We all love taking the horses out locally, but the best part of owning a horse is the opportunities for adventure. Luckily, the United States is full of horse-friendly outdoor recreation areas perfect for the occasional day trip or longer vacation. We are producing a series to bring you information about the horse-friendly parks, campgrounds, and trails across the United States. 

Apple River Canyon State Park 

8763 E. Canyon Road 

Apple River, IL 61001 

815.745.3302 

Located 2 ½ hours west of Chicago. Directions: Take I-90 West to US Rt. 20, travel west for 50 miles to 

Rt. 78 North. Turn right and go 6 miles turn left onto Canyon Road. The park is well signed on Rt. 20 and 

Rt. 78. 

Weinburg-King State Park 

P.O. Box 203 

Augusta, IL 62311 

217-392-2345 

Directions: 4 miles east of Augusta on state route 101 Facilities: water, toilets, pavilion, hitch rails, fire 

rings, picnic tables and dump station. 19 miles of trail. Description: rolling hills, water crossings and 

scenic overlooks. 

Wayne Fitzgerald State Park (Rend lake) 

10885 E. Jefferson Rd. 

Bonnie, IL 62816 

618.279.3110 

Facilities: camping, water and toilets 9 miles of trails 

Kankakee River State Park 

5314 West Rt. 102 

Bourbonnais, IL 60914 

815.933.1383 

Directions: Take I-57 to Exit 315 – Bradley-Bourbonnais, take route 50 south to the first stop light – 

Armour Rd., turn right and go to the 3rd stop light – route 102, turn right (west), travel 7 miles to the 

park. Description: Forest and meadows. Non-potable water 

Jubilee College State Park 

13921 W. Rte. 150 

Brimfield, IL 61517 

309-446-3758 

Directions: From I-74 eastbound take the Brimfield Exit #75, turn left onto US route 150 and go 4 miles 

to park entrance on left. From westbound I-74 take the Kickapoo-Edwards Exit #82, turn right go 1.5 

miles to Kickapoo, turn left onto US route 150 travel 4 miles to park entrance on right. Facilities: 

Primitive camping is located at the north end of the park. trees, water, (no potable water) and 

toilets. Easy access. 25 miles of trails can be accessed from the campground. Description: Hilly, 

wooded, water crossing 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek Fish and Wildlife Area 

10149 County Highway 11 

Chandlerville, IL 62627 

(217) 452-7741 

Located: 25 miles northwest of Springfield off state 125. Facilities: 51 sites, hitching rails, modern bath 

house with showers and flush toilets, a barn/shelter for groups. 26 miles of trails. Users: hike, horse  

Fox Ridge State Park 

R.R. 1 Box 234 18175 State Park Road 

Charleston, IL 61920 

217.345.6416 

Directions: From I-57, take the route 16 exit go east to Charleston continue on Rt. 16, to the Intersection 

of Rt. 130, turn right (South) and continue for 7 miles. From I-70, take the route 130 exit north. 

Continue for 11 miles. 4 miles of horse trails. 

Randolph County State Fish And Wildlife Area 

4301 S. Lakeside Dr. 

Chester, IL 62233 

618-826-2706 

7 miles of trails 

Siloam Springs State Park 

R.R. 1 Box 204 938 E. 3003rd Lane 

Clayton, IL 62324 

217-894-6205 

Directions: From Springfield, take I-72 west to Griggsville where you will go north on route 107 for 11 

miles, turn west on route 104 and continue for 15 miles to county road 2873E, turn north and continue 

for 6 miles to the park entrance. Follow the park signs on route 104 to the park entrance. Facilities: 

Horse camping, water, and toilets. limited electricity 23 miles of horse trails 

Argyle Lake State Park 

640 Argyle Park Rd. 

Colchester, IL 62326 

309-776-3422 

Directions: From Chicago, take either I- 80 or I- 88 west to I-74. Take I-74 south to route 34. Take route 

34 west to route 67 to route 136 and go west to Colchester, continue north 2 miles on Coal Road to the 

park. Horse Campground and Trails 

Sand Creek Recreation Area 

Macon County Conservation District 

1495 Brozio Lane 

Decatur, IL 62521 

Phone: 217-423-7708 or 217-423-4913. 

Located just south of the City of Decatur Facilities: Non-potable water, parking area and toilets 

Fees No overnight camping. 7.5 miles of maintained and marked trails 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area 

R.R. 1 Box 4 

DeWitt, IL 61735 

217-935-8722 

Directions: Take route 51 north to the 2nd stop light at Clinton (Rt. 54); turn right and follow route 54 

through Clinton, continue to DeWitt. Turn right onto Hwy 14 and continue to the park which is on the 

right. A ten mile equestrian trail is located on the north side of the lake east of the Parnell Access Area. 

Horse trailer parking at trail head. 

Bear Branch Horse Camp & Outfitter 

PO Box 40, Hwy 145 

Eddyville, Ill 62928 

618 672 4249 

Located: in the Shawnee National Forest. Facilities: Rustic Log Cabin Restaurant, Tack shop 80 sites, 40 

box stalls, Cabins & Lodging 

Hayes Canyon Campground 

PO Box 186 Main Street 

Eddyville, IL 62928 

(618)672-4751      

Quiet, Shady, Family Oriented camground and RV park. Campsites with water, electric, and septic hookups, and 

horse/mule pens (2-4). Adjacent to Shawnee National Forest with multiple trail heads leaving right out of camp. 

Saline County Conservation Area 

85 Glen O. Jones Rd. 

Equality, IL 62934 

618-276-4405 

Facilities: camping 5 miles of trails that connects to the 56 miles of River to River trail. 

Sand Ridge State Forest 

P.O. Box 111 

Forest City, IL 61532 

309-597-2212 

Directions: Follow state route 136 to Mason County Road 2800E and turn north. Continue for 6 miles, 

through the village of Forest City. After turning west this road become Mason County Road 2300N 

continue to the forest. From Pekin, follow state route 29 south to the Manito Road, turn west and go to 

Manito, which is about 20 miles. In Manito, turn right onto Mason County Road 2500N. Go 6 miles to the 

forest. 

Franklin Creek State Park 

1872 Twist Rd. 

Franklin Grove, IL 61031 

815-456-2878 

Located between Rochelle and Dixon, just north on state route 38. From Franklin Grove, turn north on 

Daysville Road and go one block to Old Mill Road, turn left (west) on Old Mill Road and proceed one mile 

to the State Natural Area. Facilities: picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking water, and six miles of trails. 

Ferne Clyffe State Park 

Rt.37 P.O. Box 10 

Goreville, IL 62939 

618-995-2411 

Directions: From I-57 south, take the Goreville exit, #40, turn left (east), go 5 miles and turn right onto 

state route 37, park entrance located 1 mile south of Goreville. From I-24, take exit #7 (Goreville), 

turn west and go 2 miles to state route 37, turn left (south) and go ½ mile to park entrance. Facilities: 

Class C Equestrian campground, 25 well-shaded sites, with picnic tables, drinking water, grills, toilets, 

parking and showers. 10.5 miles of trails. Trails are closed to horses from November 1 to April 30 

Pere Marquette State Park 

P.O. Box 158, Route 100 

Grafton, IL 62037 

618-786-3323 

Facilities: 12 miles of equestrian trails and a parking for trailers. Contact the Visitor Center to make 

arrangements before coming to the park to ride.