Hayes Canyon Campground

CW

2024-04

Most beautiful part of IL hands down! Pictures are of Bells Springs and Garden of the Gods, this campground is perfectly located by both. We stayed here in April '24. Super friendly mom and pop campground with nice sites and full hookups. Horse owner heaven. Fast wifi. Email communication was very responsive. Everyone at the campground, and I mean everyone, were some of the nicest people I've met in awhile. True red blooded Americans which is so refreshing. If we come back to this area, hands down would definitely stay here again!Restrooms: Very clean everytimeDog-friendliness: Very dog friendly, but of course leashed

Jared Cole

2024-04

Hayes Canyon Campground was a delightful place to camp. Everyone was very nice and the amenities were immaculate. The camaraderie among the campers and staff made this place feel very neighborly. The trails here are also gorgeous and I would highly recommend staying here on your next camping trip!

Dominic Romano

2024-04

Excellent and very unique campground! Friendly staff and great service. Have never been at a more unique campground as there are horse stalls at every site so you can bring your horses along with you and ride the numerous trails around the area. Great bathroom facilities! Great location!Travelled there to see the eclipse! If we ever travel that way again, we will definitely stop!Dog-friendliness: Dogs are welcomed!

Lauren W

2023-12

The folks who run the campground are extremely kind and helpful. There's a fire pit and a picnic table at every campsite. There are nice bathrooms, showers, and laundry utilities (we didn't use the laundry facilities, but I know they exist). There's also a community room and WiFi available there as well as at the front. They sell merch, firewood, shavings, hay and alfalfa, plus they deliver to your campsite.This is an awesome place to go if you're a horse rider! The trails to the west of the campground are all marked very well and they're all maintained. If I'm not mistaken, the trails to the west are on the campground's property, and they're top notch trails. The trails to the east of the campground are not marked as well (we got lost for a good couple of hours and didn't see any helpful signs during that time), but I believe this is the National Forestry's responsibility, not the campground's. Hayes Canyon gives out a very detailed map, which is made from pretty sturdy material. Overall, Hayes Canyon is one of my favorite campgrounds that I've been to.I definitely recommend this campground!!

Leslie Lewis

2023-11

Hayes is a wonderful place to camp. It is our second year there and we plan on continuing to go there as long as we can ride. We love the family who runs it and everyone there is so super friendly and nice and the trails are so well marked.

Steve Ritz

2022-05

Took the family to Shawnee National Forest to hike and see the sites. We wanted a camp site that was quiet, friendly, close to a lot of cool hiking trails, and one that takes reservations. Hayes Canyon Campground checked all the boxes. Even though we didn't have any horses, everyone was very welcoming and let us know all the great places to visit. We will certainly come visit again and Hayes Canyon Campground will be at the top of our list.

Whitney Moxley

2023-05

Update. I didn't think hayes canyon could get better but the new owners have made so many improvements. It is so nice, new cover stall, new barn, new laundry area. The campground is spotless.Ben and his wife are the nicest people and will do anything to make your trip amazing. The bathrooms are the cleanest I have never seen. The trails are well marked and easy to follow. Great location

Jennifer Mills

2022-05

We visited last weekend, the grounds are very well kept, clean. Bathhouse was immaculate. Owners are super nice and helpful. Thanks to them taking my sister to the hospital quickly by their own vehicle after she'd gotten thrown from her horse after getting into ground bees. We will return! Thank you!

michael schram

2021-05

Josh the groundskeeper is a nice guy... the cabin was decent for a horse campground... good wifi at the office, anytime day or night..

Adventures with SaddleBrat

2023-05

This is my favorite place. Love the people and the trails.

William Oakley

2021-05

Staff was very courteous and helpful. Clean restrooms, nice round pen, nice covered stalls at our site. Very nice little wagons that are emptied daily - no lugging across camp to dump horse manure/shavings. Nice trail access from the campground. The trails were fun to ride and beautiful, especially with the leaves changing colors.Majority of the sites are permanent sites - there was no regulation on site maintenance it seemed as many of the permanent sites/stalls were cluttered and not appealing to the eye. All gravel and dirt, which makes for a lot of dust and no grass anywhere around our site.WiFi worked great at the office. We were even able to get it at our site (being it was close to the office).The trail map provided by the campground was very helpful in navigating the trails.

Rhonda Kimbrough

2019-05

Ben and family are always very helpful and friendly!! Great trails leaving camp. Very clean showers. Absolutely love having all hook ups at site including andump pipe. Horse stalls are at your site, clean making camping with horses very convenient and stress free. You don't have to picket them or cross the camp ground to maintain your horse. Highly recommend!

Catherine Jensen

2020-05

I was a first time camper at Hayes Canyon Campground, and I really enjoyed my time at Hayes Canyon. The grounds were very well maintained. The bath house was clean and tidy. The options for fairly priced convenience items, snacks, ice and firewood at the store were very helpful given the decent drive into town. We did have cell phone service near the camp office. We also were close enough to use the WiFi hotspot at the office. We heavily utilized the smaller map provided with campsite, but we also purchased the larger Shawnee trail system map. Both are good guidance for the extensive trail system. Using a GPS helps fill in the infrequently needed guide at tricky intersections or trails with less markers. We were able to ride out to see Jackson Hole, Peter Cave, Secret Canyon, Indian Kitchen and many others from camp. Everyone was very friendly. Camp wasn't rowdy, which is nice for those of us getting up early to hit the trails! Our campsite (A6) had four square stalls, which can be opened to make two larger rectangular stalls. We had trees within our stalls, which offer plenty of shade. However, there is wire wrapped around the tree trunks. We didn't have any issues with this with our horses, but something to consider with more accident prone animals. We will be back for sure to hit the trails we weren't able to fit in this trip!

Nancy Plant

2023-10

Best place around to camp with horses. Trails are good and marked. Lots of riding.

Jodi Sunday

2023-06

We had a wonderful experience visiting the camp. The facilities and campground were really clean and the people were so welcoming!

Paula Graham

2021-05

Great place to hike. Miles of trails. Beautiful area. Shelter bluffs. Cascade. Babbling brook. Great signage. Restrooms open in middle of camp. Very clean and well lit. We didn't stay at camp, but there was at least one cabin for rent. We were just there for day hike. Trail is in back of camp straight ahead to the next lane and then to the right, from restrooms.

Ryan Sherer

2018-05

Outstanding Campground! Even with the Eclipse, called on Sunday, he had opened up overflow tent campsites and was very accomodating, even delivered the load of firewood! Wow, can't say enough nice things about the facility and the staff! Wonderful time seeing the Eclipse without being crowded! Would have loved to stay longer! Highly recommend!!!

Ronda Larimore

2018-05

Wonderful people,campground and trails. Shower house very clean. Laundry available. Flushable bathroom by campers also extremely clean. Office has ice cream treats plus a selection of RV and horse needs. Don't worry about firewood they can supply that also. As close as I could count approximately 35 or more pieces for 15.00. You can't get that at a convenience store. Guides available on request 15.00 per trip per person. Trails are very scenic and beautiful. We will return again.

Maja M

2023-05

Amazing place to camp! Everyone is so nice and kind! Beautiful hiking trails and nature is gorgeous!!Definitely must come to visit!

Tina Henry

2017-05

This has been our Go-to campground in Shawnee for the last 10 years or so, VERY well run, VERY well kept. Great if you have a Living Quarters, as you have sewer hook up on the site. Great if you don't have Living Quarter too: Bathrooms and showers are always clean. Picnic tables, level parking pads, all sites have horse opens, some have covered stalls. Ben and Patti are great folks and the Perminent campers are nice and friendly. Wifi at the office: large deck with ample seating to relax while checking email and posting pics of the day's ride on Facebook.Great trails - some really pretty riding just a short ride from camp. Access to Lusk Creek Wilderness area, Indian Kitchen, Peters cave and more

Vicky Maroney

2017-05

I can't say enough positive about Hayes Canyon! The owner is very friendly and helpful! Clean campground all the way around, including the restrooms/showers. Easy access to trails. Just an all around great place to stay!

Cherie Smith

2020-05

Fabulous campground, amazing owners, and the best location in the Shawnee for seeing some of the best scenery!!

Natalee Dorethy

2019-05

Such a nice park with so many nice people! Everyone is so kind and welcoming! If you have horses or love to hike, I 20/10 recommend to go!!

Janice Wamsley

2020-05

Beautiful place. Great riding Trails are well marked. Great place for kids and grandkids. Ben and Pattie are always willing to help with any difficulty you might have.

Jamin Raber

2024-04

Very nice, helpful people.

Jerry Downs

2020-05

We have been staying at Hayes the past 7-8 years or so . Won’t go anyplace else. There is a reason why they get such good reviews. So well kept and run by the nicest people.

Christina Grote

2020-05

Love this place. Most sites have sewer. We were able to get free wifi at our campsite. The owners are fabulous! This has become my favorite place to camp in shawnee.

Letisha Luecking

2022-05

Wonderful facility. Can't wait to go back! Bathhouse facilities were clean and so very nice. The people were amazing and friendly.

Ashley King

2020-05

Clean, friendly campground! Great place to take entire family! Clean stalls, great trails! Lets the good times roll!!!

j steiny

2023-12

Wonderful as always friendly and inviting