Posted 2009-02-24 6:57 PM (#100090) Subject: Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
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Posts: 24
Location: Celina, Ohio
We are considering a trip to Shawnee National Forest this Spring and are considering staying at the Baycreek campground in Simpson, Il. Has anyone stayed there and how is the camp? good and bad
Posted 2009-02-26 2:32 PM (#100229 - in reply to #100090) Subject: RE: Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
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Posts: 3
Location: Culpeper, VA
Originally written by Ruth on 2009-02-24 6:57 PM
We are considering a trip to Shawnee National Forest this Spring and are considering staying at the Baycreek campground in Simpson, Il. Has anyone stayed there and how is the camp? good and bad
I am heading there in April and this will be my 3rd visit in a year and a half and I live in Virginia. The campground is very nice. They are nice people and their campground has a family atmosphere so it is great for all - Linda and Chuck and make you feel very welcome. They have recently made great strides in improving the sites and adding more trailer spaces. I would say their one area that could stand for improvement and I know it is on their list is to do some renovation to their barn. They have plenty of high-lines and pens to choose from as well. The trails are wonderful - enjoy! If you have any more questions I would be happy to answer them.
Posted 2009-02-26 6:38 PM (#100245 - in reply to #100229) Subject: RE: Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
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Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
I don't believe you'd go wrong staying at any of the camp grounds in the area.
I put Bear Branch at the bottom of the list, but all the others should be great.
Posted 2009-03-01 11:26 AM (#100403 - in reply to #100090) Subject: RE: Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
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Posts: 45 Location: Southern Illinois
Baycreek is a nice campground and the trails are great! I don't think you will be disappointed.. Just don't ride your horses in any of the grassy areas or the owners might fuss! Don't get me wrong - they are nice people, they just don't like it when people ride in the grass. I really don't think you could go wrong with any of the campground down there because all of the trails are wonderful and each campground has something different to offer.. Enjoy your stay!
Posted 2009-03-01 12:25 PM (#100408 - in reply to #100405) Subject: RE: Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
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Posts: 11
Our group is planning on going to Hayes Canyon May 20th for 10 days of riding. Hope we don't get rained out. This will be our first time there. Any tips from anyone?
Posted 2009-03-01 6:13 PM (#100423 - in reply to #100090) Subject: RE: Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
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Posts: 207 Location: Illinois
Hayes is GREAT!!!! The sites are all nice, most are shaded. We loved the pens that are included with your nightly fee. Ben and Patti are super nice, and make it a nice vacation. I know there are lots of good campgrounds in Shawnee, I just haven't been to all of them!!
The trails go right from camp, and its beautiful right away.
The first 2 are just outside camp, the last one is Jackson Hole.
Shawnee is beautiful and the people there are WONDERFUL!!!
Posted 2009-03-01 6:16 PM (#100424 - in reply to #100090) Subject: RE: Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
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Posts: 207 Location: Illinois
Just wanted to add:
In the second photo, my husband stopped right after that, he was just going down a slope for a picture! We didn't ride into that "canyon" type area. It is beautiful along there!!! That is about 5 minutes from camp!
Posted 2009-03-01 6:33 PM (#100426 - in reply to #100090) Subject: RE: Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
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Posts: 10
Location: ohio
hi there it has been fews years but really nice place in my book its number 2 right after big south fork. i stayed at bear branch I really liked it, they even had a guide for hire, and its worth going out with someone that knows the trails,, but like said it been few years people and campgrounds change , but the place is really nice and easy riding to.
Posted 2009-03-03 6:22 PM (#100576 - in reply to #100426) Subject: RE: Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
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Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
Not all of the riding is easy riding. A lot of diversity. There are easy open road type trails and there are rocky, steep, trails, and everything in between. And, there are a lot of them. Not hundreds of miles, but thousands of miles of trails.
I would caution you a bit about Baycreek. If it has been raining a lot the trails in, and around, the Baycreek Campground can get very nasty. The trails on the east side of hwy 145 normally handle the heavy rains better than those on the west side.
Posted 2009-03-04 4:06 PM (#100653 - in reply to #100090) Subject: RE: Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
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Posts: 24
Location: Celina, Ohio
Thanks for all the feedback. We are so looking forward to this vacation. We did reserve at Baycreek. We are planning our trip for May 20th thru May 27th. We did go to Shawnee about 7-8 years ago and stayed at Bearbranch. It was ok but decided to try a different campground so we could go into the forest from a different direction. Maybe we will see some of you there.
Posted 2009-03-08 10:17 PM (#100907 - in reply to #100408) Subject: RE: Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
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Posts: 161 Location: S. Central Illinois
If you are coming from a distance, which I assume you are since you are staying for 10 days, go to a different campground. Campgrounds around Equality, High Knob and Double M--not as fancy but phenomenal riding-worth roughing it. Gives you a chance to see different parts of the forest. Bay Creek really does have some pretty good riding as well.
Baycreek Campground by Shawnee National Forest in Ilinois
