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Backpacking Reference
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Location |
Length |
Description |
Advantages/Features |
Drawbacks |
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Herrick Lake Local |
5 mi. |
Loop starting at Danada Forest Preserve to Herrick Lake Group Camp |
Great starter backpack hike, especially for 6th graders. Use Saturday 2.5 miles out overnight and 2.5 miles back Sunday. |
The Forest preserve allows overnight parking once but has since then denied overnight parking at Danada. Requires non-hiking adult shuttles. |
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Kettle Moraine State Forest, WI 3 hour drive |
Up to 30 miles |
Trail through the Kettle Moraine following the Ice Age Trail |
Very nice trail with a variety of starting and ending points. Well marked with 3 backcountry camping sites |
Single direction requiring shuttling. Cannot stay more than one night in a backcountry site making it unusable for the 30 mile merit badge requirement |
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Kickapoo State Park, IL |
Various |
Nice combination of many backcountry sites and a river. Reviewed very favorably in Backpacker Magazine, 2002. |
Variety of trails, ability to combine a backpack outing with a canoe/kayak outing. |
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Forest Glen Preserve Vermilion County, IL 3 hours drive |
10.5 mi. |
A loop trail that goes through wonderful heavily wooded. One backcountry site at approx. mile 7. |
Little known hiking trail with a backcountry site. Possible for younger hikers but will be a challenge. |
Not long enough for the merit badge. Quite hilly for Illinois. The last three miles have extreme climbs and drops for beginners and are as difficult as the first 7. |
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River to River Trail Shawnee National Forest, IL 6-7 hour drive |
No limit |
Must be one of the best long-range trails in Illinois. Numerous backcountry campsites. Single direction track. |
Goes through some of the most beautiful country in Illinois. Lots of backcountry sites every 2-3 miles. |
Horse traffic on trails close to outfitters, especially in the Lusk Creek area. |
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Giant City State Park, IL 6 hour drive |
15 miles |
Beautiful loop trail in the heart of Shawnee National Forest. One backcountry site. At the halfway point. |
Another hike in the Shawnee area with bluffs, vistas, and forest hiking. Can use the group campsite as part of the trail to satisfy a merit badge 15 mile requirement. |
A very long drive for a 15 mile hike. Fairly flat hiking for a Shawnee terrain. |
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Sand Ridge State Forest, IL 3 hours |
17 miles 9.5 miles 7.5 miles 4 trails under 5 miles |
Largest Illinois State Forest. |
Many trail sizes, easy distance. |
Oh the Pain! This trail can be categorized as extremely strenuous. It is like hiking in the warren dunes sand. No streams or water other than established campgrounds and trailheads. A true character builder. |
PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH
Finish your backpacking career in scouts at Philmont. Use the above outings as training trips.
Notes on Shawnee National Forest:
As a National Forest, camping can be anywhere. No check in required but it is prudent to inform the ranger station where you are going. Ranger offices have a restricted schedule during the off season. A good place to try at least one night using complete Leave-No-Trace policies. There is abundant water supply; bring a water purification system since there is no city or well water available on the trail.
References
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