Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground offers specialized accommodations for riders and their horses approximately 33 miles from Olympia Fields, Illinois. The campground provides access to crushed gravel trails through wooded terrain along the Kankakee River system. Riders encounter varied terrain including wooded areas and open grasslands, with trail conditions that change seasonally based on rainfall and river levels.
What to do
Trail riding excursions: Several miles of maintained trails connect directly from the campground area, suitable for varying experience levels. "The park is quite expansive and impressive for this state. It's great during all times of the year," notes Andrea F. about Kankakee River State Park.
Rock climbing opportunities: Natural limestone formations present interesting climbing challenges for visitors. "There are some rock cliffs that are suspended over the Kankakee river and also over a creek that feeds it. These are great for climbing and scaling," explains a visitor from Kankakee River State Park.
Historical exploration: The Davis Creek area contains historical sites including a centuries-old cemetery. "This site is near a small cemetery that has tombstones that are hundreds of years old," reports Phillip L., mentioning that "There is a short hike that crosses a bridge and it goes along the river."
Mountain biking: Wide, maintained paths accommodate bikes throughout the park system. "We loved riding our bikes along the river and just being away from the hustle and bustle," says Jacqueline F. at Leisure Lake Resort.
What campers like
Natural privacy between sites: Dense vegetation creates secluded camping spaces. "Spacious sites with lush jungle-like greenery grown in between, which provides perfect privacy," reports Yang L. about Kankakee River State Park.
Helpful camp hosts: Staff receive consistently positive feedback for their assistance and knowledge. One camper from Big Rock Forest Preserve mentioned, "The camp hosts were amazing! Very friendly and helpful!" Another camper at Kankakee River noted that "The camp hosts were really fantastic and made it feel like family."
Clean facilities: Shower houses and restrooms are generally well-maintained with occasional holiday weekend exceptions. "The shower house was good. We went during July 4th so it was busy, but the team came out to clean up promptly," states Linda N.
Open layout for group camping: Certain sections offer connected sites suitable for families camping together. "16&17 Osage loop also open to 9&10 on Hickory loop. With a lot of space between so no site setup is on top of each other," notes Shannon H. at Big Rock Campground.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many campsites require advance booking, especially during peak season. "The sites are really limited around here so I recommend reserving weeks earlier or just come early," advises Phillip L.
Water supply limitations: Access to potable water varies by campground section. According to visitors at Big Rock Campground, "Water hookup is far behind camping pad - bring extensions!" and "The water spigots are kind of far from the individual sites (make sure you have extra hose)."
Seasonal closures: Some campground sections close during certain months. "Potowatomi Campground and Chippewa Campground are not opened for the entire 2016," reported one visitor, indicating that operational schedules vary by section.
Site variations: Campsite quality and size differ significantly within the same campground. "The sites are straightforward and vary quite a bit: some are huge with open green space and others I feel like just for a car and a tent," reports Linda N.
Tips for camping with families
Reptile encounters: The nature center offers supervised reptile interactions for children. "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. from Kankakee River State Park.
Playground considerations: Play areas lack shade during summer months. "Playgrounds are unfortunately exposed so it was not suitable for the 100 degree days we had," warns a camper about summer conditions.
River safety: The Kankakee River permits wading but prohibits swimming due to currents. "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)," notes one visitor.
Site selection for tents: Not all sites accommodate ground tents effectively. "Two were very small (14&15), and little grass for tent setup, fine for RV or trailer campers... 16&17 were amazing for tents!! Open, tall trees for our tight rope and hammocks and shade. Grass for tents," advises Shannon H.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup availability: Power connections vary by campground section. At Kankakee River State Park, electric hookups are available in the main campground but not in the equestrian section, which offers more basic amenities focused on horse camping needs.
Site levelness: Most RV sites require minimal leveling. Rodney D. noted about Big Rock Campground, "Campsites are flat," while another visitor confirmed, "The spaces are pretty level."
Dump station access: Sanitary stations are typically positioned near campground exits. "The dump station is good," reports Jeff G., though he cautions that non-county residents face higher fees at some locations.
Ranger
