
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian campgrounds in the region fill quickly during peak seasons. "I arrived at 7pm on Friday and snagged the last site," notes a Camp Cadiz visitor, highlighting the importance of securing spots early.
Variable shower conditions: Bathroom facilities quality differs between campgrounds. "The potty area is clean but showers are usually kinda gross," reports a High Knob visitor, while others note clean facilities at different locations.
Road conditions: Many access roads are unpaved and can become dusty. "Every vehicle that went by generated dust which then coated everything in our camp," cautions a Camp Cadiz reviewer about sites near forest roads.
Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for local wildlife visiting campsites. "While we were there, a small pack of 3 local dogs wandered through the campground which was a bit concerning at first, but they were all friendly," shares a Camp Cadiz camper.
Playgrounds and activities: Shawnee Forest Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "Great little stop, everything is clean and a fresh shower was refreshing," reports a recent visitor appreciating the well-maintained facilities.
Seasonal events: Some campgrounds host special activities during holidays. "They had a trunk or treat in the pool parking lot and although there weren't a ton of vehicles, it was definitely enough for the kids to have fun trick or treating," shares a Harmonie State Park visitor describing Halloween festivities.
Nature learning opportunities: Several campgrounds offer educational programs. "They have a nature center in the middle of the campground that is open Thursday-Sunday in the summer," notes a Harmonie State Park camper.
Fishing options: Kids enjoy catch-and-release fishing at several locations. "They have a small lake and two ponds for fishing," mentions a Shawnee Forest Campground visitor describing recreational options.
Site selection strategy: Choose sites away from main roads for less dust and noise. "If you come here, we suggest taking the site that is furthest from the road. They had shade as well as sun and no dust," recommends a Camp Cadiz RVer.
Hookup locations: At Bear Branch Campground, full hookup sites are available. "Electric sewer and water at a lot of sites," confirms a visitor describing the amenities.
Leveling challenges: Be prepared with leveling blocks at some campgrounds. "Our site was not level and with all the rain we had, there were water puddles at the steps," cautions a Shawnee Forest visitor about site conditions.
Supply planning: Limited shopping options mean coming prepared is important. "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," advises a Camp Cadiz visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Junction, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Junction, IL is Camp Cadiz Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Junction, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 21 equestrian camping locations near Junction, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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