NW IL Driftless

600–1,200 ft · IL🚗 Directions

Northwest Illinois driftless region along the Mississippi bluffs. Unglaciated terrain with steep wooded ravines of white oak, hickory, and elm. Apple Creek and tributary valleys are prime morel habitat. Cooler season than southern IL.

Trees:White Oak Hickory American Elm

Updated Apr 13, 6:45 PM

Foraging Potential80/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

3.00"

Precip 14d

6.00"

Soil Temp

59°F

SWE

Snow Water Equivalent — how much water is in the snowpack vs. normal. Declining SWE means snowmelt is adding moisture to the soil.

Drought

None

Snowmelt

complete

Limiting Factors

Outside season window

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Nearby Camping

Canyon Camp

developed

Boy Scouts of America~10.8 mi from center

Reserve →

Pleasant Creek Campground

developed

US Corps of Engineers~12.2 mi from centerFee required/night

55 sites

Bellevue State Park Campground - Dyas Unit

developed

~13.3 mi from centerFee required/night

44 sites

shower

Walnut Grove Campground

developed

~14.6 mi from center

Canyon Ridge Camping Area

developed

~14.6 mi from center

Spruce Creek Park Campground

developed

Jackson County Conservation~15 mi from centerFee required/night

85 sites

toilet

Hickory Hill Campground

developed

~19.9 mi from centerFee required/night

138 sites

showerelectric hookup

Lake-Le-Aqua-Na SRA--Pine Ridge Campground

developed

~20.2 mi from centerFee required/night

17 sites

toiletshower

Army Corps of Engineers' Causeway

developed

~20.7 mi from center

THOMSON CAUSEWAY

developed

BOR~20.7 mi from center

Reserve →

Winslow Community Park

developed

~25 mi from centerFee required/night

9 sites

water

Massey Marina and Park Campgrounds

developed

~25.7 mi from centerFee required/night

showerelectric hookup

Rock River Christian Camp-Office

developed

~28.6 mi from center

Pecatonica River Trails Park Campground

developed

~29.8 mi from centerFee required/night

32 sites

showerelectric hookup

Miller Riverview Park & Campground

developed

~31.3 mi from centerFee required/night

electric hookup

Blackhawk Memoreial Park Campground

developed

~31.6 mi from centerFee required/night

38 sites

Swiss Valley County Park Campground

developed

~32.6 mi from centerFee required/night

60 sites

toiletshowerelectric hookup

Swiss Valley Campground

developed

~32.6 mi from center

ORPR Camp

developed

~35 mi from center

Reserve →

Heritage Campground & Pond

developed

~35.3 mi from centerFee required/night

watertoilet

Rock Creek County Campground

developed

~35.7 mi from centerFee required/night

84 sites

showerelectric hookup

Green County Fairgrounds

developed

~36.1 mi from centerFee required/night

100 sites

electric hookup

Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

developed

~37.2 mi from center

watertoiletshowerelectric hookup

Mud Lake Park Campground

developed

~37.9 mi from centerFee required/night

watertoiletelectric hookup

Crow Valley Campground

developed

~38.6 mi from center

Cedar Ridge Family Reservation Campground

developed

~38.8 mi from center

Spring Creek Youth Campground

developed

~38.8 mi from center

Sunny Crest Family Campground

developed

~38.9 mi from center

Fox Canyon Youth Campground

developed

~38.9 mi from center

McKellar Park Campground

developed

~41.4 mi from centerFee required/night

15 sites

water

Lake Summerset Campground

developed

~41.8 mi from center

Erie Campground

developed

~42.4 mi from center

Leisure Lake Campground

developed

~42.6 mi from center

Blue Lake Resort

developed

~42.9 mi from center

Sun Valley

developed

State~44.6 mi from center

Shady Rest camping area

developed

State~44.7 mi from center

Camping Islands

developed

~45 mi from center

White Oak

developed

State~45 mi from center

Camp Lowden

developed

Blackhawk Area Council~45 mi from center

Reserve →

New Glarus Woods State Park Campground

developed

~45.4 mi from center

Group Camping

developed

~45.5 mi from center

Walk-to Campsites

developed

~45.7 mi from center

Sugar River Forest Preserve - Riverfront

developed

~48.7 mi from centerFee required/night

12 sites

toiletshower

Sugar River Forest Preserve - Pine Tree

developed

~48.9 mi from centerFee required/night

80 sites

showerelectric hookup

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.