Reviews
Sugar River Forest Preserve
User Reviews
Daniel Bird
This is a great place to come camp in the area for a weekend. It's only a 20 minute drive from my house but feels like we're hours away. It is usually very quiet (but depends on who's camping next to you). I've only camped at the primitive campground. About half of the 12 primitive sites are on the river, the other half close to the river, but your camp site will not adjoin the river. The pit toilets and water pump are within a very reasonable walking distance from the primitive sites. The sites are kept clean and the park attendants have always been very cordial and helpful. The price for a resident for the primitive sites are only $15/night. Firewood is $8/bundle. (2025 prices). The ground is very level, smooth and stone free in my experience, which makes pitching a tent super easy. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. There are plenty of mosquitoes, so be sure to bring your bug spray and apply it liberally. Once we did that, we didn't have too much of a problem, but we definitely did go home with a few bites, a fair price to pay for the experience and memories made. There is a hiking trail that routes right past the sites so you may have hikers walking fairly close to your sites, but in my experience everyone has either left us alone or been super kind and respectful.
Denise Buse
You want a beautiful place to enjoy family friends and nature and good place to fish and just enjoy the fresh air sugar river is where you want to be
Jane Gorsline
Enjoyed camping here among the tall pines after Memorial Day.
Dan Pfluger
The sites are level and spacious. Plus you can go tubing on the river. A great service ,Sugar River adventures picks you up at the campground and you float down back to the campground. I'd go back again.
Cuppy
Love coming to this place every once in a while. Looking forward to maybe camping there this summer. The trails are well kept and overall friendly to walk on. it's always full of wildlife whenever I go. Spring peepers make the area sound so alive this time of year. I took lots of photos for my photography class this week.
Linda Nor
I camped here once in the spring, loved it, was looking forward to coming back, made it back for the halloween bash weekend.......was not disappointed one bit!!!!
Emily Thompson
Beautiful, quiet campground with first-come, first-serve spots available (10/31/20). Cash only and no attendant, but we had our pick of almost all of the campsites. Water was still on in the main bathroom, and toilet paper was well stocked in the pit toilets. Lots of downed wood nearby for firewood, which was good as we never saw anyone to purchase wood. Beautiful, well-groomed trails for hiking or a couple for horses. A good bit of horse poop, but otherwise very well maintained. Gorgeous fall views! Would stay again!
Jorgen Akesson
Wonderful camp site and hosts. Most sites with electric hookup, but no water. Bring along a long hose and you might reach a tap to refill. Wooded lots. Near the river, good for canoeing and nice trails (mostly grassy).