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We absolutely love this place for a family camping/hiking/backpacking spot that's close to home. It's the largest state forest in Illinois and is a mash-up of the southwest and Midwest. Most of the trails are almost completely sand, and there are some trails with steeper elevation gains and falls, making for harder hiking than what you can normally find around here. It's a great place to train if you're readying for a backpacking trip in more challenging areas of the U.S. You can find prickly pear cactus everywhere (in the warm weather months, you can see them blooming). The Pine Campground is beautiful and normally where we camp as a family. It's full of tall old pine trees (so always plenty of firewood nearby), has clean bathrooms, and water access via pumps throughout the grounds. It's hardly ever crowded (in fact it's almost always completely empty in cooler months). Parking spots are right next to camp, and each site has a fire slab and a built-in grill. Sites are big enough for several tents (four campers are allowed at each site). Reservations can be made online in advance on Reserve America. There are also Backcountry sites available that you can reserve and backpack in to. Word to the wise: ticks are pretty terrible here after it begins to warm in spring. Wear repellent, the right full-cover clothes, and check yourselves regularly. We normally visit in late fall through early spring.
Camped at Sand Ridge State Forest Oak Group campground. The campground is awesome, worth the long drive. Kyle is the DNR guy there was very helpful and informative. Made sure we had everything we needed. Will be camping here next year.
This is a beautiful place to camp. Ranger was very nice and inviting. We spent 3 days relaxing, going on hikes and take bike rides on the trails. Whippoorwill are enjoying the nights. Making sure they are heard. Some may have issues with them singing all night. I however, enjoy listening to nature.
If we come back this way, we will definatley stay again.
