Camping in Chicago is one of the best ways to get to experience a myriad of things that are often missed out by day hikers. This is because you could always take a stroll during evenings, way beyond the Chicago camp areas where you are hitched for the night, and catch the gentle breeze that brings the wetland’s sweet scent into the air. You can even get to listen to the different night calls of the animals nearby.
So, if you are one of those people who want to enjoy the offerings of nature through Chicago camping, then you can do exactly this, even in the Chicago wilderness. Yes, there are a number of camp areas in Chicago that could be found just near to the city and all of these can initiate even the first-timers to spend more than just one night camping. One of the most popular camp sites that you can go to while in the city is the Illinois Beach State Park. Here, you can greet the morning listening to marsh’s birdsong and take the time out to enjoy the view at dusk at Lake Michigan’s shore. With 244 campsites, the park is very famous for being a destination for car-camping.
The Blackwell Forest Preserve is also one of the best Chicago camp areas that you can go to. Located on a series of forest preserves that can be found down the DuPage River, this 1,312 forest preserve offers 60 campsites. Here, you can either go canoeing at the Silver Lake or go hiking its seven-mile trails or go bird watching at the McKee Marsh. If you want to experience more adventurous camping in Chicago, then you can head on to Glacial Park with its campground that can only be accessed by canoe. There are broad grasslands here that you can hike in as well as three other park landings that you can paddle to.
Another area where you can enjoy some Chicago camping is at the Bliss Woods Forest Preserve. With its 40 sites for car-camping, Bliss Woods has a shady nature trail that runs across the 330-acre area of the whole preserve, where you can make use of for biking or hiking. One of the most known camp areas in Chicago is also the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The 60-mile graveled trail of the canal has sites for both car and primitive camping. You and your family or friends can enjoy canoeing, biking and hiking here all in one day.
So, if you are really keen on getting a Chicago camping experience, then there are great opportunities for you to do so in the Chicago Wilderness areas. Although most of the Chicago camp areas mentioned above are quite popular, if you will just make reservations ahead of time, you are sure to get the chance to enjoy the great outdoors of the Windy City.