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Best Equestrian Camping near Shawnee National Forest

209 Reviews

Hayes Canyon Campground offers the most comprehensive horse facilities near Shawnee National Forest with stalls available for overnight guests and spacious trailer parking areas. The campground features a riding arena, event barn, and multiple high-line areas behind campsites for securing horses. Campsites accommodate large rigs with full hookup options available for RVs. The property includes cabins for those preferring not to camp in tents or RVs. Crowded but nice campsites provide convenient access to trail systems throughout the region. The campground store provides basic supplies and feed for horses during extended stays. Camping near Little Lusk Trail Lodge allows direct access to several Shawnee National Forest trailheads with spacious sites accommodating very large rigs.

Riders can access numerous well-marked trail systems directly from these equestrian campgrounds, with maps available at both locations. Little Lusk Trail Lodge sits at the intersection of multiple forest riding routes and provides highline areas behind campsites for horses. The 50 Barger Road location positions campers for immediate access to forest trails. Most equestrian sites include electric and water hookups, though primitive camping options exist for those seeking a more rustic experience. The arena at Hayes Canyon provides a controlled riding environment when not on trails. Both properties maintain stall options that can be reserved in advance for those preferring not to use highlines. Riders consistently note the quality of trail marking and mapping throughout the connected trail systems. The Shawnee National Forest trails provide varied terrain and scenic views accessible directly from these horse-friendly facilities.

Map showing campgrounds near Shawnee National Forest, IllinoisExplore the Map

Best Equestrian Sites Near Shawnee National Forest (28)

    1. Shawnee Forest Campground

    36 Reviews
    Vienna, IL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-0619

    $40 / night

    "A nice stop to visit the Shawnee National Forest."

    "We followed our GPS to the clearly marked CG entrance but our GPS showed we still had about a half mile to go."

    2. Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    15 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 995-2411

    "Located near Shawnee National Forest. Beautiful area. Facilities nice. Hiking. Birding. Nature!!"

    "Ferne Cliffe State Park is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, in the southern part of Illinois."

    3. Dutchman Lake Camp

    4 Reviews
    Buncombe, IL
    11 miles

    "We pulled in around midnight and left at 8 am."

    "Beautiful spot with easy access and not far off the highway"

    4. Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground

    3 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    9 miles

    $30 / night

    "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. "

    "I will be back next time I'm near shawnee."

    5. Giant City State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Makanda, IL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 457-4836

    "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."

    6. Hayes Canyon Campground

    1 Review
    Eddyville, IL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 672-4751

    $15 - $32 / night

    "A luxurious crowded but nice campsites older stalls cabins available great trails and maps available store and cowboy church. Permanent sites available"

    7. Bear Branch Campground

    2 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 672-4249

    $30 - $200 / 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"

    8. Equestrian Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    1 Review
    Goreville, IL
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 995-2411

    "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."

    9. Crab Orchard Lake Crab Orchard NWR

    6 Reviews
    Bargerville, IL
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 985-4983

    "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."

    10. Camp Ondessonk

    Be the first to review!
    Ozark, IL
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 695-2489

    $6 - $16 / night

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Shawnee National Forest

2 Photos of 28 Shawnee National Forest Campgrounds

Equestrian Camping Reviews near Shawnee National Forest

209 Reviews of 28 Shawnee National Forest Campgrounds

  • d
    May. 29, 2019

    Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground

    A beautiful equestrian lodge and campground. Ride out of several trail hea

    Address: 50 Barger Rd, Stonefort, IL.

    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.  Ride or hike in the beautiful Shawnee National Forest.  Campsites are spacious and can accommodate very large rigs. High lines behind sites.  Stalls can be reserved. some sites are full hookup. Primitive camping also available.  CALL them for more info at 270-205-7138.  Arena and huge event barn on site. Event barn can be reserved for weddings.  Numerous sites have electric and water.  They have a Facebook page with numerous photos.

  • e
    May. 31, 2018

    Johnson Creek

    woods camping byo horse

    single, double, and triple camping spots set up on three loops in this small campground nestled in the corner of shawnee national forest. there's a central bath house located near check in. only amenities there are a pit toilet, so come prepared. drinking water available right outside the camp and most sites have a non-potable water spigot, horse hitch, and fire ring. close to lake kinkaid and johnson creek. there are a few trails that connect to this spot.

    if you have a golden pass then you can receive a discounted stay.

  • Stacia R.
    Apr. 27, 2019

    Johnson Creek

    off the beaten path

    Located on Kincaid Lake in the northwestern edge of the Shawnee National forest. The campground has three small loops. Two are more forested with smaller sites and one is more open on the edge of the forest, and geared up for equestrian camping. There are very basic pit toilets that were fairly new and clean. You can get potable water at the entrance. We camped here mid-April and the campground water spigots had not been turned on yet. Camping is $10 a night - self check in. No need to worry about finding firewood, as it is plentiful within the forest. Listened to owls at night before bed.

    We took a short ride to nearby Ava and checked out Scratch Brewery. Delicious and unique little place that is off the beaten path. Only open on weekends, but highly recommend.

  • Anton T.
    Jul. 31, 2016

    Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    Ferne Cliffe State Park

    Ferne Cliffe State Park is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, in the southern part of Illinois. It is not among the best known parks, and its distance from bigger cities makes it more obscure and less frequented than other places I have visited. The campground is small, situated on a limestone bluff which is cut by a small rivulet and some seasonal small waterfalls. The area is really a hidden gem - one has to hike down to discover the natural canyon with the awesome sites. The campground is clean and well maintained. A site of interest nearby is the Garden of the Gods wilderness, which 300 million years ago was the bottom of a sea. The whole area was spared by the glacier activity, yet the weathering of the rocks has given us a sandstone plateau with numerous hoodoos. Close nearby are also Cave in Rock and Land Between the Lakes, both worth seeing.

  • A
    Jul. 26, 2021

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    EV Car Camping

    I’m a novice car camper, sleeping in my Tesla Model 3. This campground is quiet and clean. The host is very friendly and knowledgeable. Each site has 50 amp electric service (so you can charge your EV with a NEMA 14-50 plug), fresh water, fire pits, and picnic tables. A nice stop to visit the Shawnee National Forest.

  • M
    Aug. 3, 2020

    Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    Quiet

    I stayed at Ferne Clyffe on a weekend in July 2020. I used this park as a base camp for exploring Shawnee National Forest and the Cache River Preserve. There’s a lot of outdoor things to do in this area. Ferne Clyffe is small. There’s one campground for RVs with electric hookups and another campground for more primitive camping. $8/night for primitive. The primitive sites require that you park your vehicle and carry in your equipment (less than 100 feet). You can pull your vehicle right up to sites 11 and 19. There were very few campers there when I visited. There is cellphone signal. Small fishing lake and a few hiking trails. Shower has at the electric campground. Pit toilets.

  • Priscilla B.
    Sep. 7, 2019

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    Converted Golf Course w/fishing ponds

    Relatively new. Has great potential. Located in Vienna, IL near Shawnee National Forest. It has 3 fish & release ponds. Sites were a bit hilly which stands to reason since it was converted from a golf course in 2016. Some sites are pretty long. It accommodated our 35ft. MH with attached car. Some sites are close together with very little shade. The campground had lots of open sites during our stay (3rd week in Aug), but during our stay 2 other short stay campers came in & they parked them right next to us. -Full hook ups available -Hosts were very friendly & provided insight to area. -Bath house - provided air conditioning. Although new & spacious there were only 4 in the entire campground & the toilet & shower were in same space. Upon arrival only 1 was open near us. Subsequently the 2nd was closed due to a water valve malfunction & wasn’t re-opened during our stay. My husband likes level sites & facilities he could use. He said he wouldn’t come back any time soon.

  • Michael M.
    Oct. 23, 2017

    Giant City State Park Campground

    Campground Improving in 2017

    There are currently 25 equestrian camp sites in this park in a different area than the normal RV and Tent campground. The campground is being upgraded this year in which I belive they are adding 50 amp full service to many of the electric only sites. There is currently walk in only unless you are reserving a horse camp. There are fantastic hiking trails and equestrian trails here and you would think you are in the mountains here. The geology is much like the Missouri area near the other bank of the Mississippi river. I have tent camped here and camped in a pop-up camper in the fall both times. Hiking is the best activity here unless you ride horses and that is great here too. This one and Wolf Creek on Lake Shelbyville are the best parks in Illinois for horse trails.

Guide to Shawnee National Forest

Horse camping near Shawnee National Forest in Illinois offers a unique experience for equestrians looking to explore the beautiful trails and scenic landscapes of the area.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like spacious sites and facilities

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

Tips for equestrian camping near Shawnee National Forest in Illinois

  • When visiting Giant City State Park Campground, be prepared for narrow roads and tight curves, which can be challenging for larger horse trailers.
  • At Crab Orchard Lake Crab Orchard NWR, it's advisable to arrive early, as many sites are first-come, first-served, especially during peak seasons.
  • Always check the amenities at Double M Campground to ensure they meet your needs, as some sites may have limited facilities for equestrian campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best horse camping sites in Shawnee National Forest?

Shawnee National Forest offers several excellent horse camping options. Johnson Creek features a dedicated equestrian camping area on one of its three loops, located in a more open area on the forest edge with spacious sites. Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground, though private, is known as the most spacious and beautiful equestrian campground in southern Illinois with direct access to forest trails. Both campgrounds provide easy forest access for riders seeking to explore Shawnee's extensive trail system.

What horseback riding trails are available in Shawnee National Forest?

Shawnee National Forest offers extensive horseback riding opportunities throughout its diverse terrain. High Knob Campgrounds provides access to numerous well-maintained trails specifically designed for equestrians, though some trail markers could be improved. The trails connect to the broader Shawnee Forest trail system. Giant City State Park, adjacent to Shawnee, maintains 25 equestrian campsites with access to dedicated riding trails through scenic limestone formations and woodlands. Trail maps are available at most equestrian-friendly campgrounds to help navigate the interconnected trail systems.

What amenities are provided at Bear Branch Horse Campground in Eddyville, Illinois?

Bear Branch Campground near Eddyville offers drive-in access with reservable sites specifically designed for horse camping. Amenities include potable water, toilet facilities, and sites spacious enough to accommodate horse trailers and larger vehicles. The campground is big-rig friendly for those with larger horse trailers. Sites include standard camping amenities like fire rings and tables. Located deep in the forest, Bear Branch serves as an ideal base for accessing the surrounding horse trails. Unlike some equestrian campgrounds in the area that offer only basic facilities, Bear Branch provides a good balance of necessary amenities while maintaining its rustic forest setting.

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