Sam H.

Hillsboro, IL

Joined February 2023

First to Review
Perfect for a work trip

I stayed at the RV section right next to the rodeo arena. Full hookups for only $20 per night with a self-service registration box. I forgot to count but looked like maybe 20 spots max. I was here mid-November in town for work and there was no more than four other campers at any point. Pretty basic surroundings though. There's barrel trash cans, didn't see a dumpster. Didn't see any toilet or shower buildings. Hardly any trees near the sites. Decent playground close by though, and a heavily wooded park with trails beyond that.

Overall great campground

For the most part we loved this campground.

Pros - Sites are well spaced and most have plenty of trees in between.

Shower house is clean.

Multiple buildings with flush toilets throughout primitive section.

Large beach area for swimming.

Boat launch and dock.

Multitude of trails to get to lakeshore from different points in campground.

All of the roads and parking pads in the primitive section are paved.

Cons - The campground "host" in the primitive section was by far the loudest and most disruptive site in the entire campground for the 7 days we were there. Multiple dogs barking all day and night, people yelling and cussing at each other, giant fires every evening, screaming instructions to their children halfway across the campground.(Not the "manager" in the RV section)

Roads and parking spots in RV section are gravel, which would be fine, except for the ruts from water flow that need filled back in.

There are several RV sites that have the electrical boxes installed but supposedly never had the wires ran and so power is not available yet. The manager said it has been like that for quite a while now but will supposedly be fixed by next year (2024).

Super crowded and heavily commercialized

I knew this was a resort heavily based on river activities, so I didn't come into this expecting a casual campground in the woods. But I was still surprised by just how jam-packed and crowded the entire place is, and excessively commercialized trying to sell you something everywhere you turn. The large number of sites with everything from primitive to full hookups is nice. But everything is like sitting on top of your neighbor. Yeah they did decent at keeping enough trees for shade on most of it, but most RV spots you've got like 6 to 7 feet between you and the next one and that's without slideouts. If you're visiting the area to do the canoeing, rafting, tubing, all those fun river activities, then this is a great place because they provided all in one spot. But for a relaxing family camping trip, I personally won't be returning to this site.

Likely our new regular spot

The whole park doesn't match the awesomeness of site 97 and the few around it, but the end of this loop is almost perfect. Great shade, almost no slope to pads, all power options, great water pressure, and a sewer hookup. Plenty of rocked lounging or tent space with each site. Good size fire pits, lantern post, and an aluminum picnic table on a concrete pad. All the sites have enough empty space in between that most campgrounds would have stuck another site in-between. Restroom/shower house very close by and it's regularly cleaned. 2 trails to lakeside access are close by too.

Average National Forest campground

13 total sites, 2 of which are tent/primitive only and set 50ft or so back into the trees. No electric or water. A single vault toilet of average cleanliness, but was stocked with 6 partial rolls of tp. Tent pads are all flat and level, but parking pads are definitely not. It's all gravel roads including the "Saddle Lake Road" entrance all the way from Old State Road 37. There is a parking lot and boat ramp further down the hill at the lake, but state law does not permit swimming from the shore without a designated beach. $5/night fee paid by honor system drop box near camp entrance.

Loved it!

Visited in the first half of March, so yes it was cold, and rain one of the nights, which I'm sure contributed a lot to there being only maybe five campsites occupied. Camp area was clean of trash and obstacles. Ground around spots is mostly pine needles and cones, not grass. Lots are close to level, minimal leveling blocks needed. Easy walking distance to the observation trail that is the highlight of this park. $10 per night fee is done via honor system dropbox at entrance to campground.