By:
Submission
Big Rock Campground, part of Big Rock Forest Preserve, is located at 46W499 Granart Rd., Big Rock, IL. The campground is open seasonally, May - October 15, each year.
Camp sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not accepted. Payment is accepted via cash, check and credit card. Check-out is at 2 p.m., each day.
The campground contains 109 camp sites including 96 improved, vehicle campsites complete with 50-amp electrical service, water access, parking pads and fire rings, 9 primitive, tent-only sites without electric access, and four equestrian camp sites.
Camp fees are as follows:
Improved camp site (with electric and water):
Kane County residents: $20/day
Nonresidents: $35/day
Primitive camp site:
Kane County residents: $12/day
Nonresidents: $18/day
Equestrian camp site (with electric and water):
Kane County residents: $15/day
Nonresidents: $25/day
Dump station (not registered):
Kane County residents: $15
Nonresidents: $15
Firewood (available at Campground office):
Bundle: $5
Note: Outside firewood is allowed to be brought into the campground, however, all firewood must either be completely burned or left on site. No firewood will be allowed to be taken off site, due to the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine and restrictions by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Big Rock Campground opened in the summer of 2013. This project was partially funded by an IDNR OSLAD and Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant.
This campground/preserve includes a horseback riding area. Most horse trails are natural surface, mowed grass paths. Limestone screenings trails and asphalt bike trails are available in some of the preserves. These are multi-use trails shared with runners, bicyclists, dog walkers etc. Horse riders are required to stay on designated, forest preserve-maintained trails. Trail riding is not allowed in restricted natural areas, Illinois Nature Preserves, picnic areas or in farmed areas. To prevent trail damage during wet weather, trails may be temporarily closed. Individual forest preserves will post a sign at the entrance when horse trails are closed. Trails are currently OPEN for equestrian use at this campground/preserve.
Payment is accepted via cash, check — and as of May 1, 2022, we'll begin accepting credit cards, as well. We ask campers to be patient at check-in, as we transition to a new payment processing system.
Reservations are not accepted.
Didn't stay but drove through to use dump station. Campground looked clean and nice for a stop over or short getaway. It's a forest preserve so amenities are 2 comfort stations from what it looked. $15 for the dump station was easy to pay and ready now ready for winter storage.
No showers. No hot water. No shade. On the plus side, few campers there.
There’s a reason this place is empty and every other nearby park is months out. It’s not the horse poo everywhere or the randomly placed water, or the relatively high price for bare hookups.
There’s a severely mentally ill guy employed there, making up stories about being an air traffic controller and harassing patrons non-stop, calling police, and threatening to kick people out (he can’t).
I was there 2 days with 9-11 other people spaced out in the park before just leaving, and I witnessed him yell at children playing with a 5lb dog off the leash in the middle grass area (that just 2 other campers parked on more than 100’ away).
He harassed a family cooking outside with their dog on a 14’ leash tied to a stake so it could get shade but also be near the family, and threatened to get them kicked out for it in a bizarre tirade before they just left. There were no other campers within 5 spaces in either direction of them.
I was on the end space at the front and he said he was calling police on the 2 people in those front spots for driving 0-3 spaces down a one way rather than literally driving the entire perimeter of the empty park to get back to the site.
I went to the far corner to exercise my dog on a long leash down the empty trails and he followed me down the trail to harass me and demanded that I GIVE HIM MY LEASH TO MEASURE.
If you’re comfortable with this all, you can be one of the few folks who has this crazy park all to yourself.
This is a hidden gem. Very quiet and peaceful. Grounds are well kept. You have to stay here if passing near Chicago.
We've been camping here ever since they first opened. Love the campground hosts. They do their best under challenging conditions. However, there are some things that the Forest Preserve needs to deal with. No firewood for over a month! The pond on the East side of the property should be a big draw given the quality of fish etc. However, the neglect it's received is unconscionable. 1 tiny little clearing to try to fish? Overgrown with weeds and cattails. It wouldn't take much to make this the jewel of Kane County. PULL YOUR HEADS OUT KANE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE!
