Located in southern Illinois, Karnak is a gateway to outdoor activities in the Shawnee National Forest region. Elevations in this area range from 300-400 feet above sea level, creating varied terrain for riding and camping. The region experiences hot summers with high humidity and mild winters, which allows for year-round equestrian trail access at many locations.
What to Do
Trail exploration at Giant City State Park: The park offers multiple riding trails that wind through sandstone bluffs and wooded areas. A camper notes, "There's a ton of nearby trad and sport climbing. The main wall stays wet for a while so if it has recently rained you may need to find somewhere else" - Giant City State Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes within a 30-minute drive provide fishing options for campers seeking water activities. "They have a small lake and two ponds for fishing. There's no formal dog area, but there are paved trails around the large CG area, which made it nice to walk our dogs" - Shawnee Forest Campground.
Waterfall hiking: Several campgrounds provide access to seasonal waterfalls within short hiking distances. "There are hiking trails right from the campground. Short trail leads from campground to the limestone cliffs. Once darkness hit the fireflies in the forest were magnificent!" - Deer Ridge Campground.
What Campers Like
Equestrian facilities: Stalls and corrals are available at select campgrounds for those seeking equestrian camping near Karnak, Illinois. "Very neat riding and views... great trails and maps available store and cowboy church. Permanent sites available" - Hayes Canyon Campground.
Family-friendly amenities: Most campgrounds in the area offer clean facilities. "Clean bathroom facilities and the park used to have an interp center but I believe the state closed it do to funding. The trails aren't always maintained it definitely depends on the season but the park itself is not to be missed" - Giant City State Park.
Scenic views: Many sites offer views of water features or forest settings. "One of my favorite in LBL. Tons of deer, and skunks, but they don't bother you" - Canal Campground- Lake Barkley COE.
What You Should Know
Seasonal considerations: Trail conditions vary significantly throughout the year. "Lots of amazing, beautiful hikes in this park, especially if you're into bluffs and large boulders. Easy drive to many other picturesque and unique parks (i.e. Garden of the Gods, Ferne Clyffe)" - Giant City State Park.
Reservation systems: Some campgrounds require advance reservations while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis. "We'd seen signs for Shawnee Forest Campground many times as we headed out and back from our St. Louis home base and wanted to check this CG out. We followed our GPS to the clearly marked CG entrance but our GPS showed we still had about a half mile to go" - Shawnee Forest Campground.
Water access limitations: Not all sites offer water hookups, so planning is essential. "Not all sites have water hookups, you may need to fill your tank before setting up camp. Sites are flat and most are pull through" - Canal Campground.
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground availability: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. "They have a small playground, beach, several bath houses, a group camping 'pad', boat ramp, boat dock and easy roads for cycling" - Canal Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The area is rich in native wildlife viewing. "Overall we've really enjoyed our stay. Came over the Labor Day weekend and staying a week. Super friendly camp host, conveniently located off the interstate and feels pretty secure and tranquil" - Dutchman Lake Camp.
Easy access trails: Many locations feature shorter, more manageable trails for younger hikers. "Great covered spots, trails to and from the campground all across the park, great personnel, accessibility throughout the park, scenic locations within a mile walk from the campground (Ferne Clyffe Waterfall)" - Deer Ridge Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: Many campgrounds require leveling equipment. "Our site was not level and with all the rain we had, there were water puddles at the steps. There are some nice sites in this CG but we were not offered one of the better ones even though there were plenty of sites open in the upper 26-50 site area" - Shawnee Forest Campground.
Hookup locations: Positioning of utilities varies by site. "The water and electric (50/30/20 AMP) are at the back of the gravel pad. There are two sewer hookups, which was nice. The water pressure was good around 50 psi" - Shawnee Forest Campground.
Road access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. "The gravel roads are slightly narrow with some trees but we did not have any issues getting to site 21" - Shawnee Forest Campground.
