Sand Ridge State Forest Campground

About

Sand Ridge State Forest, the largest state forest in Illinois at 7,550 acres, offers primitive camping experiences in a unique landscape of sand prairies, oak-hickory woodland, and extensive pine plantations. Located just southwest of Peoria in Mason County, the forest provides multiple camping options for different types of visitors. Pine Campground features 27 Class C sites with water, vault toilets, fire pads, and space to park two vehicles per site. Oak Campground offers group camping with open space, water, vault toilets, and council rings for organized groups. Horseman's Park Campground caters to equestrians with hitching rails, water, vault toilets, and a shelter area. For those seeking solitude, 12 primitive backcountry sites are scattered along 55 miles of trail, requiring a permit from the forest headquarters prior to use. The forest supports diverse recreational activities including hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and hunting for deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, dove, and squirrel. The Henry Allen Gleason Nature Preserve within the forest protects rare sand prairie ecosystems but is closed to vehicles, pets, and hunting.

Directions

Sand Ridge State Forest is located southwest of Peoria in Mason County, Illinois. The forest headquarters address is P.O. Box 111, Forest City, IL 61532.