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Bay Creek
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To enjoy the Shawnee National Forest from horseback, we like to camp at Bay Creek Ranch (http://www.baycreekranch.com). The camp is northeast of Robbs, IL at N37o 28.180 – W88o 39.700 and is open all year long and has scheduled group dates. The campground offers water and electricity to each campsite, picket lines, stalls, or pens for the horses, hot showers, and during scheduled rides very tasty meals for the riders. We prefer Bay Creek Ranch because it seems to be closer to some of the more interesting trails, and offers guided rides; Bart Lane, the owner, is one of the very few guides with a U.S. Forest Service permit.
The Shawnee National Forest offers some of the finest trails in the upper Midwest. The trails wander through dense forest, along creeks and rivers, through large rock formations, open fields, across earthen dams, and oh yes, under railroad tracks. In 2003 we rode with the organized rides, which were a comfortable size of about 20 to 25 riders. At the start of the week we could see the trails, but by the end of the week the falling leaves nearly obliterated them. These rides would begin about 9 in the morning and return to camp in the middle of the afternoon. We carried a sack lunch and would eat lunch along a creek. On one day the camp hosts brought our lawn chairs and set up a hot lunch in a beautiful area of pine trees. On one ride we passed next to a Civil War gravesite and an old Negro cemetery. Another day we visited the huge Sand Cave that is now enclosed by a Forest Service designated natural area. The local horsemen have constructed a picket line so you can leave your horses while visiting the cave. One of the trails makes two crossings of railroad tracks; Well, the trail actually runs under the tracks. One passage is called the Tin Whistle and is a huge metal culvert with plenty of room for the horses and riders. The trail wanders through and around numerous large rock formations before passing under the railroad tracks again. The second crossing is really fun and a test of horse and rider. The trail drops into Little Bay Creek which runs through a concrete box culvert. It is quite dark and the echoes make it an adventure. You have to keep your eyes focused on the light at the end of the tunnel. From there we proceed to Jackson Falls and usually stop for a peaceful lunch next to the falls. In 2003 it was a little disappointing because the falls were dry due to the drought last summer. A benefit of the drought was less risk of encountering ground bees.
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A favorite stop is Jackson Falls.
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Donna rides through some of the big rocks.
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Bart and Carol Lane operate the Bay Creek camp.
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These maps and others are available for a small charge.
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This site is being developed so please visit again.
Other pages on this site are: Home, Sewing, Aviation, Family, and Equestrian, with Big Creek, Golden Hills, Yellow River, Elk Rock, Stephens Forest, Brushy Creek, Big Piney, Prairie Du Chien, and Volga. Thanks for visiting.
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This page was last updated on Monday, 2 February 2004. Thanks for visiting.
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visits since 2 February 2004.
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