Best Equestrian Camping near Sheffield, IL

Hennepin Canal Lock 21 Campground offers separate areas for equestrian campers and those without horses. The equestrian section includes wooden hitching posts for securing horses, with grassy sites surrounded by trees providing shade depending on the time of day. Vault toilets and water spigots are available, and the campground maintains a clean, well-maintained appearance. Franklin Creek State Natural Area Equestrian Campground provides horse corrals, picnic tables, and access to potable water. Both campgrounds accommodate tent and RV camping with horses, though facilities remain primitive. The equestrian campground at Matthiessen State Park is exclusively reserved for those with horses, with non-horse campers redirected elsewhere even when the campground is empty.

The Hennepin Canal Trail runs directly through Lock 21 Campground, connecting riders to multiple destinations along its length. Franklin Creek offers more than 12 miles of horse-friendly trails through 882 acres of prairie and hardwood forests. The terrain features slight variable grades with easy-to-maneuver turns, making it suitable for most riding skill levels. Trails at Matthiessen State Park provide a combination of easy, intermediate, and difficult riding paths with numerous places to tie up horses. The equestrian trails running along the Hennepin Canal allow horses to camp with their owners, though mosquitoes from the canal can be problematic during summer months. Most equestrian campgrounds in the region operate on a first-come, first-served basis with fees around $8 per night.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Sheffield, Illinois (10)

    1. Hennepin Canal Lock 21 Campground

    3 Reviews
    Sheffield, IL
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 782-6302

    $8 / night

    "Located literally just a few stone’s throw due west of the tiny town of Wyanet, which is just a few miles west of better-known Princeton, you will access this little spec of undisturbed primitive camping"

    "Small gravel bike trail along most of the canal. Nice place to kayak and canoe. Very nice visitor center open until 3 during the week, no weekends. Only $8 We saw a class A, so they do fit."

    2. Hennepin Canal Lock 22 Campground

    3 Reviews
    Mineral, IL
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 454-2328

    $8 / night

    3. Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Campground

    2 Reviews
    Sheffield, IL
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 454-2328

    $8 / night

    "Shade trees, soft grass, a nice trail to walk & great views. The stars in the night sky are breathtaking! This isn't some posh camping for someone looking to get a resort-feel."

    4. Jubilee College State Park Campground

    16 Reviews
    Brimfield, IL
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (309) 446-3758

    "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."

    5. Morrison-Rockwood State Park

    10 Reviews
    Morrison, IL
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 772-4708

    $20 / night

    "We saw an article about "Dutch Days" in nearby Fulton on www.OnlyInYourState.com, (first weekend in May) and thought it looked like fun."

    "We enjoyed the beautiful lake and cute restaurant/gift shop. We liked the different loops of campsites with pit toilets every where and a nice modern bathroom/shower house also."

    6. Rockwood State Park Campground

    2 Reviews
    Morrison, IL
    35 miles
    Website

    "Nice long trail, friendly people, and a cute little ice cream shop that was a lifesaver after a long hike."

    7. Matthiessen State Park Equestrian Campground — Matthiessen State Park

    3 Reviews
    Oglesby, IL
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 667-4726

    $10 / night

    "hey, there were some pretty outstanding trails to hike during the day and the friendly on-site ranger made a call over to nearby Starved Rock SP to secure me a camping spot over there, so not all was"

    "quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update:

    Highlights: (1) Great hiking abounds in this particular Illinois"

    8. Franklin Creek State Natural Area Equestrian Campground

    1 Review
    Nachusa, IL
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 456-2878

    $4 - $8 / night

    "Located just northwest of the little hamlet called Franklin Grove, which is just due north of Ronald Reagan’s birthplace in Dixon, Franklin Creek State Natural Area Equestrian Campground is ideal if you"

    9. Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground

    4 Reviews
    Long Grove, IA
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 328-3282

    $15 / night

    "Site is located in the very SE corner of the park with: charcoal grill, fire ring, outhouse, picnic table, recycle station adjacent, tie-up, hard surface for RV. No water onsite. Trails available."

    10. Hansen's Hideaway Ranch and Family Campground

    3 Reviews
    Mount Morris, IL
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 732-6489

    "Ever dreamt of working / living / camping on an actual working horse ranch?  Then you've arrived at the perfect spot.  "

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Sheffield, IL

2 Photos of 10 Sheffield Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Sheffield, IL

47 Reviews of 10 Sheffield Campgrounds


  • Matt S.
    Sep. 11, 2016

    Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Campground

    I'm not a fan of Hennepin Canal, you might like it if you want to camp with your horse.

    I will give the staff credit, the park is well maintained and looks very clean. Having said that, this park is right next to the Hennepin Canal, which is full of stagnant water, a breeding ground for millions of mosquitos.

    Honestly, it was difficult to even understand how camping worked at this park. If you are not a local you wouldn't know where the campground is... well, the camps are set on the trails that run parallel to the canal. That is the only thing I could figure out from the message board and some hiking. The entire time I did not see one tent or person camping.

    On the positive side, if you want to ride your horse the trails running along the canal are equestrian trails and allow horses to camp with you. The other positive is there is a cool walking bridge over the canal. These positives are not enough to overcome the fact that you are a juicy meal for the un-numbered mosquitos that live and breed in the canal.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 11, 2025

    Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground

    Open primitive County park site

    The site offers a hard service to park on, picnic table, fire, pit, charcoal, grill, outhouse, horse tie up, and equestrian trailhead. There is a recycling dump station nearby, and open space with shaded tree area. The park itself offers trails for hiking and biking, a pool, golf course, campgrounds, historical Pioneer Village, amenities, including firewood, ice, concessions. Pride Lake offers paddling and fishing.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2022

    Hennepin Canal Lock 21 Campground

    Camp along the Hennepin Canal

    This small campground has separate space for equestrian campers and those without horses. There are picnic tables, vault toilets and water. The campsites are all on grassy areas with trees at the edges. This gives you some shade depending on the time of day. The grassy sites were a bit unexpected. We saw tire marks showing that people drove into the grass to set up camp. Some of the sites were completely separate from anyone else by the camp road. You were entirely visible to anyone else in the park but it was empty during our stay. 

    The Hennepin Canal Trail goes right through camp. On a previous visit I rode my bike along the crushed gravel trail. With a few connecting roads, I traveled from a Chicago suburb to the Mississippi River. While I didn’t see any horses then we did see a couple riding on the trail today. 

    This is a good spot for an overnight rest but there isn’t much more to the amenities than the campsites.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 15, 2024

    Franklin Creek State Natural Area Equestrian Campground

    Primitive Equestrian Camping in the Prairies

    Located just northwest of the little hamlet called Franklin Grove, which is just due north of Ronald Reagan’s birthplace in Dixon, Franklin Creek State Natural Area Equestrian Campground is ideal if you are one of those primitive campers who want to take their noble steed(s) with them for the night in order to gallup along some pretty amazing horse-friendly trails. While there’s not a lot in the way of amenities here, if you need a post to tie up your horse, a round-about where they can go for countless circle walks along with plenty of hay to keep them fed, then this location might just be ideal for you.

    What I enjoyed most about Franklin Creek State Natural Area is the 882 acres of fresh prairieland that feels fairly untouched and ready for some eager exploration. There’s several small natural springs completely shadowed by endless forests of hardwoods along with all of the natural fauna that you would expect in these parts like gray and fox squirrels, white-tailed deer, racoons, chipmunks, beavers and opossums. If you’re a bird watcher, you’ll enjoy the flycatchers, warblers, and woodpeckers, vireos as well as barn and horned-rim owls. And according to the information I found on-site, there’s more than 19 species of fish that you can find in the fresh water streams, creeks and rivers here.

    From an amenities standpoints, while you will find 4 picnic shelters (Bartlett, Sunday, Banker and Hausen-Knox, all of which can be reserved), restrooms, potable drinking water, stand-up grills and fire pits, there is very little in the way of amenities in the actual equestrian campground apart from water spigots with a picnic shelter, restrooms, running water, show area and the occasional picnic table. The equestrian trails offer more than 12 miles of horse hoofing fun and the terrain is heavily forested with just slight variable grades increasing and decreasing around fairly easy-to-maneuver turns. You’ll also discover that there is a very nice stream here that the kids will love jumping across and / or wading in searching for crawdads or small fish.

    What you’ll enjoy most about being here, apart from the peace & quiet as well as the abundance of serenity is that this place has a really nice connection with history as it features a fully functioning grist mill that goes all the way back to early Americana where corn meal and wheat flour were made from the stream currents of water passing by that would fuel the grist mill. On weekends, you can actually take the kids to this site, located just 70 yards west of the Equestrian Campground for a super-cool interactive exhibition. Other activities here that you can access include an archery range, cross-country skiing, fishing, hiking, biking, hunting and even snowmobiling.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Should you get tired of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or on-board RV mini-fridge, then you are in luck as with in the nearby town of Franklin Grove, given its very small population of just slightly more than 1,000 souls shouldn’t have many restaurants (let alone stop lights), but thankfully for your sake, it does. Apart from the Casey’s gas station, which actually serves up some pretty awesome pizza believe it or not, there’s 3 proper restaurants all serving ‘down home Midwestern comfort food’ that are each pretty delectable: Lincoln Way Café, Rooney’s and Rev on 38; (2) If you are looking to explore a slice of history in these parts and the grist mill just isn’t your thing, head due west to Dixon where you can go explore the boyhood home of Ronald Reagan. There’s also nearby Chaplin Creek Historic Village featuring an old salt box farmhouse as well as a one room school, which will take you back to the late 1800s before the world knew modernization and technology; (3) Although the trail hiking at Franklin Creek State Natural Area are very good, should you be on the hunt for much more challenging trail hiking or biking, then head on over to either White Pines Forest State Park or Castle Rock State Park, both of which are only about a 20 minute drive from here and offer very large areas to explore; (4) Should you come with kayak or canoe and are looking for some good challenging currents to get some excellent oar-rowing in, you will struggle to find that here at Franklin Creek State Natural Area, so I highly recommend towing your watercraft over to the banks of the Rock River where you will be richly rewarded; and (5) When you are ready to book this particular equestrian campground, just go to the IL SP site to book it: https://camp.exploremoreil.com/location/221.

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 10, 2024

    Hennepin Canal Lock 21 Campground

    Bare Bones Primitive Camping Haven

    Located literally just a few stone’s throw due west of the tiny town of Wyanet, which is just a few miles west of better-known Princeton, you will access this little spec of undisturbed primitive camping bliss first via the major Highway 80, running east-west, and then, eventually via Route 6, which is more like a well-paved country backroad than anything else. While you will be hard pressed to find Hennepin Canal Lock 21 on your GPS, trust me, if you simply head west out of Wyanet, you will eventually find this jewel in the middle of nature.

    If you didn’t already know, the Hennepin Canal, and its series of locks & dams will eventually connect you with two of the most amazing rivers in the entirety of the US: the mighty Mississippi as well as the murky depths of the Illinois River – both of which are great for kayaking BTW. Should you choose to follow the canal in its entirety, you will be ushered through the minuscule townships of Mineral, Sheffield, Wyanet, Tiskilwa and Bureau – all of which are fairly emblematic of small Midwestern blue-collared towns that still to this day possess an equal amount of charm and hospitality, which the area is very well known for.

    Given that you can’t actually make a reservation here (or at any of the campgrounds along the Hennepin Canal for that matter) as this spot and the 5 others that make up the Hennepin Canal Lock camping options are only offered on a first-come, first-served basis, one thing is for certain: if you planned to truly ‘get away from it all’ you really can ‘have your cake and eat here too’ at Hennepin Canal Lock 21. While there is no actual check-in or check-out time, occasionally there is a park ranger that will come by to check on the location and collect those $8 nightly fares, although we never came across a ranger during our entire canal-navigating weeklong journey. You should also note that all of the campgrounds up and down the canal are class C camping, meaning that these primitive camping sites do not have showers or electricity, so either bring your own or, better yet, learn to live without these conveniences for a few days and actually embrace the opportunity to connect with nature.

    As you arrive, ultimately via Route 6 & Route 34, you will need to hang a left (coming westbound from Wyanet), where after just a short jig heading due south, you will find the first of 5 camping areas on either side of the main road you are driving down. On the right, in addition to the camping area, you will discover the first of 3 restrooms and just slightly beyond that, the boat launch. If instead of turning right to follow this first encampment, you head left, following the Hennepin Canal, you will see a small camping area on your immediate left, followed by a water spigot, after which you will come across another much larger camping area that has the second restroom facility. Opposite of these 2 camping areas on the other side of the road, there are 2 small camping areas that run right along the canal. If you go back to to the main road, from which you just came, and continued south across the little land bridge and hang another left, you will go around a small pond that will eventually present the third and final restroom facility as you go up a slight incline, where on your immediate right will be the sixth and final camping area that has been reserved for equestrian campers, of which there’s about 4-5 individual sites complete with a wooden hitching post to tie your horses down.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Of all the camping options up and down the Hennepin Canal, while Canal Lock 21 is likely the largest and has more campsite offerings, it is still very basic and primitive, apart from the restroom, boat launch, picnic tables and fire rings that you will find. If that bothers you or you are simply looking for a spot with more space to explore, then likely the Hennepin Canal camping options aren’t for you, and instead, you may want to look just a bit further afield to another amazing place called Johnson-Sauk SP; (2) Should you grow weary of fixing ‘franks & beans’ again for dinner over your roaring fire, while there isn’t much out in these parts, if you are looking for some local fare, over in nearby Wyanet, you’ll find an abundance of just 3 options: Casey’s for well-made, fresh pizza; Harley-K’s Filipino Restaurant, which might actually just shock you!; or Ecky’s Tap, which is fairly darn amazing actually, but only serves up booze. For anything else, head on into Princeton, where there’s tons of options; (3) There is no potable drinking water anywhere at any of these locks up and down the Hennepin Canal apart from at the Visitors Center, so ensure you bring your own water or a filtration system; (4) Should you have your own kayak or canoe, the Hennepin Canal is very nice to explore, although at times difficult to navigate, especially when you come to each of the sets of locks and dams. If that is bothersome and you simply want to get some oaring in without having to take your watercraft in and out of the water every 30 minutes or so, then head on over to Goose Lake just southwest of Hennepin, which is a fantastic lake to explore and has some decent fishing as well; and (5) If you are on the look-out for simply amazingly fresh meats to ‘slap on the Barby’ then head on over to Wyanet Meat Locker, which has fresh venison, pheasant and of course, all of the typical Midwestern carnivore fare like brats, Ribeyes, burgers and pork chops, which all would be DELISH on that flip-open BBQ grill you have back at Canal Lock 21.

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 29, 2023

    Matthiessen State Park Equestrian Campground — Matthiessen State Park

    Limestone-Stained Equestrian-Only Campground

    For those that bring their noble steed to this campground, you’ll have it basically all to yourself. I have to admit, I was incredibly bummed to arrive here only to discover that this campground was reserved exclusively for those packing their four-legged, mane-baring, buggy-pulling horse friends, but hey, there were some pretty outstanding trails to hike during the day and the friendly on-site ranger made a call over to nearby Starved Rock SP to secure me a camping spot over there, so not all was lost. 

    If you do plan on camping here alongside your horses, you will want to note that there is no reservation system and that all sites are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s a registration envelope that you’ll pick up when you arrive at Matthiessen SP, where you’ll simply need to fill this out with your name, # of days that you are planning to stay and then deposit the envelope in the drop-off kiosk along with the nightly fee and you’re all good. 

    With nearly 2,000 acres, there’s a lot to explore here at Matthiessen SP, located just south of Utica by a few miles and due east of Oglesby by 3 miles. Whether you are camping or not, from the many valleys you will surprisingly encounter (Illinois is an incredibly flat state, for those that may not know) and the small trickling waterfalls you will stumble across to the non-stop trails, canyons, bridges, stairways, dams and dells that you will come across in this place, there is a really good cross-section of prairie land that meets densely-packed forests. What makes this area particularly unique is the unusual rock formations that you will discover all over the place, and nearby Starved Rock SP is no exception, where you’ll encounter exposed lime and sandstone. With water seepage and rain occurring naturally and in overabundance here, the residual impact of the water that dries on the sandstone adds to the verdant colors that you will find decorating the canyon walls. 

    Occasionally, if you are especially quiet, you’ll come across no shortage of white-tailed deer or wild turkeys foraging through the crabapple and plum trees that are scattered throughout the forest here. Cottontail rabbits are scurrying around trying to stay hidden from the several bald eagles that conquer the skies and who beat out the vastly over-populated flocks of red-tailed hawks that usually beat them to their lunch. You’ll be able to catch a glimpse of most of these unadulterated natural experiences along most of the 5 miles of trails that can be found here at Matthiessen SP, where believe it or not, the easier of the hiking trails are located in the upper bluffs and the more difficult trails to manage are those on the interior. 

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If like me, you stumbled across this campground and forgot to bring your horse (er, or don't have one to begin with), no worries, there’s a ton of outdoor camping outposts near here, top of which I would highly recommend Starved Rock SP, actually located just kitty-cornered from Matthiessen SP, or Kishauwau County Cabins, which is but a 10 minute drive from here; (2) In all of my camping, I have never really worried too much about poison ivy or ticks, until I came here – you definitely want to not only look out for the 3-leafed poison ivy that thrives here (note: if the 3-leafed descriptor wasn’t enough, be sure to look for the greenish-white berries), but be sure to bring some suave to apply to any skin that comes into contact with this nefarious plant, and if you find that you have a vampire-like tick that has fallen in love with you, a simple match applied close to the bugger will usually do the trick; (3) When you get tired of foraging for your next meal from the depths of your Cordova cooler, then head on over to The Lodge at Starved Rock SP where they serve up some pretty traditional continental American food of which I highly recommend the fried Walleye, smoked duck or the pan-fried pork chop; (4) When you’re looking for a great place to drop your kayak or canoe into, then head no further than the lower portion of Starved Rock SP where there is a boat and kayak launch into the turbulent currents of the Illinois River; and (5) After a good several days of camping, hiking and kayaking, you’ll definitely be looking for a place to ‘whet your whistle’ of which I would recommend heading over to Utica where you can try out one of the many taps they have on hand at Skoog’s Pub& Grill. 

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 5, 2023

    Hansen's Hideaway Ranch and Family Campground

    Yippee-Ki-Yay Working Ranch Campground

    If you fancy pitching a tent or parking your RV for the night in an actual horse / farming working ranch environment, which puts you quite close to some pretty amazing river kayaking, somewhat challenging, yet scenic hiking all in a fairly historic area of north central Illinois, then Hansen’s Hideaway may just be the spot for you. Located a good 15 to 20 minutes southwest from downtown Oregon, in 1962 Bill & Evelyn founded Hansen’s Hideaway, which is comprised of 100 or so acres of rich farmland and pastures where you’ll see a good swath of horse roaming freely. Out here, there’s nothing to obstruct your pretty amazing view of the Midwest moonlit sky, apart from the handful of red barns and scattered Oaks that will provide you plenty of shade during a hot, sunny summer afternoon. 

    As for the campground, you’ll first look for a sign pointing you to Hansen’s Hideaway while you are driving west on S Harmony Road – and when you see the sign, you’ll want to head due south, passing a few houses, until you will have no other choice but to follow the bend in the road, which immediately reveals the main office at Hansen’s Hideaway. You’ll pass underneath one of those oversized wooden ‘OK Corral’ ranch gates that welcomes visitors to Hansen’s Hideaway, which is a nice touch. The office itself is quite homey with a wood-burning furnace, a number of comfy sofa chairs to sit in along with the check-in desk. The front office also serves as a bit of a market store, although there is not a whole lot here for sale. 

    Additional amenities here at Hansen’s Hideaway include: game room / video game arcade, horseshoe pits, covered pavilions with picnic tables, firewood & ice available for sale, designated dumping station, snack bar, fairly decent restroom and shower facilities, kid’s playground, water and electric hook-ups (no sewage lines to speak of) as well as scattered picnic tables, fire rings and BBQ grills. The ‘crown jewel’ amenity at this camping ranch is the man-made swimming pond with a small little beachhead encircling it, which the kids will love. And while you could pitch a tent here, to be fair, this is definitely more of an RV countryside outpost. There are two primary ‘neighborhoods’ or loops here, with the first being just past the main building where you would have checked in at, while the second is further afield and requires you to veer to your left just before reaching the pond and driving about 100 years before reaching 2 oval loops that have RV slots around the perimeter. In all, there’s about 40 slots for RVs in both of these two designated outposts. 

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) I think the name ‘Hideaway’ is fairly accurate here, as you will find that you are very far away from just about everything, which is great if your goal is to commune with nature, but this also means that you should come prepared with everything you may need during your stay; (2) While there are 2 different neighborhoods to consider parking your RV, the area closest to the main office is definitely the one that is more congested, with sites being quite close to one another and given that the main office as well as the swimming pond are in the vicinity, of the areas to choose from, this is definitely the busier of the two, although it does provide you quicker and closer access to the amenities; (3) If hiking is on the agenda then you should definitely check out nearby George B. Fell Nature Preserve and Lowden-Miller Forest, both of which have some easy-to-medium trails to hike; (4) Should you coming towing watercraft, I would hightail it over to Castle Rock State Park, where on the bend of the Rock River (just look for the overlook signs) there’s a very decent kayak launch that you can depart from and which will take you down river; (5) If you’d like to take to the water in style (and have a good meal at the same time), then check out Maxson Restaurant & Riverboat, which will provide you with an AMAZING view of the Oregon area, but on the river, all while you are throwing some strong martinis back to wash down all that Saturday night prime rib special!; and (6) If you don’t have your sea legs about you and would rather stay on land while trying out the local fare and don’t mind a short 20 or so minute drive back to civilization, I would recommend the deep fried pork tenderloin sandwich with natural cut French fries all while slurping down the chocolate cake shake at Jay’s Drive-In, the Fettucine Rose pasta with shrimp and the most amazing Sauvignon Blanc in the world at La Vigna or fried anything (chicken, catfish, cod, wings, oreos) at Messie’s Bar & Grill in Oregon. 

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 27, 2024

    Matthiessen State Park Equestrian Campground — Matthiessen State Park

    Great Galloping Gamp Grounds!

    As my post from a bit more than a year ago provided quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update:

    Highlights: (1) Great hiking abounds in this particular Illinois SP where there exists a combination of EZ, intermediate and difficult hiking and riding paths; (2) There’s great kayaking in nearby Illinois River, which you can access at multiple points, but my favorite is to shove off either at Starved Rock SP boat launch or head south of that SP by about 3 miles to one of the several launches that exist on the southern shore; (3) Supreme amount of peace & quiet here at this CG for you and your steed with simply amazing great galloping trails as well as numerous places to tie up your four-hoofed friend; (4) Sites are spacious and nicely shaded; (5) The facilities are basic-to-bad, so lower your expectations and bring your own sanitary wipes; (6) Ample space to wander around and get lost in nature

    Lowlights:(1) This CG is EZ to miss if you don’t look for it – DON’T drive all the way into Matthiessen SP either on its west or east sides – this CG has its own discreet entry with parking near the road on the east side; (2) The grounds themselves could benefit from some TLC as there’s a lot of downed branches and even trash scattered around the place (that we cleaned up before leaving); (3) Depending upon how you look at it, this CG had no one there on the 3 occasions we visited – which was fine for us, but some might find the solitude here a bit daunting

    Happy Camping!


Guide to Sheffield

Equestrian camping near Sheffield, Illinois offers multiple opportunities for riders and their horses across primitive campgrounds in the region. The area sits within Bureau County, characterized by a mix of flat prairies and wooded ravines with elevations ranging from 600-700 feet above sea level. Camping sites typically remain open from April through October, though seasonal closures may occur during hunting seasons or extreme weather conditions.

What to Do

Trail riding along Rock River: The Morrison-Rockwood State Park provides several connecting trails with varying difficulty levels. "We saw an article about 'Dutch Days' in nearby Fulton on www.OnlyInYourState.com, (first weekend in May) and thought it looked like fun. The nearest campground at Thomson causeway recreational area was closed both for repairs and for flooding so this was our best choice," shares Brian O.

Kayaking at nearby lakes: Within a 30-minute drive of Sheffield, several waterways offer paddling opportunities. "Nice place to kayak and canoe. Very nice visitor center open until 3 during the week, no weekends. Only $8. We saw a class A, so they do fit," notes Jeff and Linda L. about Hennepin Canal Lock 21 Campground.

Fishing in stocked waters: Local ponds and lakes contain multiple fish species. "The lake is small but pleasant and stocked with fish. There are boat rentals available and a small restaurant and general store," explains Brian O. at Morrison-Rockwood State Park.

What Campers Like

Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer good separation between camping areas. At Jubilee College State Park Campground, campers appreciate the seclusion. "This campground is our 'go-to' when we need a last minute getaway from city life. Located outside of Peoria, Jubilee is far enough away from town that you get clear, start night skies," writes Brooke C.

Night sky viewing: The rural setting provides excellent stargazing opportunities away from light pollution. "The viewing of stars is incredible," Joe M. says about Jubilee College State Park Campground.

Spacious equestrian sites: Franklin Creek State Natural Area Equestrian Campground provides ample room for horses and equipment. "What I enjoyed most about Franklin Creek State Natural Area is the 882 acres of fresh prairieland that feels fairly untouched and ready for some eager exploration," notes Stuart K.

What You Should Know

First-come, first-served basis: Most equestrian campgrounds don't take reservations. At Matthiessen State Park Equestrian Campground, "There's a registration envelope that you'll pick up when you arrive at Matthiessen SP, where you'll simply need to fill this out with your name, # of days that you are planning to stay and then deposit the envelope in the drop-off kiosk along with the nightly fee and you're all good," explains Stuart K.

Equestrian-only restrictions: Some campgrounds strictly enforce horse requirements. "Got kicked out cause I didn't have a horse. Even though it was completely empty. Gave me my $8 back though," reports Amanda C. about Matthiessen State Park.

Limited amenities: Facilities at most equestrian campgrounds remain basic. "The site was nice little spot with plenty of shade but I was a bit jealous of those with more secluded spots, especially since we are tent campers and all of the others on the loop were big RVs," writes Stacie H.

Tips for Camping with Families

Playground access: Some campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. At Morrison-Rockwood State Park, "We had site 57 which is in a loop which goes around a playground. It was great for the kids who could go play and the sites in this loop provide plenty of space and privacy," shares Ben W.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region offers chances to spot various animals. "Occasionally, if you are especially quiet, you'll come across no shortage of white-tailed deer or wild turkeys foraging through the crabapple and plum trees that are scattered throughout the forest here," Stuart K. notes about Hansen's Hideaway Ranch and Family Campground.

Swimming options: Some locations provide swimming areas for hot summer days. "The 'crown jewel' amenity at this camping ranch is the man-made swimming pond with a small little beachhead encircling it, which the kids will love," Stuart K. explains about Hansen's Hideaway.

Tips from RVers

Level sites can be limited: Prepare leveling equipment for potentially uneven terrain. At Hennepin Canal Lock 22 Campground, "We set up in the parking lot and nobody asked us to move. There is a camping area next to the parking and a smaller area across the canal," explains Art S.

Camp loops vary in privacy: Research specific site locations before arrival. "Of all the camping options up and down the Hennepin Canal, while Canal Lock 21 is likely the largest and has more campsite offerings, it is still very basic and primitive, apart from the restroom, boat launch, picnic tables and fire rings that you will find," notes Stuart K.

Water access considerations: Not all sites provide direct hookups. "No hook-ups, just grass with a fire pit and table. Water available a couple of places along the canal," Jeff and Linda L. mention about Hennepin Canal Lock 21 Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Sheffield, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Sheffield, IL is Hennepin Canal Lock 21 Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Sheffield, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Sheffield, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.