Horseman's Park in Sand Ridge State Forest provides equestrian camping with tie-up posts at each campsite and picnic tables. The campground is arranged in a single loop with inner ring sites resembling a group setup, while outer ring sites offer more privacy against the woods. Vault toilets and multiple manure disposal areas are available throughout the campground. Most trails in the natural area are accessible to horses, with paths leading directly from the camp. The longest trail extends nearly 15 miles, and a separate day-use area across the road offers trailer parking for riders not staying overnight.
The sandy terrain at Sand Ridge State Forest creates a unique riding experience compared to typical Illinois trails. The Yellow Loop features steep hills of sand that provide an excellent workout for energetic horses. Jubilee College State Park Campground offers another horse-friendly option with well-maintained equestrian trails. Riders should be aware that hiking and hunting also occur in these areas, so vigilance on shared trails is necessary. The terrain at Sand Ridge includes sandy trails through mostly pine forest, creating an interesting change from typical Illinois landscapes. Both locations accommodate tent and RV camping, though amenities vary between the parks.
"Comlara is a beautifully laid out hidden gem in Illinois. Evergreen Lake is the perfect back drop to the campground."
"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
"Excellent horse trails. Went with a group of around 8 people and it was beautiful! Well maintained."
"The abundant forest, trails and the creek going through the park make this an ideal place to visit during spring and fall. Summer is ok too but may get a bit hot in Central Illinois for my taste."
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…
TravelerYou must pack in your own water and there are no electric hookups. Beautiful well maintained grounds with lots of open sky for starlink.
ScoutI live near this park and have used it regularly for years. It is certainly nothing special... just a nice average park. I usually do a combination van and tent camp here and it is totally adequate for that. It looks to be fine for RVs as well. The pit toilets are usually clean and relatively bug free. The shower house is clean and adequate. I just think of this as my "local campground"... my go to for a quick weekend getaway to set up and use my gear, and have friends out to share a fire. The park itself is nice, quiet and clean. You will see deer and raccoons. Jubilee is off a County Highway (Rt 150), about 5 miles off I-74. Small town with DG and Gas stations are about 5 miles away; Peoria IL is 15ish miles away.
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.
GuideI have camped at this park several times over the last few years. Especially like winter truck camping here. The pit toilets are always available in the winter, and I usually have the park to myself. There’s a small fishing pond off the road a bit. The trails will be closed for deer season though. I enjoy riding my bike around the park and down to the actual college. There is a really old cemetery at the college if you just want to creep yourself out at night.
GuideExcellent campground for those who want to relax and have quiet time. Nature trails are nicely groomed and mowed. Not a lot of amenities for families with young kids but bring your own corn hole bags and badminton. Nice for adults who want some peace and quiet.
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!
Equestrian camping near Mackinaw, Illinois offers riders access to terrain ranging from sandy pine forests to traditional Midwestern woodlands. The Mackinaw River valley creates varied elevation changes not typically found in central Illinois, with sandy soil providing excellent drainage during wet weather. Camping sites in this region range from primitive facilities to those with full hookups, with most horse-friendly campgrounds operating from April through October.
Ride sandy trails: At Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest, you'll find unique riding terrain compared to other Illinois locations. "The terrain is an interesting change from most IL hiking since the trails are incredibly sandy while the forest itself is mostly pine. Watch out for cacti along the trail!" notes Joy H. The Yellow Loop features challenging sandy hills for more experienced riders.
Fishing between rides: Comlara County Park offers camping with lake access for when you're not in the saddle. "We got a beautiful spot right on the lake. The campground has nice bathrooms and hookups," reports Sarah S. Sites near Jones Pond provide fishing opportunities between trail rides.
Mountain biking: When not riding horses, Jubilee College State Park Campground maintains trails for mountain biking. "There is a decent trail system, which supports hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The trails are well maintained and most are used on regular basis," explains Brooke C.
Spacious sites: Horse campers appreciate the layout at Horseman's Park. "The campground is one loop so the inner ring of sites are almost like a group site setup. The outer ring sites are more private and up against the woods," explains Art S. This configuration allows both social and private camping options.
Star visibility: The region's rural setting creates excellent night sky viewing. "Great campground to get out of the city. The viewing of stars is incredible," says Joe M. about Jubilee College State Park Campground. Light pollution is minimal throughout the region.
Fall colors: Seasonal changes create stunning backdrops for equestrian camping. "We got there in the dark and woke up to Fall colors, Canadian geese, trails, playgrounds," Jennifer M. says about Moraine View State Recreational Area. October through early November offers peak foliage viewing.
Water access fees: Some parks charge additional fees for water activities. At Comlara County Park, "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," reports Marcie J. Check current rates before planning water activities.
Campsite variations: Research specific loops before booking. At Moraine View State Recreational Area, Ryan M. notes, "We stayed until the main part where you could reserve online through Reserve America. Would not recommend that area to anyone. Sites are right on top of each other in every direction." Look for rustic tent sites or dispersed camping areas for more seclusion.
Wildlife encounters: The region supports diverse wildlife that may visit camping areas. "At about midnight there were at least 3 bobcats snarling and growling near our tents and then they circled our tents, sniffing them," reports Ashley C. Store food properly and maintain awareness of surroundings.
River camping: For a peaceful family experience, consider Deer Creek Campground. Kate M. shares, "Large, quiet campsites that are not too crowded. Near the back you can camp right alongside the river." River sites provide natural entertainment for children with shallow areas for splashing.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for kids. Nathan E. notes about Comlara County Park, "Great biking trails and a couple of great geocaches. Beach costs extra and all boats were rented out by 9am on Saturday." Arrive early to secure rentals during summer weekends.
Bring cleaning supplies: Bathroom facilities vary widely between parks. At Jubilee College State Park, one camper advises, "The shower house near loop B is not bad. Could be cleaner, but gets the job done." Pack sanitizing wipes and portable toilet paper for younger campers.
Site leveling needs: Many RV sites require adjustment equipment. "Site 28 unlevel. Requires several lifts. Site is very large however. Does have nice shade," reports Kathie M. about Comlara County Park. Bring extra leveling blocks, especially for larger rigs.
Electrical hookups: While most campgrounds offer electrical service, amps vary. At American Legion Freedom Farm Campground, you'll find electrical hookups but call ahead to confirm amperage for your specific needs. RVers report the park does not offer sewer or water hookups at individual sites.
Campground layout consideration: Park layout impacts the camping experience. Mike K. advises about Comlara County Park, "The layout is fairly straightforward here, entrance has a spot for firewood purchase (honor system) and then the dumpsters. So getting to firewood and garbage will take a little time if you're toward the back of the park." Position your RV to minimize trips to facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mackinaw, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mackinaw, IL is Comlara County Park with a 3.6-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Mackinaw, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Mackinaw, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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