Around the Arcola area, there are few hilly places to ride with overnight camping. One of the best for "legging up" our horses to prepare for the tougher MO week-long rides, is the Middle Fork State Fish & Wildlife Area. Getting there from Arcola is about a 70 mile trip, but mostly interstate.
If you drive along I-57, you must turn east on I-74 at the Oakwood exit, and then go north on CR 10 for several miles. Make a right (east) turn onto Glenburn Creek Rd. This becomes Kickapoo Park Road. Go a little more than 1/2 mile. Wooden signs will point out the horse camp. There is a new day parking area. Picnic tables dot the parallel parking spots. Trees have been newly planted, so there is no shade yet.
Horse Campground A serves as the trailhead. There are plenty of mature shade trees, picnic tables, and firerings. You have to picket your horses, so don't forget your come-along. Everyone shares one water spigot. What is so unusual about camping here is that there are no specific camping sites; park where you can. We were the first rig to pull in Friday morning, but by noon things had drastically changed. Rigs were parked this way and that way!
A short walk takes you to the pavillion and nearby outhouses. I've learned that practicing how long you can hold your breath is a big help when visiting these facilities!
Overnight horse camping is also allowed in Campground C which is just a short trek down the road. It seems smaller and remained empty all day. It also had a water spigot near the road. Since there are no specific sites designated, I could only guess how many rigs would fit the area, but I would estimate 6-8. No matter which campground you choose, be sure to note that all camping is "primitive".
What makes Middle Fork such a great place to ride is the variety of terrain. You can cross the Middle Fork River in numerous places. It is mostly sand and gravel bottomed, but I would strongly suggest crossing at trail paths to ensure safety. You can ride down shaded lanes or choose the trails which lead through the rugged roll and cut of the land allowing some beautiful views as you ride the numerous ridges. The clay paths tend to have some muddy spots, so I would suggest checking recent rainfalls especially if you wish to ride the steeper trails. For those who wish, there are upland plains and fields that are cropped so one can ride flatter areas. I was always told that if you lose your way, head toward the power plant towers; they lead in the direction of the trailhead.
As we recently rode the park, my friend Gaye kept commenting just how much she missed going to Middle Fork; the hills offer challenging riding and there is such a variety of terrain. Needless to say, if the IL weather allows, we will soon be traveling back to Middle Fork. Hope to see you there!
Return to Riding the
Trails