Camping recommendations in southern WI or northern IL?

I am wondering if anyone can give me some suggestions of good camping spots in Northern IL or Southern WI. I normally stay at state parks, I have stayed at starved rock, apple river canyon, and devil’s lake. I want some place with wooded campsites that aren’t right on top of each other for tent camping. Trails with waterfalls or limestone bluffs defiantly a plus, and if there is canoeing near by that would be even better. Any suggestions?

Actually there are bluffs, CLIFFS even, in southern Wisconsin. Definitely check out Wyalusing State Park, at the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. It’s one of my favorite parks in the whole state of Wis.

There’s a short canoe route through the backwaters of the confluence, and rentals are available at the park. You can also drive up the Wisconsin to the Hwy 35 bridge (Bridgeport) and launch your boats there for a short run down through the confluence and back to the park… of course, don’t forget to leave a car at the take-out!

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/Org/land/parks/specific/wyalusing/

Within Wyalusing, the Wisconsin Ridge Campsites are right along the bluff line – about 500 feet up from the river below, however the sites are rather open and close together. I prefer the Homestead Campground area, especially site 235 / 236. They are the most popular sites in the whole park. Heavily wooded, and you’ll have much more privacy.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/Org/land/parks/specific/wyalusing/wyalusingcamp02.pdf

Here are someone’s photos from the park:

http://www.brianboberg.com/brian/2003/wyalusing/index.shtml

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You also might want to check out Governor Dodge State Park in Wisconsin.

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/specific/govdodge/

The best sites there are the walk-in sites for tents. They’re located in the Twin Valley Campground area, sites 262-263-264 are really good – heavily wooded, and they provide a bit of privacy. You basically park and carry your gear into the woods about 300 feet to your site. It’s a nice barrier from the noise of other campers. I’ve spent a good number of nights under the stars at site 263!

If you have a big number of people, they have excellent group campsites at Gov Dodge. The group sites are very spread apart, and only allow tent camping.

Two lakes for floating around on the boats, but the lakes are a bit small. I think the fishing might be pretty good, however. There’s definitely good swimming, one lake was more favored than the other. One of the two lakes has a cliff / bluff wall along one side that you can paddle over to.

And there is a waterfall, well, more like a trickle on one of the hikes. Found someone’s pics on line:
http://www.birddigiscoping.com/blogmaybd083b.jpg The water flow varies – when I was there it was nowhere near this volume of water.

There are remnants of the buildings put up by a farmer that used to own the land there, and one of the hiking trails takes you to his ice house – he built a stone structure over the site where a spring surfaces. The structure trapped the cool air around the water source, and basically created a natural refrigerator.

Have fun wherever you choose to go!

Illinois paddles/Covel Creek

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