1 campground with availability this weekend
Hayes Canyon Campground provides horse corral facilities for equestrian campers in the Ozark region of Illinois. Located near the Shawnee National Forest, this campground accommodates tent camping, RVs, and offers cabins and glamping options with drive-in access. The campground features full amenities including drinking water, electric hookups, fire rings, showers, and toilets. The dedicated horse corrals allow riders to properly secure their horses while staying at the campground. Visitors note the great trails and scenic views available to riders directly from the campground.
Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground serves equestrian visitors with spacious campsites that accommodate large rigs. Located at 50 Barger Road in Stonefort, high lines installed behind sites provide convenient horse restraint options. The campground features stalls available by reservation and offers a mix of full hookup and primitive camping sites. The property includes an arena and large event barn that can be reserved for gatherings. Multiple access points to Shawnee National Forest trails connect riders directly to the trail system. Campers can ride or hike directly into the national forest from the property. The campground's proximity to forest trails makes it convenient for daily rides without trailering horses to different locations.
"We followed our GPS to the clearly marked CG entrance but our GPS showed we still had about a half mile to go."
"Super friendly camp host, conveniently located off the interstate and feels pretty secure and tranquil. I will say some of the gravel was washed out which is surprising given how dry it’s been."
from $40 / night
"Ferne Cliffe State Park is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, in the southern part of Illinois."
"Dog friendly, pretty well spaced out campsites but some are used as paths with to get to farther back campsites. Good set up, not too close to neighbors and it’s heavily wooded in between."
"We pulled in around midnight and left at 8 am."
"It’s off the highway down Amish/Dutch country. It has a maintained gravel road beautiful lake and in June it’s covered with lightening bugs. Lots of wild flowers and the sunset- WOW!"
"Little Lusk is the most Spacious and beautiful equestrian campground in southern IL. Bring your horses, or just come and camp and stay in the lodge. "
"There are horses on the property, and it’s very cheap for tent camping. The staff was amazing. She showed us around with her 4x4 the whole property, the horses, and the pony or a donkey."
from $30 / night
"There are currently 25 equestrian camp sites in this park in a different area than the normal RV and Tent campground."
"Each site has electricity and access to water. Some have more.
All the hiking in the park is some of the best in Illinois. The visitors center has a lot of great information."
"A luxurious crowded but nice campsites older stalls cabins available great trails and maps available store and cowboy church. Permanent sites available"
from $15 - $32 / night
"Under new ownership buy many cabins from 40 a night on up nice shower houses electric sewer and water at a lot of sites great trails well marked maps available stalls available store and restaurant to"
from $30 - $200 / night
"You have to walk from the parking lot into the basic sites but they are super close. Trying here was nice, and campsites a quiet and well taken care of."
"This is a quiet family campground, most spots are lake side. Very spacious and lots of trees. First come first serve, and the park was full most of the time we were here."
"Overall the campground was full but not very many people around. Appears many locals take spots on the weekends & then hold onto them during the week."
from $6 - $16 / night
GuideQuiet clean campground, 8 sites, one water spigot, pit toilets, hiking and biking, 9 miles to Garden of the Gods. Campground is right next to road. Local traffic is minimal, most sites will accommodate 30ft trailer or motor home.
ScoutRend Lake, in Whittington, Il is just a great place to camp. From primitive to full hook ups they have what you need for a Corps of Engineers campground.
GuideI stayed at a walk-to tent site for which the price was $8 per night. Pretty solid Verizon cell signal. Clean showers and well kept. The place did sound pretty loud as far as older partiers, though around 9pm, it was near silent. I'd definitely stay here again.
GuideCampground was quiet and peaceful when I was there. Numerous trails within the park and I had them to myself while out hiking.
GuideThis is the third time we’ve stayed here just using it as an overnight on the way to and from home on our way out west. Great campground with full hook up service in some sites and a view of the lake.
GuideWe arrived at 7 picked a spot in the fcfs area and were surprised that it was almost empty. We got a premium site on the water, with no other campers in sight. The website says the reservation areas were full but that was not true, you have to book 4 days in advance. The camp host was great! It will be on my list of places to overnight in the future. But the lake is beautiful and you could spend multiple days there if you wanted!
GuidePaved roads and campsites. Convenient to the interstate but removed enough to be peaceful. Beautiful sunset at the lake. Bathhouse is outdated but functional.
ScoutVery family oriented place to camp and adventure with the kiddos
GuideMet up with some family at this campground had a nice time. Everything was clean. The bathrooms were magnificently clean at the South Sandusky in Rend Lake. The lake was nice. There was lots of trees very very nice campground.
Equestrian campers in southern Illinois find multiple options spanning Shawnee National Forest. Trail riding campgrounds near Ozark, Illinois offer direct access to forest trails through varied terrain. Facilities range from basic corrals to full-service stables with dedicated amenities for horses and riders. Many sites accommodate large rigs with ample parking for trailers.
Trail access exploration: Shawnee Forest Campground provides an excellent base for exploring the surrounding forest. Located on a former golf course, the campground features paved walking trails that were once cart paths. "There's a small lake and two ponds for fishing," notes MickandKarla W., highlighting additional recreation options beyond hiking.
Waterfall viewing: At Ferne Clyffe State Park, visitors can hike directly from the campground to scenic limestone formations. As Hannah S. describes, there are "trails to and from the campground all across the park" and "scenic locations within a mile walk from the campground (Ferne Clyffe Waterfall)."
Climbing opportunities: Giant City State Park offers rock climbing for experienced visitors. According to Josh M., "For climbers, there is 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."
Accessible trail systems: Horse riding facilities at Bear Branch Campground receive high marks from equestrians. Alicia B. notes the campground has "great trails well marked maps available stalls available" making it easier for riders to navigate the forest system.
Lake fishing access: Crab Orchard Lake provides shoreline fishing opportunities with excellent catches. One visitor reports, "Fishing was good (especially catfish and crappie)" while noting multiple nearby trails within a "10-30 minute drive" for additional outdoor activities.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting creates opportunities to observe native species. Sunshine Z. chose Giant City State Park Campground for this reason, stating: "Camp grounds were clean, quiet, and the camp host and park ranger were very kind. There is a nice trail across from the primitive camping site which also has a pond for fishing as well."
Seasonal considerations: Camping in southern Illinois requires planning around weather conditions. During spring, review Tracie E. mentions "Lots of hot water" for showers at Crab Orchard, which proves helpful during variable temperatures.
Site selection strategy: At Shawnee Forest Campground, MickandKarla W. advises: "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... If we come back, we'll know where to ask for a site."
Trail marking limitations: Hannah H. notes at Equestrian Campground that while sites are "quiet and well taken care of," be aware that "trails in this park are not clearly marked and they do not offer maps you can take with you."
Evening wildlife viewing: Ferne Clyffe State Park offers remarkable natural displays after dark. Stephanie S. reports: "Once darkness hit the fireflies in the forest were magnificent!" This natural light show provides entertainment without additional equipment.
Easy-access hiking: Dutchman Lake Camp provides immediate nature access for families. Matthew Z. describes it as a "Beautiful spot with easy access and not far off the highway," making it convenient for shorter trips with children.
Lodge dining option: Giant City offers alternatives to campfire cooking. Shana D. recommends: "While you are here, check out the Lodge for dinner one night and climb to the top of the water tower observation deck for some amazing views!"
Site leveling considerations: At Shawnee Forest Campground, review your site options carefully. Tonya B., traveling with a large rig, found the campground "Well maintained, big sites for our 40ft fifth wheel," but other visitors noted leveling challenges.
Hookup placement awareness: RV campers should note utilities location. At Shawnee Forest Campground, MickandKarla W. points out: "The water and electric (50/30/20 AMP) are at the back of the gravel pad. There are two sewer hookups, which was nice."
Satellite reception factors: For those requiring connectivity, Greg S. notes Shawnee Forest Campground has "the old golf cart paths as walking/biking paths" and "There are mature trees here and there in the CG, so satellite should not be an issue."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ozark, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ozark, IL is Shawnee Forest Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 37 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ozark, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 equestrian camping locations near Ozark, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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