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Equestrian Camping near Lake in the Hills, IL

12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Rock Cut State Park offers equestrian camping facilities with dedicated trails and separate camping areas for horse owners. The park maintains an equestrian campground distinct from its other camping loops, providing riders direct access to miles of bridle paths throughout the 3,000-acre property. Horse trails wind through wetlands, tall grasses, and protected forest preserves, creating varied terrain for riders of all experience levels. The equestrian campground includes shared corrals spaced every four or five campsites and designated animal waste collection areas throughout the grounds.

    Located approximately 50 minutes from Chicago's outer suburbs, Rock Cut State Park's equestrian area features amenities specifically designed for horse camping. The grounds include mounting blocks for beginners or young riders and ample trailer parking. Both electric and non-electric campsites are available, each equipped with picnic tables and fire rings. The campground provides convenient bridle areas throughout the property and access to the extensive trail system that connects to Pierce Lake. Pit toilets are available throughout the grounds, while a newer building houses flush toilets and showers. The equestrian trails remain accessible year-round, though water facilities close at the end of October.

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    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Lake in the Hills (12)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Paul Wolff Campground

      3.9(21)8mi from Lake in the HillsRVs, Tents

      "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

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      2. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

      4.3(8)14mi from Lake in the HillsRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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

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      3. Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

      4.0(79)34mi from Lake in the HillsRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Of all of the campgrounds that I have visited in Illinois, I would say that Rock Cut State Park is the best that I have seen. It boasts as being the largest State Park in Northern Illinois."

      "The park is very large(the largest in northern Illinois) and has multiple campgrounds. I stayed in the Prairie View campground. Trees all around, plenty of shade."

      from $12 - $50 / night

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      4. Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

      3.9(13)19mi from Lake in the HillsRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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)."

      5. Fox Den Campground — Chain O' Lakes State Park

      4.3(12)19mi from Lake in the HillsRVs, Tents

      "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."

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      6. Big Foot Beach State Park Campground

      3.6(24)26mi from Lake in the Hills101 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Conveniently located next to Lake Geneva with a tiny roadside beach area. I recommend camping sites on the west side of the camping loop to cut down on sun. Not enough electric sites for campers."

      "We stayed at site 98- just barely big enough to fit our travel trailer in and right next to the showers and bathrooms. Not a great location, but fine."

      from $24 - $39 / night

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      7. Big Rock Campground

      3.8(19)31mi from Lake in the HillsRVs, Tents

      "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

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      8. Kishwaukee Valley Farms

      Be the first to review15mi from Lake in the HillsTents, Glamping

      from $74 - $100 / night

      9. Elkhorn Campgrounds

      4.3(4)35mi from Lake in the HillsRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn, EAHS, and the horse areana. You might even be able to catch a show or two on site at the fair grounds, depending on the time of year."

      "Easy access to electric and/or water. If unsure, contact office. Site, restrooms, and showers were clean. There are a lot of sites but still felt like there was ample space."

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      10. Rock Cut Equestrian Campground

      4.0(1)35mi from Lake in the HillsRVs, Tents

      "If your family's perfect camping trip includes saddling up and exploring miles of wooded trails together, the Equestrian Campground at Rock Cut State Park offers a wonderfully peaceful place to spend a"

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    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Lake in the Hills, IL

    185 Reviews of 12 Lake in the Hills Campgrounds

    • Maria Mercedes M.The Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 1, 2026

      Rock Cut Equestrian Campground

      A Peaceful Retreat for Horse-Loving Families

      If your family's perfect camping trip includes saddling up and exploring miles of wooded trails together, the Equestrian Campground at Rock Cut State Park offers a wonderfully peaceful place to spend a few days. Tucked away from the park's busier camping loops, this rustic first-come, first-served campground provides spacious sites designed for campers traveling with horses, along with nearby potable water, restrooms and direct access to more than 14 miles of designated equestrian trails. While amenities are intentionally simple (erring on non-existent), the extra room to accommodate horse trailers and the quiet natural surroundings create exactly the kind of setting many riders are looking for. One of my favorite moments was watching families quietly prepare their horses in the early morning light before disappearing beneath the trees for a day on the trails, returning later with tired horses, dusty boots and smiles that needed no explanation. Arriving early is the best way to secure a site since camping is first-come, first-served and availability is limited. This campground is ideal for equestrian families given its spacious layout, direct trail access and peaceful atmosphere that allows both riders and horses to truly unwind.

    • Brian O.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 17, 2024

      Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

      Fine camping in Northern Illinois

      We stayed in the Turner lake south loop, which has nice and private sites. This is in contrast to Honeysuckle hollow which is open and row after row of RV sites. Fox den and Prairie view loops are nice as well with mostly primitive sites. Be aware that the map on www.ExloreMoreIL,com(where you make your reservations) doesn't show where the restrooms are. 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. Facilities are clean and well lit. Fire pits are slightly raised steel troughs with a heavy adjustable grill. This is a BIG park, the campgrounds are two miles from the front gate, and it's a drive to the main boat launch at Maple Grove, where you have access to the Fox River and Grass lake. This location has a huge parking lot for boat trailers, a very well stocked general store with fishing supplies, a cafe, boat rentals and good firewood. To get away from the crowd if you're a canoeist or kayaker it's nicer to leave the park and go back in at Oak Point picnic area and boat launch at the northern border. This will put you on the Fox river with developments to the north(including a bar& grill) or to the south which is all nature. I think the distance by boat between the two launches is 4-5 miles, but I'm not sure, Halfway there you'll meet up with the Goldfinch trail which is the shortest loop and the most diverse in term of flora. There are horse/ snowmobile trails, but no equestrian campground. Chain o' Lakes is one of the busiest waterways in Illinois, with motorboats everywhere in the height of the summer season. 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. An odd thing is that you can hear a Steam Train whistle quite often, this is from Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove. We don't have kids so we went to Stade's Farm& Orchard(which is also large and kid friendly) because they have an orchard and vegetable market. One last thing, the gates close at 10:PM and there are tire shredders, you can leave but you can't get back in… unless you want to walk 2+ miles in the dark:)

    • Matt S.
      Sep. 11, 2016

      Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

      Rock Cut State Park campground is huge!

      Of all of the campgrounds that I have visited in Illinois, I would say that Rock Cut State Park is the best that I have seen. It boasts as being the largest State Park in Northern Illinois. It has a large lake with almost 40 miles of hiking trails, including equestrian trails and an equestrian campground. There is boating and fishing as well as swimming in the lake.

      The campground staff is very helpful and do a good job at keeping it clean and well maintained even with the large number of visitors. Don't miss my interview with Marsha, one of the friendly staff members at Rock Cut State Park.

    • J
      Jun. 8, 2021

      Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

      Very nice campground

      Rock Cut St. Park is in the middle of an urban area, but you would not know it. The park is very large(the largest in northern Illinois) and has multiple campgrounds. I stayed in the Prairie View campground. Trees all around, plenty of shade. There is a central bathhouse with flush toilets and 3 showers. There is also a pit toilets throughout the park. Sites have electrical hookup, but water is from a hydrant or there is a dump station and water supply near the campground entrance. There are bike trails, hiking, and equestrian trails. You can swim in the lake at the east end of the park. Paddle boats, canoes and kayaks for rent as well as two boat ramps on the big lake in the middle of the park. The Plum Grove campground is more open between sites and sites are closer. Staghorn, White Oak, and Prairie View are father apart and have more under growth between sites. Hickory hills campgrounds is all tent sites and most are on the lake. Also there are AOA sites.

    • Judy B.The Dyrt Pro User
      May. 21, 2021

      Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

      Big park with lots of options for camping and recreation

      Rock Cut St. Park is in the middle of an urban area, but you would not know it.  The park is very large and has multiple campgrounds.  I stayed in the Plum Grove campground.  Trees were not really leafed out and some sites would have shade later in the year.  Site along the edge of the campground had ample shade.  There is a central bathhouse with flush toilets and 3 showers. There is also a pit toilet.  Sites have an electrical hookup, but water is from a hydrant.  There is a dump station and water supply near the park entrance.  There are bike trails, hiking, and equestrian trails.  I also believe that you can swim and boat here.

    • Marisa A.The Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 16, 2020

      Paul Wolff Campground

      Great value Chicago suburb campsite

      I've camped here four different occasions this 2020 covid-19 year. The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms. It is a super clean campground with multiple hosts and forest preserve staff. There are a large number of RV pads overlooking the prairie and a few along a grove of trees. I was lucky once to see the equestrian area full of campers with their horses. There are 9 walk-in tent sites about 10-20 yards from parking (the two at the end p7 and p9 are connected for groups that know each other). There are multiple ada sites and two "walk-in/ie roll-in" site in the tent-only area. It's a good mix of young people, retired people, and families. I've seen weekends with mainly RVs and one weekend with a quarter of the drive-in sites being tents. The most shaded sites are p1,3,5,7 and 9. Many of the sites in the middle are wide open with little shade but nice summer breezes. Prices are a great deal if you live in Kane county but still worth the trip if you live in another county. Firewood is $7 for about .75 cu ft (what you can fit in a milk crate.) There are a few trails and I've seen lots of butterflies, gold finches, hawks, deer, flocks of giant sandhill cranes, rabbits, ground squirrels, and of course actual squirrels. Lots of people (including me) bring their leashed dogs. The other campers have been polite and friendly. I wish there was more distance between sites in the water/electrical loops for more privacy, but I'd go every weekend if I lived in Kane county because it would be worth the resident price even tho there are so many RVs. Because there is electrical it is a peaceful campground with no generator noise.

    • Josh F.
      Dec. 3, 2020

      Horseriders Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit

      If I had a horse, I'd definitely camp here

      Driving on country roads to this campground, I drove past many many horse ranches. So it's no surprise that there is a dedicated campground for horseback riding in this state park. 

      Built for Large Gatherings

      There are a number of COVID-era regulations that as of this writing are in place, see photos of the signs posted. This campground is clearly built for large groups to hang out together. There is a large shelter with picnic tables and very convenient roll-up sides that can be used to protect people during inclement weather. There is also a large grill that would be great for serving many, and a very nice fire pit with fixed seating for a large group. 

      Ammenities

      There are also nice touches, such as a small stair-step for beginners or young people to mount their horse. And the campground has a little free library. There are electric and non-electric campsites, all seem to have a picnic table and fireplace. There are ample places to bridle horses and shared corrals every four or five campsites. There are also animal waste collection areas throughout the campground. There are several pit toilets throughout the campground, and one building with flush toilets and showers. It's a very nice and fairly new building.

      Group Campsite

      The group campsite has six sites and they are not pull through for trailers. There is a fire pit with fixed seating around it centrally-located in the group campsite. The group campsite does not have electric units. 

      And no surprise, there is easy access to horse trails throughout the state forest. 

      My Top Picks

      There are several sites along one side of the park that are a little more secluded and in a pine forest. They have picnic tables and fire pits like the others, they include 409, 410, 411, 412, 413. There's also a series of pull-through sites that would make it easier for those who don't care to back trailers in or out of the site. These include electric sites 405, 404, 403, 402, and 401.

      There's a nice couple of campsites at the end of one of the loops that affords a little bit of privacy, the only problem is they abut the main road and are a little noisy with car traffic. However, they are sweet sites. They include 427 and 428. Unfortunately, they camping here you would hear all of the car traffic while all the other campsites are much further away from the road.

    • M
      Jun. 2, 2021

      Paul Wolff Campground

      Not for #vanlife

      Full hook ups and electric sites plus some restricted Equestrian and walk in sites
      Not for #vanlife. I tried to pay for a tent site and was told “you’re not supposed to sleep in your car” “this campground is for RV’s only”

    • Jeff G.
      May. 21, 2019

      Big Rock Campground

      Wide open with very young trees

      Grass camping. The spaces 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. There is electric at the sites and water spigots throughout, although not really at each space. I saw where some campers hooked about 150’ of hose to spigots behind the loops to run to their campers. The dump station is good. It’s expensive, for what is there, if you are not a Kane County resident. There appears to be some equestrian space and trails. Quiet.

    Guide to Lake in the Hills

    Rock Cut State Park maintains dedicated equestrian camping areas designed specifically for riders. Located approximately 50 miles northwest of Lake in the Hills, the park provides equestrian-only accommodations with direct trail access and specialized amenities. The 3,000-acre property features variable terrain including wooded areas, open meadows, and access to Pierce Lake, creating diverse riding experiences for horse owners throughout northern Illinois.

    What to do

    Kayaking at Chain O' Lakes: At Chain O' Lakes State Park, visitors can explore multiple connected lakes via kayak or canoe. "I love to kayak through here because I don't need to paddle through the river unless I'm feeling competitive. I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far," shares Cora M. Water access points are available near Turner Lake South Camping Area.

    Hiking through woodlands: Kettle Moraine State Forest offers extensive trail systems through varied terrain. "Red Trail, Paradise Trail, Rice Lake are all great hikes. Great views of Lake Ottawa," notes Cathy L. The park maintains year-round accessibility with seasonal color changes making fall particularly popular for photographers and nature enthusiasts.

    Horseback riding: The equestrian area at Rock Cut State Park features nearly 40 miles of dedicated horse trails. "It has a large lake with almost 40 miles of hiking trails, including equestrian trails and an equestrian campground," explains Matt S. Riders must bring their own horses as rentals aren't available within the park.

    What campers like

    Clean facilities: Paul Wolff Campground receives consistent praise for maintenance. "The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms. It is a super clean campground with multiple hosts and forest preserve staff," writes Marisa A. The campground enforces cleanliness standards even during peak occupancy periods.

    Lake access: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers direct lake access for swimming and fishing. "Tent Campground is nicely tucked inside by the lake. Quit place night time I can hear fish jumping from the water. Clean bathrooms and shower," reports Leo V. The private lakefront sites provide space for fishing directly from campsites.

    Spacious sites: Big Rock Forest Preserve provides level camping areas with ample space. "Nice campground with big, level sites. Even though they don't take reservations, there is plenty of space and availability," mentions Melissa C. The preserve features a mix of prairie and woodland settings with sites distributed to maximize privacy despite limited mature tree cover.

    What you should know

    Limited tree cover: Newer campgrounds like Big Rock Campground lack mature shade trees. "This is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade," notes David W. Summer camping requires additional shade structures as most sites remain exposed to direct sunlight.

    Water hookup placement: At several campgrounds, water access points may require additional equipment. "Water hookup is far behind camping pad - bring extensions!" advises Amanda K. RV campers should pack extra hose lengths (50-100 feet) to reach communal spigots that serve multiple sites.

    Site reservation systems: Availability varies significantly between parks. Fox Den Campground at Chain O' Lakes requires advance planning while Big Rock operates on a first-come basis. "We would come back to Fox Den if other campgrounds were filled up. However reservations would be important to make first," recommends Art S.

    Tips for camping with families

    Beach activities: Big Foot Beach State Park offers swimming access but has limitations. "The beach is about 10 feet of sand off a busy road and is not pet friendly," warns Melissa B. Families should note that the beach area is small and borders a highway, potentially requiring supervision for younger children.

    Youth programs: Some parks offer educational activities for children. "Pick Up the activity book for kids it is a great adventure lots to do at the lake!!!" suggests Jill G. about Kettle Moraine State Forest. These ranger-led or self-guided programs typically run during summer months and holiday weekends.

    Budget-friendly options: Turner Lake South provides affordable camping near water. "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There's some small trails around as well that are beginner," shares Addison G. The campground maintains basic facilities with electrical sites available for slightly higher rates.

    Tips from RVers

    Electrical limitations: Older campgrounds may have infrastructure challenges. "We thought maybe it was our cord so we bought a new one and still nothing. We called the Rangers again who came to look at it. Told us that the park was just so old that it probably couldn't keep up and moved us to a 50 amp sight," recounts Rebecca C. about her experience at Rock Cut State Park. RVers should check amperage requirements before booking.

    Campground layouts: Elkhorn Campgrounds offers varying site conditions. "The outer lanes had shade, while our site was in the middle open area. Easy access to electric and/or water. If unsure, contact office," advises Dan W. RVers should request specific site information when making reservations to ensure appropriate hookup access and shade preferences.

    Dump station access: Several parks position dump stations near entrance/exit roads for convenient access. "It's clean and the comfort stations are new. There is electric at the sites and water spigots throughout, although not really at each space... The dump station is good," notes Jeff G. about Big Rock Forest Preserve. Most parks maintain single dump stations rather than individual sewer hookups at sites.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lake in the Hills, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lake in the Hills, IL is Paul Wolff Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 21 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Lake in the Hills, IL?

    TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Lake in the Hills, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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