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If you and your family are interested in a rustic setting for camping, Pine Campground is the place for you. It contains 27 Class "C" sites featuring water, pit-vault toilets, fire pads, and a place to park two vehicles. Oak Campground provides open space, water, pit toilets and council rings for organized group camping. Horseman's Park offers a staging area for equestrian camping and horseback riding activities, and has hitching rails, water, pit toilets and a shelter area.
Oak Campground and Horseman's Park have shelters and campsites that can be rented by using the ExploreMoreIL™ website. If you are unable to reserve a campsite for the date you want, contact the site at 309-597-2212 or by email.
Back-country camping is available at 12 primitive sites along 55 miles of trail providing a true wilderness camping experience. Users must obtain a permit from the forest headquarters prior to back-country use.
Groups of 25 people or more must obtain a Group Use Permit from site staff. Activity Permits are required whenever a non-traditional use of any facility is requested and/or any activity that might increase potential liability to the Department.
Horseman's Park Campground offers Class C camping for the equestrian community.
Camping
Ferne Clyffe has a campground for every type of camper: modern, primitive, youth groups, backpack or equestrian. Shower facilities offered at some campgrounds are available seasonally. Some campsites can be reserved online at ExploreMoreIL.
Deer Ridge campground is a well-shaded Class A facility offering gravel pads with electricity, picnic tables and cooking grills. Drinking water, showers, flush toilets and a sanitary dump station complete the setting for campers who prefer to include a few comforts of home with their outdoor adventure.
Turkey Ridge is for campers who want a serene outdoor experience. It is a Class C walk-in campground that includes camp pads, picnic tables, cooking grills and showers. Drinking water and toilets are located near the parking lots.
Scouts, church groups and other youth groups will enjoy the Youth Group campground. This Class D facility is equipped with drinking water, picnic tables, cooking grills, toilets and parking. Groups of minors must have adequate supervision, with at least one adult accompanying each 15 minors.
Backpackers enjoying their commune with nature will appreciate the solitude of the individual campsites in the Class C Backpack campground. Located a half-mile from the Turkey Ridge primitive campground parking lot, these woodland sites have cooking grills, toilets and showers. Water and trash receptacles are available at the Turkey Ridge parking lot. You're reminded to be careful with your fires and to pack out what you pack in.
Equestrian
Horseback riders can ride directly to their own Class C Equestrian campground on the trail, or drive to it in their vehicles. Up to 25 riders can be accommodated at the site, which includes picnic tables, drinking water, cooking grills, toilets, parking and showers. The campground is well-shaded by an abundance of trees, and you must protect the trees by tying horses to the hitching rails. No horse rental is available.
Sites in the Deer Ridge, Turkey Ridge and Youth Group campgrounds do not require advance reservations. Backpackers and horseback riders should, however, make advance arrangements through the park office.
