Can anyone tell me about the campgrounds at Shawnee? 

baycreek is probly my favorite although lusk creek 34 & double m has pretty riding too none of the trails are marked so ya want to have a gps or hook up with some1 that rides that particular campground alot

i am not to sure about lusk creek we have friends that ride their all the time, 34 ranch has changed hands since the last time we"ve rode there & heard the new owner made lots of improvements bay creek has just changed hands to in the last month or so but the last time we rode at them they were clean & well kept as far as it not being hot in july up here good luck usually in the 90"s by july

Hi!  We have enjoyed the trails at Bear Branch.  It is a nice campground with a restaurant and stalls for your horses.  I like it real well compared to High Knob.  Pretty rough riding there.  I haven't been to Lusk Creek but planning on going soon. 

Smoothride,

A place that we just can't say enough about, is only a couple hrs from Shawnee is called Golden Hills. If you haven't been there yet check them out. Great people, great camping,wonderful trails,excellant food, lots of eve activites, clinics, cattle drives, team penning,roping,fun shows.

http://www.goldenhills.com/

Did you have a chance to ck out their website yet? Lotsa info there. We started going there in 1993 and love it. They have the most beautiful camp ground you'll find, with very nice stalls.Also have several turn out pens and round pens for your use. Inground pool, fitness room, old western town, are a few of the xtras you'll find there, you can even get a massage. There is a lady there that does excellant graphics for your truck & trailer also. (Rockin "T" Graphics).They are located near Raymondville, Mo. The town of Houston is only 15 mins away, where they have several major gas stations for refueling, a Walmart for those forgotten items, and God forbid,  a Hospital.

I like to say you'll arive there as guest but leave as freinds.

We were there for the ride May 28 thru Jun 4, and there was a Rodeo in the next town north  Licking, Mo. 

thanx for the info we have rode quite a bit at cctr so it sounds like it isnt far from there

Rockyrider,

How far is it from Shawnee to Golden Hills?

Thanks,

Sherry

I've never driven one to the other before, so I checked map quest (good luck right) and they route you up north for a 300 mile trip. I believe the southern route to be shorter. Probablly a 4 to 5 hr trip????

Maybe someone else has better info!

Where are you in Tenn? I think from Memphis area it's about 5 hrs to Golden Hills.

I was just at Golden the last weekend of May thru 1st weekend of June, and it was great. They have opened up some new trails that we didn't even get to check out. Of course no trip there is complete without a ride to and into "Ride In Cave" ( one of several caves)

I am 1.5 hrs east of Nashville.

Sherry

I was at the Circle B campground in June and found it to be hot.  It was in the mid 90's and humid and we actually had one horse get overheated.  We ended up trying to be in the saddle by 7-7:30 to beat the  heat.  Before it was over all, of us white legged cowgirls/boy were in our shorts.  We did have pens at each campsite and you provided your own food.

I went to Bay Creek in October and really enjoyed riding in that area.  I thought the area was prettier than around Circle B.  They provided breakfast and supper.  At breakfast they set out goodies for you to pack yourself a sack lunch to go.  They also provided a guide.  They have limited stalls and corrals.  You could picket your at your campsite.  Shawnee is well worth going to see, I plan to go again someday.  

The following is a copy of an email I received from Brenda Kail (trail rider and responsible horse/mule person) and I pass it on for everyone's information:

My family and I along with another couple were in Shawnee last week.  I have to say we did enjoy the riding.  The scenery, rock formation and general trail riding was very great.  The camp site we stayed at did not impress us at all.  We drove around to look at some of the other camp grounds in the area and for what you pay for a night, we decided to drive to Missouri to find a camp site with riding.  We live in SE MN and have nice riding here and the parks are clean.  We have traveled out west and found camp grounds and parks to be very clean there.  I was surprised at the amount littering found in the park on the trail and at camp grounds.  Also for such a large park we were surprised by having to ride some of the private land to get to the park trails.  We were told how alot of the private land owners are not allowing trail riding on their land because of the littering problem.  We are glad that we experienced Shawnee but will probably never go back. 

I am sorry that your Shawnee experience was less than great.  We were there the first week of June, and the only dissapointment we had was the HOT weather!!  Our campground (Little Lusk) was extremely clean, friendly, and comfortable.  We rode to secret/lost canyon and trails surrounding. We rode all day Monday, Tuesday, and only a few hours Wed. and Thurs.  I did not see one single piece of litter along any trail!  I believe you encountered litter, and that's sad, but honestly Shawnee IS beautiful and something that people from Illinois are very proud of! 

I don't think litter is the only reason private land owners want to keep us out (although it wouldn't help).  It boils down to money.  Many land owners want to charge the campgrounds money to use their lands now.  It is extremely sad that there are radical people out there trying to close the forest.  They don't even want you there on foot, let alone your horse.  If these wacko's succeed, it will open doors for many other precious riding areas and state land that we love to ride on.  I would hope you re-consider your decision not to return to Shawnee, it is a wonderful place to visit and ride.

Diane

I am very surprised to hear about all the littering that you saw in the Shawnee.  I have ridden in the Shawnee now for three years and have seen very little littering, and when we do  see it we stop and pick it up, which is not often.  As for the campground, I don't know what campground you stayed at, but we stay at Little Lusk and it is very clean.

It is unfortunate that we have to ride across private land in the Shawnee, but that is a larger issue.  The government bought a great deal of land in southern Illinois, to create the Shawnee Forest, but they could not get it all bought.  The land owners have in the past let us ride across them, but now things are getting messy, and beleive me, it's not about litter. 

The Shawnee is beautiful, and I hope we can all work together to keep the trails open, so generations to come will enjoy riding through this great wonder of nature