Horseman's Park in Sand Ridge State Forest provides primitive equestrian camping facilities approximately 45 miles west of Normal, Illinois. The campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with sites designed for horse owners. While the facility does not have electric hookups, it offers drinking water, picnic tables, and toilet facilities. The park maintains several trails suitable for horseback riding through the forest's varied terrain. Sites must be reserved in advance and can fill quickly during peak riding seasons. The campground area features open spaces for horse trailers with ample parking for larger rigs and towing vehicles.
The extensive trail system at Sand Ridge State Forest connects directly to the campground, allowing riders immediate access to forest paths. Trail options range from short loops to longer routes through pine plantations and native oak-hickory forests. Water access for horses is available at designated points along the trails. The toilet facilities are basic but regularly maintained. Sites are spaced to provide adequate room for setting up temporary paddocks or high-lines for horses. Most trails remain open year-round, though spring conditions can sometimes be muddy after rainfall. The forest encompasses over 7,000 acres of ridged sand dunes and woodlands, offering diverse terrain for trail riding experiences. Weather conditions and seasonal hunting activities may affect trail availability, so checking with park staff before arrival is recommended.
"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
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."
"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."
"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!
Horseman's Park in Sand Ridge State Forest offers equestrian campers spacious sites approximately 45 miles from Normal, Illinois. Each site includes tie-up posts and ample room for trailers. The state forest maintains over 15 miles of riding trails through unusual terrain featuring sandy ridges and pine plantations that contrast with typical Illinois landscapes. Water access points for horses are available at designated locations throughout the trail system.
Trail riding through sand dunes: Explore unique sandy terrain on horseback at Sand Ridge Horse Campground. "The ranger said it tires everyone because it's steep hills of sand," notes Art S., who recommends the yellow loop for energetic horses needing a workout. The unusual sandy soil creates a desert-like riding experience unlike most Midwestern trails.
Fishing at local lakes: Cast a line at Comlara County Park where campers can fish directly from lakefront sites. "We got a beautiful spot right on the lake," reports Sarah S., who appreciated the convenient water access. The park contains Jones Pond and larger Evergreen Lake with various fishing spots throughout.
Winter camping options: For off-season adventures, Jubilee College State Park remains open through December 31st with pit toilets available year-round. "Especially like winter truck camping here. The pit toilets are always available in the winter, and I usually have the park to myself," shares Jonathan J., who enjoys cold-weather solitude.
Secluded tent sites: Moraine View State Recreational Area offers rustic tent camping away from RV areas. "Upon finding the rustic tent sites, we'd wished we'd known about that area before going. Those were still a little close together but were at least wooded and you could walk from your car," explains Ryan M., who found these sites preferable to the main camping area.
Riverside camping spots: Camp alongside flowing water at Deer Creek Campground, where peaceful riverside sites provide natural soundscapes. "Near the back you can camp right alongside the river," notes Kate M., who appreciated the campground's quiet atmosphere and clean facilities despite minimal amenities.
Night sky viewing: Several campgrounds near Normal offer excellent stargazing opportunities away from city lights. "The viewing of stars is incredible," mentions Joe M. about Jubilee College State Park. The prairie landscape provides unobstructed horizon views, particularly during clear fall and winter nights when humidity levels drop.
Limited water sources: Sand Ridge State Forest lacks reliable water sources along trails, requiring careful planning for hikers and riders. "My only real complaints are the lack of water sources, and the inconsistencies between the trail map and the actual trail," notes Joy H., who recommends carrying all necessary water when exploring the forest.
Seasonal insect populations: Tick and mosquito activity peaks during summer months at most campgrounds near Normal. "The bugs (of all kinds including ticks and mosquitoes) are pretty terrible and I would recommend going either in the early spring or late fall. Not June," advises Joy H. about Sand Ridge State Forest.
Lake conditions vary: Water quality at some lakes fluctuates seasonally. "Lake has had a lot of algae over the last couple years," reports Julie about Moraine View State Recreational Area. Some campgrounds impose additional fees for lake access beyond camping costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Normal, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Normal, IL is Comlara County Park with a 3.6-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Normal, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Normal, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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