IL-Newbie amd Practice Hangs for Chicagoans (or others) at the Cook County Forest Preserves

**trixie's dad** · 09-22-2015, 09:19

Hey guys,

I'm getting back into hammock camping and plan to go winter hammocking this year. But I live in the city of Chicago and driving really far out to do an overnighter was tough. But I found out that the cook County Forest Preserves now have camping. If any of you city guys from the city or elsewhere want to meet up for an overnighter or weekend, let me know. Here's the info:

Cook county forest preserve website: http://fpdcc.com/camping

The Campsites
Camp Bullfrog Lake in Willowsprings.
Camp Dan Beard in Northbrook
Camp Reinberg in Palatine
Camp Shabbona in South Holland
Camp Sullivan in Oak Forest

Now these places aren't even close to the grandeur as the other places in Wisconsin or Indiana, but they're really close to Chicago and mainly geared towards probably new campers with the tent gravel sites and cabins. When I mentioned to them that I use a hammock, I just got blank stares. But, they just opened and the facilities are really really clean..and they have some programming stuff for kids.

I hammock camped at Palatine and S. Holland and am planning Oak Forest possibly this sat.

**Brian_T** · 09-22-2015, 09:48

I first heard that they were opening the Cook Co. sites two weeks ago at a campout and that's good news for me as it will save some driving time.

There is a campout going on this weekend up in Wisconsin at Kettle Moraine Southern Unit (near Lake Geneva) with a bunch of folks from this forum if you're up for a little bit of a drive.

I'm still trying to figure out whether or not I can make it this weekend but would always be up for an overnighter closer to home.

B

**JKDmoo** · 09-22-2015, 10:02

I like the location. If anything goes wrong u can just bail out and go home. Any word on how hammock friendly the sites and authorities are?

**trixie's dad** · 09-22-2015, 13:28

both site I went to the one in palatine and the one in s Holland, they were open to me hanging, no probl, I just had to reserve a camp site, and hang near that site..but some of the sites may not have a lot of trees..that's why im touring them...but the two I visited were ok..ill let you know about the one in oak forest when I go there on sat

**Campdavid** · 09-22-2015, 18:11

Interesting....I will give it some thought. I live northwest of Chicago so Palatine is not too far.

**sueb2b** · 09-22-2015, 20:05

I'm in Chicago. I haven't tried Cook County sites yet.

I was in WI last weekend. My friends in tents were complaining about being cold -- not me.

If you ever want to try gear in a city park. Let me know I've done that before.

**trixie's dad** · 09-22-2015, 20:55

Sue, its great to hear from another city person. Hey, i would love to try some gear at the park..i live in humboldt park and usually hang my hammock next to the boulevard on a nice days..but now that i just got my hammock gear incubator 20, i may try it out soon...definitely on sat when i go to oak forest

Originally Posted by sueb2b

I'm in Chicago. I haven't tried Cook County sites yet.

I was in WI last weekend. My friends in tents were complaining about being cold -- not me.

If you ever want to try gear in a city park. Let me know I've done that before.

**sueb2b** · 09-22-2015, 23:48

I'm in Andersonville...but Humboldt is an easy enough destination. I'm booked up for next two weekends, but I'll be around after that...unless I decide on more camping.

**Slider1** · 09-23-2015, 12:50

I grew up in Oak Lawn and walked through the forest preserves a lot when I was a kid...the Little Red School House etc. even fished out there some. What are they charging to camp? I can hang out there instead of staying with the in laws when I'm in town!