Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground sits approximately 60 miles southwest of Willowbrook, Illinois. The campground offers primitive-style horse camping experiences along the 4,000-acre park's trail system. Trail riders can access terrain suitable for both beginner and experienced equestrians, with most trails measuring between 3-5 miles in length.
What to do
Trail riding on multi-use paths: Kankakee River trails accommodate horses with varied terrain options. At Chain O' Lakes State Park, riders can explore extensive waterways. "We canoe and both times we stayed there it was October... An odd thing is that you can hear a Steam Train whistle quite often, this is from Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove," notes camper Brian O.
Fishing from horseback-accessible areas: Many equestrian trails lead to prime fishing spots. Burnidge Forest Preserve offers "a lake for fishing and some trails," according to Tara M. Fishing near horse trails allows riders to combine activities during day trips.
Seasonal night riding: Some horse trails permit evening rides during specific times of year. "Turner South and Mud Lake East most private... All the campsites have raised firepits and a picnic table. If you own a boat or love to fish, this is a great place to go camping," reports Marisa A.
What campers like
Spacious sites for horse trailers: Horse camping sites typically provide ample parking. At Paul Wolff Campground, "The sites are clean and very well maintained. We loved the staff patrolling the grounds. The trail system is great for walking the dogs," writes David W.
Wildlife viewing during rides: The natural setting attracts diverse wildlife. "We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies. Hard to believe that there is hiking trails like those in such a densely populated area just outside elgin, il," observes Tricia E. of Burnidge Forest Preserve.
Accessible terrain for various skill levels: Fox Den Campground features "a variety of sites from electric to non-electric. A boat rental area for canoes and kayaks makes this great for getting on the water and there are some decent bike trails in the park as well," notes Randy S.
What you should know
Water quality concerns: Some equestrian facilities have limited water sources. "Water quality has been very bad. On one occasion, our pet had stomach issues after drinking tap water, which was concerning. The water is so unclean that our shower develops yellow stains within a day," reports Iryna R. at Leisure Lake Resort.
Reservation requirements: Most horse campgrounds require advance planning. "This IL state campground fills up quickly on the weekends over the summer. The best sites for those hoping for privacy are in Turner Lake South and Mud Lake East," explains Marisa A.
Limited shade at some sites: Several horse campgrounds lack substantial tree cover. At Big Rock Forest Preserve, "Not Shade, and no showers. This is a relatively new campground not too far (about an hour drive) from Chicago. But, no shade in the Illinois heat and no shower made it unacceptable," writes Joel R.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly horse education: Many equestrian campgrounds welcome families with children. At Big Rock Campground, "Nice campground with big, level sites. Even though they don't take reservations, there is plenty of space and availability. Lovely grasslands, ponds, hiking trails," mentions Melissa C.
Secure food storage requirements: Wildlife can be problematic around equestrian sites. "Had some raccoons at night even after we locked up everything in the car. The lake was very nice," notes Julia B., highlighting the importance of proper food storage.
Limited bathroom facilities: "The vault toilets are clean but smell like vault toilets at 95 degrees. There is one very clean flush toilet building but no showers. They don't advertise showers, but this is the newest and nicest campsite I have seen without showers," reports David W.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup locations: At equestrian sites, electric posts may be positioned differently than standard RV campgrounds. "Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers (our site was protected on 3 sides by some fairly dens foliage and trees). Electric is easily accessible, and water/sanitary is easy to get in and out of," explains Ian C.
Specialized equipment needs: Horse trailers with living quarters require specific considerations. "Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts to far from parking pad. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees," advises Debra M.
Seasonal considerations: "We stayed in the Turner lake south loop, which has nice and private sites. This is in contrast to Honeysuckle hollow which is open and row after row of RV sites. Fox den and Prairie view loops are nice as well with mostly primitive sites," shares Brian O. when describing the various campground options.
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