From Smithsonian guide to natural america, Midwest



# Southern Illinois (South of St Louis)

## Bell Smith recreation area (sandstone, a system of spring fed creeks has carved canyons through the sandstone) 
    - near Eddyville, 
    - freecampsites.net: Red Bud Campground - Shawnee National Forest This is a PAY campground. ($12 or less)
        - url: https://freecampsites.net/#!3940&query=sitedetails
        - forest service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/shawnee/recarea/?recid=13020

## Garden of the Gods (sand stone rock formations, good trails, can be hot)
    http://www.shawneeforest.com/GardenoftheGods
    - Pharaoh Campground - 12 campsites drinking water, toilets. $10 
        - The nearest town is a good 20 minutes away, but the short drive is well worth the trip.



# Central Illinois (North of St Louis, south of Chicago)

## Funks grove (one the last old growth forests in Illinois, call nearby moraine view recreation area about visiting)
    Stubblefield Woodlots Nature Preserve
    Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Stubblefield+Woodlots+Nature+Preserve/@40.356848,-89.1255788,15z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x880b14ea67a2ce9d:0x753b39328f5701c!2sFunks+Grove,+Illinois+61754,+EE.+UU.!3b1!8m2!3d40.363649!4d-89.114528!3m4!1s0x880b14bf78d2fcf9:0x568a63b38dd8f48c!8m2!3d40.3679724!4d-89.1122237
    Campground: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Pages/MoraineView.aspx
        - Freecampsites lists Catfish Bay camp area in moraine view recreation area, says
            - Location has approximately 25-30 primative campsites at $6/night with overnight drop boxes distributed between two locations (Catfish Bay & Tall Timbers). The sites are highly wooded but easily accessed on dirt/gravel trails. Amenities include outhouses and running water. There is fishing in Dawson Lake (w/in the park). Horeseback riding is offered by Double L. There are also several RV sites of which I have yet to investigate.