Equestrian camping near Morris, Illinois offers specialized facilities in state parks within driving distance of the town. The area features a mix of prairie and woodland terrain with elevations ranging from 500 to 650 feet above sea level. Winter camping options are limited, with most equestrian campgrounds closed from December through March due to freezing conditions and trail preservation efforts.
What to do
Trail riding: At Big Rock Campground, riders can access nearby forest preserve trails. "There appears to be some equestrian space and trails. Quiet," notes Jeff G., highlighting the less crowded nature of these routes compared to state park options.
Canoeing and kayaking: The Kankakee River provides paddling opportunities near equestrian camping areas. "The river was nice to visit and we were able to take the kids to some knee deep water to play (swimming is NOT allowed in the river)," shares Linda N. about her experience at Potowatomi Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Look for deer, wild turkeys and birds while hiking trails that connect to equestrian areas. "If you are especially quiet, you'll come across no shortage of white-tailed deer or wild turkeys foraging through the crabapple and plum trees that are scattered throughout the forest," writes Stuart K. about Matthiessen State Park Equestrian Campground, located approximately 20 miles from Morris.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many equestrian campgrounds offer larger sites than standard camping areas to accommodate trailers. "Sites are spacious and nicely shaded," says Stuart K. about Matthiessen State Park Equestrian Campground, making it easier to set up camp with horses.
Trail access: Direct trail connections from camping areas to riding paths ranks high on equestrian campers' priority lists. "Great hiking abounds in this particular Illinois SP where there exists a combination of EZ, intermediate and difficult hiking and riding paths," notes a review of Matthiessen State Park.
Clean facilities: Basic but well-maintained amenities matter to equestrian campers. At Paul Wolff Campground, "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," reports Marisa A.
What you should know
Registration requirements: Most equestrian campgrounds in the area operate on a first-come, first-served basis. As Stuart K. explains about Matthiessen, "There's a registration envelope that you'll pick up when you arrive at Matthiessen SP, where you'll simply need to fill this out with your name, # of days that you are planning to stay and then deposit the envelope in the drop-off kiosk."
Horse-only restrictions: Some campgrounds only permit campers with horses. "Got kicked out cause I didn't have a horse. Even though it was completely empty," warns Amanda C. about her experience at Matthiessen State Park Equestrian Campground.
Limited amenities: Prepare for basic facilities at most equestrian sites. "The facilities are basic-to-bad, so lower your expectations and bring your own sanitary wipes," advises Stuart K. about camping with horses at Matthiessen State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Ranger programs: Some parks offer educational opportunities for children. At Potowatomi Campground, "We did have a really awesome time at the main office/nature center, where my kiddos got to feed and hold a variety of reptiles!" shares Linda N.
Playgrounds: Look for sites near play areas, but consider seasonal timing. "Playgrounds are unfortunately exposed so it was not suitable for the 100 degree days we had," notes Linda N. about Kankakee River State Park facilities.
Water activities: Shallow water access points provide safer options for families with children. "The river was nice to visit and we were able to take the kids to some knee deep water to play," reports a family camper at Potowatomi Campground.
Tips from RVers
Water supply planning: At many campgrounds, water sources aren't conveniently located near each site. At Leisure Lake Resort, "Water quality has been very bad. On one occasion, our pet had stomach issues after drinking tap water, which was concerning," warns Iryna R., suggesting RVers bring filtration systems.
Level sites: Most equestrian campgrounds provide reasonably flat parking areas for trailers. "The spaces are pretty level," notes Jeff G. about Big Rock Forest Preserve, making it easier to stabilize both living quarters and horse trailers.
Hookup limitations: Electric options vary between parks, with some offering no hookups at equestrian sites. "There is electrical 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," explains a reviewer about Big Rock Campground.
