Stephen A. Forbes SRA

Reserve Your Campsite

At Stephen A. Forbes SRA, the recently modernized Oak Ridge Campground is a great place for an overnight stay. There are 115 shaded campsites with electricity, water, and a shower building available. 52 sites can be reserved online at ExploreMoreIL™.

Two sets of stairways and a boat dock provide access to the lake for campers here. A 120-foot floating walkway connects the campground with the marina area as well. If you have a group, a rent-a-campsite is available. The site has a two-room cabin with bunk beds. The site can be reserved online at ExploreMoreIL™.

For those preferring a more secluded spot with a scenic view of the lake, 10 walk-in sites are available. A separate youth group camp is available at the Whippoorwill area.

Trails, Equestrian Trails and Campground

A 15-mile horse trail circles the lake, offering horse and rider a panorama of natural beauty. Also available for the equestrian is a 21-site campground with electricity, located one mile east of Omega. The horse trail is open from May 15 to November 1.

Hiking

There are four established nature trails for hiking enthusiasts. The Oak Ridge Trail is a 2.5-mile loop trail located in the campground. For those preferring shorter walks, the Marlow Pond Trail is half a mile in length; the Henneman Trail, which guides the hiker to an early settlement cemetery, is only a quarter of a mile long; or take the Phillips Creek Trail, a quarter of a mile with access to the lake.

Swimming Beach

A beautiful 200-foot sand beach is located at Rocky Point, where visitors can enjoy swimming or picnicking at the tables provided here. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Rocky Point Area. Swimming is prohibited at all other areas of the lake, and swimming from boats is also prohibited. There is a $2.00 per person per day fee to use the beach facilities.

Boating

Boat ramps provide easy access to the main lake. There is no limit on horsepower, but various sections of the lake are marked by buoys for water skiing and "no wake" speeds. The concession offers fishing boats for rental. Bait, tackle, gas, snacks, and meals are also available. Slips are available to rent for pontoon boats and smaller craft on a daily and seasonal basis.

Fishing

The 585-acre lake at Stephen A. Forbes provides ample opportunities for the sport fisherman. The lake has been stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, crappie, channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, and walleye-sauger hybrids. Largemouth bass are stocked annually from brood ponds located in the park. This has created an excellent bass fishery. Trout fishing is popular during the spring and fall seasons at Boston Pond, and fishing is also available at Marlow Pond and Wilson Pond.

​Accessibility at Stephen A Forbes

• Parking - There are accessible parking spaces at most of the day-use areas with access to concrete or asphalt sidewalks.
• Restrooms - Accessible restrooms are available throughout the park in the office, visitor center, restaurant, marina, Rocky Point Beach, East Access Marina, Stagecoach, Sassafras, and Circle Drive picnic areas, and in the Oak Ridge Campground shower house.
• Camping - There are two accessible campsites located in the Oak Ridge campground with concrete and asphalt pads. Sidewalks, which allow access to accessible vault toilets, are immediately adjacent to the sites. There is also an asphalt walkway leading to the shower house approximately 400' away.
• Fishing - Dock surfaces are grooved aluminum or wood, with some uneven surfaces, which may become slippery when wet or icy. There is an accessible parking space that gives immediate access to approximately 650' of floating dock for your enjoyment at the restaurant/marina. ADA restrooms are located at the top of the concrete ramp approximately 100' from the parking area.
• Visitor Center - The center is a self-guided tour of exhibits and information with seating available, accessible restrooms, and water fountains. Exhibits do not have sound equipment or braille for the visually impaired.
• Service animals are welcome, and there is access to water in most of the picnic areas.