Camper submitted image from Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest - 1
View All
Camper submitted image from Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest - 2
Nature
Camper submitted image from Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest - 3
Buildings
Camper submitted image from Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest - 4
People
Camper submitted image from Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest - 5
Facilities

Established Camping

Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest

Review Campground Win Gear

Do you own or manage this property?

Claim Your Listing

Horseman's Park at Sand Ridge State Forest offers a terrain of sandy ridges and pine forests. Temperatures range from 20°F in winter to 85°F in summer. Nearby attractions include the Sand Ridge State Forest trails and the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest is located in Illinois

Detail location of campground

Address

25799 County Road 2300 N
Forest City, IL 61532

Coordinates

40.39063491 N
89.88478428 W

Open in Google Maps

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Available
  • Verizon
    Fair
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info


Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

0%
67%
34%
0%
0%

3.5

out of 5

3 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 7, 2020

A Breezy, Isolated Campsite

$8. The staff isn’t always there, so you could end up with a free place to stay (especially if you come late.) Lots of trails nearby, and plenty of beautiful green trees. Outhouse on site. One of the more quiet sites that doesn’t get a lot of action.

Reviewed Aug. 31, 2019

Sandy forested equestrian camping

This is the campground for horses and their riders. Tie up posts are in each campsite along with picnic tables. The campground is one loop so the inner ring of sites are almost like a group site setup. The outer ring sites are more private and up against the woods. A set of vault toilets is commonly located. Along with garbage cans there are multiple spots to pile manure. There were a couple sites occupied the first night but it emptied out on Saturday. 

Most trails in this natural area are accessible to horses. Trails head out from camp. The longest being almost 15 miles. Hiking and hunting also happen here so keep an eye open on the trails. If you have an energetic horse that you want to work hard, head into the yellow loop. The ranger said it tires everyone because it’s steep hills of sand. 

Across the road is a spot for day use riders to park their trailers. There were a bunch parked when we passed it. 

This is a hidden gem and worth giving a chance.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest by Art S., August 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest by Art S., August 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest by Art S., August 31, 2019
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Jun. 10, 2018

Illinois’ desert

A friend and I were looking for somewhere to spend a weekend backpacking that wasn’t a 4+ hour drive away from central IL. This fits the bill but does leave some to be desired. The terrain is an interesting change from most IL hiking since the trails are incredibly sandy while the forest itself is mostly pine. Watch out for cacti along the trail! My only real complaints are the lack of water sources, and the inconsistencies between the trail map and the actual trail. Each trail is marked very clearly with directional sign posts as often as necessary, however, the first night we were hiking in to find BC1 and according to the map we should have passed it in our hike but never saw any sort of campsite at all. We ended up setting up camp off the trail in an unmarked clearing that worked quite well. The next day we moved on to look for site BC7. After hiking much farther than the map indicated, we finally stumbled on BC7. It turned out to be a pretty picturesque little clearing among the pines with an actual fire slab and a signpost marking the entrance trail. Overall it was a good trip, just don’t be fooled by how close things look on the map! Also, the bugs (of all kinds including ticks and mosquitoes) are pretty terrible and I would recommend going either in the early spring or late fall. Not June.

The forest grounds also have an equestrian campgrounds and the trails would be perfect for riding.

SiteBC 7
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest by Joy H., June 10, 2018
  • Review photo of Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest by Joy H., June 10, 2018
  • Review photo of Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest by Joy H., June 10, 2018
  • (8) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest?

    Camping at Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest can starts at $8.00.

  • What is the elevation of Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest?

    Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest is located at 509 feet.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest?

    Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest allows vehicles up to 55 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Horseman's Park — Sand Ridge State Forest, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.