Camping 2013

[Ton]

It's that time of the year again where me and my buddies go out for our annual camping trip. Last year you guys came up with a lot of excellent places and we ended up at Yellowstone Lake.</p>


 </p>


Personally, I loved it and so far it's been the best place I've ever camped. So this year, everyone that plans on coming with us wants to go back there, but I thought I'd come up with another list so we can see our options again. So I ask you, IndianHeadNation, which spots are your favorite camp sites?</p>

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

Yellowstone is awesome to say the least, but some others that I have been to several times are:


Point Reyes Campgrounds, California - Awesome hiking and other outdoor activities. Awesome campsites by the ocean, and many of the sites at the park are amenity laden. One of my all time favorites.


Mather Campground, Arizona - Near the Grand Canyon, and plenty other things to do nearby.


Fontainebleau State Park, Louisiana. Lots of nature and the bayou. New Orleans is nearby.


Blackwoods Campground, Maine - Like Point Reyes, but with the New England feel.

 

[phranchk]

Redwood state park has some amazing camping. Especially Osagon campsite.</p>


Isle Royale in Lake Superior is a must, but you're at the mercy of the fairies. If you can't get there Porcupine Mountains in the UP is pretty nice.</p>


Red River Gorge in Kentucky though this is much better in fall as it's less crowded.</p>


I'm guessing Alaska is out of the question, but that's been the best by far for me.</p>

 

[Ton]

We are trying to stay within 4-6 hours of driving distance. Preferably under 4 hours, but 6 max if it is worth it. We were looking at Devil's Lake (still never been there) and Giant City, but I thought I'd ask on here since you guys picked the place we ended up going to.</p>


 </p>


We all pretty much loved Yellowstone, the lake was nice, decent trail, camp sites were spread out a good distance, and the best part of all was no mosquitos despite the fact that it was raining every night we were there mid-July. They were also very lenient there, had no problems with us drinking and chopping wood, we even built a gazebo out of an extra tarp and wood that we found (we needed shelter to protect from rain, don't hate). The park ranger came by one night, looked at our gazebo and said "I've worked here for 25 years, and I've never seen anyone build something like that" and walked off. LOL!</p>

 

[phranchk]

4-6 hours? Maybe Garden of the Gods in southern Illinois.</p>

 

[winos5]

I think it might be closed and you might get rousted by Chicago's finest but I hear lower Wacker Drive has camping areas....   There is also a tent city in Aurora you might look into.</p>

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="phranchk" data-cid="192135" data-time="1366255963">

4-6 hours? Maybe Garden of the Gods in southern Illinois.</p></blockquote>


Yea for a 4-6 hour drive that is a nice place to go.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="winos5" data-cid="192161" data-time="1366305299">

I think it might be closed and you might get rousted by Chicago's finest but I hear lower Wacker Drive has camping areas....   There is also a tent city in Aurora you might look into.</p></blockquote>


Naw they don't bother them much. The are several that I have seen for years heading to the boat. Some weekend mornings I buy the regulars a box of doughnuts and box of coffee.

 

[Tater]

We camped at Lake Shelbyville several years ago, loved it.</p>

 

[jakobeast]

I believe I told you about Yellowstone Lake. I say go back. I love the lack of mosquitoes. It's all the bats. Did you see any bats? Yellowstone for me is great. Not too far a drive so you don't waste time behind a windshield. Those rangers sound awesome.  Devil's Lake is not to shabby in it's own right, but for me, there are too many people. I don't like people so that's my issue. Lots to do at Devil's Lake though. You could also take a short day trip to Baraboo's International Clown Hall of Fame</p>


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http://www.theclownmuseum.com/</p>

 

[Ton]

What about Starved Rock? What's the situation like over there?</p>


 </p>


We are looking for: Little to no mosquitoes, secluded campsites so we don't bother any families, hike a bit with nice sightlines, rent some boats if we want, maybe some fishing, lenient park rangers are a must so that we can chop/use wood and drink freely. We were able to do all of that at Yellowstone Lake, so I think that is where we are setting the bar.</p>


 </p>


Not gonna lie, Garden of the Gods looks pretty sweet too. If we were going to try and make it somewhere around 4-6 hours I'd need a fantastic selling point, like I said they would prefer it under 4 hours. 3 hours would be easy... 4-6 needs a fantastic selling point so that I can convince them to go.</p>

 

[R K]

Glacier National Park.  Bring Bear Spray and a Gun.  One of the coolest places on earth.</p>


 </p>


As for IL, Shawnee National forest, Little Grand Canyon.</p>


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Giant City State Park,</p>


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Devils Kitchen Lake</p>


Crab Orchard Lake</p>


Little Grassy Lake</p>


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Gardon of the Gods is cool, similar to Giant City. </p>


 </p>


Starved Rock is ok as well.</p>

 

[bookjones]

If you want to do a 3-6 hr trip the Southern IL forests/parks would be ideal if none of you guys have gone before and I agree with RK that doing the whole Shawnee would be ideal for a longer camping trip. Once there, then you guys can easily hit up Garden of the Gods and Little Grand Canyon or Starved Rock or Cave in the Rock just like he recommended. If this is a week long trip then I think this scenario would be best. I had friends who used to love doing 3 day weekend trips to Starved Rock but they didn't devote weeklong trips to it. </p>


 </p>


Maybe this can help you:   http://shawneehillsoutdoors.com/7-tips-for-planning-a-spring-hike-in-the-shawnee-national-forest-illinois-state-parks/</p>


 </p>


 </p>


or   http://www.shawneeforest.com/Hiking.aspx</p>

 

[Tater]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bookjones" data-cid="192212" data-time="1366322686">
<div>


If you want to do a 3-6 hr trip the Southern IL forests/parks would be ideal if none of you guys have gone before and I agree with RK that doing the whole Shawnee would be ideal for a longer camping trip. Once there, then you guys can easily hit up Garden of the Gods and Little Grand Canyon or Starved Rock or Cave in the Rock just like he recommended. If this is a week long trip then I think this scenario would be best. I had friends who used to love doing 3 day weekend trips to Starved Rock but they didn't devote weeklong trips to it. </p>


 </p>


Maybe this can help you:   http://shawneehillsoutdoors.com/7-tips-for-planning-a-spring-hike-in-the-shawnee-national-forest-illinois-state-parks/</p>


 </p>


 </p>


or   http://www.shawneeforest.com/Hiking.aspx</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


Sooo....how many pairs of shoes did you bring with you "camping"?</p>


Did you count staying at a Holiday Inn as "camping"?</p>

 

[bookjones]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tater" data-cid="192219" data-time="1366332198">
<div>


Sooo....how many pairs of shoes did you bring with you "camping"?</p>


Did you count staying at a Holiday Inn as "camping"?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


Why are you wasting your time at IHN when you could be packing the house at Zanies! {{snickers}}</p>


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Mr. I Know Everything About Bookjones I'll have you know that yes, I have indeed camped and hiked and especially liked the hiking around the whole Shawnee area.  I know this might give you a coronary to read but I actually did stuff growing up like ski, cross country ski, snowshoeing. . .and hold onto your chest Fred Sanford but I actually went to a dude ranch as my camp when I was a kid. It hasn't always been a life of awesome shoe consumption you know. </p>

 

[Tater]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bookjones" data-cid="192227" data-time="1366336676">
<div>


Why are you wasting your time at IHN when you could be packing the house at Zanies! {{snickers}}</p>


 </p>


Mr. I Know Everything About Bookjones I'll have you know that yes, I have indeed camped and hiked and especially liked the hiking around the whole Shawnee area.  I know this might give you a coronary to read but I actually did stuff growing up like ski, cross country ski, snowshoeing. . .and hold onto your chest Fred Sanford but I actually went to a dude ranch as my camp when I was a kid. It hasn't always been a life of awesome shoe consumption you know. </p>


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</div>
</blockquote>


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I'm comin' 'lizbeth, it's the big one!!!</p>


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/staggers slightly</p>

 

[jakobeast]

Starved Rock has really good hiking opportunities and great scenery. I would camp there in the dead of winter and hike and see all the iced over waterfalls. As such, I don't really know what the family situation, as you can imagine, not many people want to camp when it is snowing and the temp doesn't get above 15 degrees during the day. </p>


 </p>


However, there is a hotel there and several cabins, so I assume that there would be plenty of families there. And I don't think you can rent a boat there. There is a lock and dam right up the river and they dont even want you swimming in the river cause of it.</p>


 </p>


On a positive, just a short trip down the highway is the Silver Slipper. That is fun strip club. </p>

 

[phranchk]

Starved rock is cool, but it can get crowded. Garden of the Gods can also get crowded but there's less popular campgrounds very close by that are also pretty awesome.</p>


I'm more of a backpacker and you can get some amazing, secluded sites if you're willing to hike a bit to make camp. The River to River trail has a lot of amazing, secluded camping but you have to hike a bit. Just don't go in late June or July cus it's hot as **** and infested with ticks.</p>

 

[Tater]

Rock Cut (near Rockford) is pretty family oriented, but they do have some really cool cabins with big decks facing the lake to rent. If they aren't booked already, they probably will be soon but they look really nice. Camping is just so so. No beer, but people sneak in a lot of stuff (gotta be discreet) but not too much privacy unless you camp away from the lake. They do have a marina with a restaurant and rent boats too.</p>

 

[TSD]

I dont know what your plans are.   If its more grillin, fishing, and drinking.</p>


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My roommates from the dorms in college and I started yearly get togethers, going here http://www.cabinfeveril.com/</p>


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Its out near Galesburg, I mean our objective was to hang out, outside, get fucked up, grill and have drunken paddle boat races on the lake.  Its cheap as hell too.</p>


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They also have campgrounds if you dont want to rent a place.</p>


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I will tell you its in the middle of bumfuck nowhere.  Its weird because its like, normal forest/lake area in the middle of fucking cornfields.</p>