Gebhard Woods State Park Campground

The soft hush of Nettle Creek and the canopy of old hardwoods set the tone the moment we rolled into the tiny family campground at Gebhard Woods, which I would describe as a simple and wooded pocket tucked along the historic I&M Canal in the very quaint nearby town of Morris that feels like stepping back into a gentler, slower rhythm. With only a very small number of walk-in and car-accessible sites, everything here is intentionally uncomplicated with basic picnic tables, simple fire rings, primitive vault toilets, functional stand-up grills, expansive shelter in case of rain and an abundance of shade. The entire campground opens up within EZ walking distance of the creek, footbridges and a canal path that our little ones immediately ran off to explore. One of my favorite moments came as we watched them marvel at all of the turtles they discovered near the creek banks, their laughter echoing under the trees while my husband and I stirred the campfire and breathed in that cool creek-bank air ... grateful for a night that asked so little of us except to be present. While Gebhard Woods is primitive in every way with no hookups, no frills and no store, it’s absolutely perfect for families who want quiet, nature and room for little imaginations to run wild with the best spots being the shaded sites closest to Nettle Creek where the breeze and water sounds soften everything just right. Highly recommended for families seeking peaceful simplicity, kid-friendly exploring and a truly low-key overnight in the woods.

I'm betting that this was a beautiful place in its day. When we visited, it was an ok place to walk around but it could just be that it didn't start popping this early in the spring.

You definitely need to walk a bit from the parking lot. The sign says to follow the path but at the end of it (by the vault toilets) you need to go left. It's all a rolling, grassy area but it's divided up like formal gardens. There is even a bridge over a depressed grassy area - we are guessing that it could be a nice pond at times. If you walk around before getting to the tenting area, there are some nice offshoot areas with plenty of raised grills. The ground was bumpy and things look a bit tired but it is a nice respite.

The tent camping area is in a small peninsula that is surrounded by homes. You can see the backyards and houses. A small creek separates things and there are some small trees and vegetation providing a bit of privacy. In this early spring time I felt a bit on display in this area. The water was closed up - maybe due to covid? The vault toilets are in the middle of the other park area, just before the start of the tenting spots. There are no individual sites. It's all just open field (and a bit bumpy).

The best part of this is that it is right in town and it's also right on the I & M Canal bike path. The bike path is a great way to get from Chicago to Starved Rock while avoiding the roads. I can see that this would be a great night's stop on a cross state adventure.