Giant City State Park in southern Illinois offers dedicated equestrian camping and trail experiences within 4,000 acres of forested landscape. Located about an hour from Jackson, Missouri, the area ranges from 400 to 700 feet in elevation, creating varied terrain for riders. Water access points are available throughout the trail system for horses, with specific spots marked on trail maps to prevent erosion or contamination of streams.
What to do
Trail riding on Red Cedar Trail: The trail network at Sam A. Baker State Park provides alternatives to Giant City's equestrian trails. "Beautiful camp sites and a beautiful river to paddle around on. This park usually isn't very crowded which is really nice. It is very tranquil and perfect for a weekend get away," shares Charlotte B.
Rock climbing opportunities: For those seeking activities beyond horseback riding, Devil's Backbone Park offers climbing opportunities. "Great place to go for a day hike or stay for a few days. There are 21 miles of trails throughout the park and a large lake. The attractions are all relatively close to the road (cave, 'hidden' spring, and trout streams)," notes Atlanta D.
Fishing at local lakes: Several parks near Jackson provide fishing access. "The lake is nice decent camping, needs water hookups," states Nathan C. about Randolph County State Recreation Area, which is about 35 miles from Jackson and offers a quieter alternative to busier horse camping areas.
What campers like
Spacious equestrian sites: Horse owners appreciate the room to maneuver at campgrounds outside Giant City. "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," explains Stacia R. about Johnson Creek.
Winter riding options: Some equestrian campgrounds remain open year-round. "We stayed here during the winter while visiting my brother who was in college nearby. He and his friends seem to camp here quite often and it was a great choice. Even in the winter the sites were quite clear and clean," Josh M. notes.
Wildlife viewing: Campers enjoy the animal encounters while horse camping. "My family and I had a great time and met some really nice people," says David N., while another camper mentions, "We heard several owls calling in the trees around us when we went to bed, so we stayed up listening for awhile."
What you should know
Campground reservation systems vary: Not all horse-friendly campgrounds take reservations. At Crab Orchard Lake, "The biggest thing about this campground is first come first serve..and one loop is closed for renovations. Most you can spend here is 14 days, which lots of locals do," explains Never Sitting S.
Trail conditions fluctuate seasonally: During wet periods, bridle trails may have limitations. "We spent four days at the park with friends during the higher rain and very high river. I have never seen the river through the park so high to the top of the banks," notes John K.
Limited water hookups at some locations: While most equestrian camping areas have drinking water available, not all offer direct hookups. "You can get potable water at the entrance. We camped here mid-April and the campground water spigots had not been turned on yet," reports Stacia R.
Tips for camping with families
Choose campgrounds with kid-friendly features: When bringing children to horse campgrounds near Jackson, Missouri, look for those with additional activities. At Shawnee Forest Campground, "They have a small lake and two ponds for fishing. There's no formal dog area, but there are paved trails around the large CG area," MickandKarla W. share.
Pack for temperature variations: The region experiences significant temperature swings between day and night, especially in spring and fall. "Stayed here on the way to and from Florida (home in Minnesota). Very nice campground. Well maintained, big sites for our 40ft fifth wheel, great sunrise/sunset views," mentions Tonya B.
Look for firefly viewing opportunities: Kids particularly enjoy certain seasonal natural phenomena. "Clean open campground with little privacy. Well kept bathrooms and water pumps throughout. Short trail leads from campground to the limestone cliffs. Once darkness hit the fireflies in the forest were magnificent!" explains Stephanie S.
Tips from RVers
Seek level sites for larger rigs: RV campers report varying experiences with site levelness. "The sites are very close together and even on one of the hottest weekends of the year the campgrounds were full!" explains a reviewer, while another notes, "The gravel roads are slightly narrow with some trees but we did not have any issues getting to site 21."
Check water pressure before setup: Water systems at equestrian campgrounds vary in quality. "The water pressure was good around 50 psi. Their WiFi was very good," reports a camper at Shawnee Forest Campground, which provides an alternative to more primitive horse camping options.
Plan for dump station locations: Some equestrian campgrounds have limited dump facilities. "Make sure you fill up at the dump station before you get to the campground because there's no easy way to turn around if you miss it. It's approximately a mile before the campground on your left," advises J K.
