Camp Cadiz Campground, near Shawnee National Forest, is a quiet spot that offers a rustic camping experience away from the hustle and bustle. With only a handful of campsites, it’s perfect for those looking to escape into nature and enjoy some peace and solitude.

The campground features basic amenities like potable water and vault toilets, making it a straightforward place to set up camp. Visitors have noted the spacious sites, which are great for tents and RVs alike, and many appreciate the lack of heavy traffic, contributing to the overall tranquility. One camper mentioned, “The sites are large but there isn't any foliage between them,” which gives a sense of openness.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the nearby hiking trails are a major draw. Campers have enjoyed exploring the River to River trail and discovering hidden gems like a small cemetery tucked away in the woods. The area is also known for its beautiful scenery, with plenty of opportunities for hiking and enjoying the natural surroundings.

While there are no showers or electric hookups, the campground's charm lies in its simplicity and the chance to connect with nature. As one visitor put it, “I love this campground. It's super quiet despite the gravel road nearby.” If you’re looking for a laid-back camping experience with easy access to outdoor adventures, Camp Cadiz is worth considering.

This campground is the site of an old Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) work camp. Somewhat off the beaten path Camp Cadiz is usually quiet and rarely do the campsites fill up; with the exception of turkey and deer hunting seasons. The campsites are level and each has a fire ring with grill and picnic table. \_\_Equestrian camping is allowed.[\_\_Recreation Area brochure/map][1]

[1]: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3833927.pdf

Camp Cadiz Campground

Join the fun near Karbers Ridge. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Illinois camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Karbers Ridge, IL. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Karbers Ridge

The Best Camping Near Karbers Ridge, Illinois

**Camp Cadiz** in _Shawnee National Forest_ was fun to find :) The GPS is a little off BUT it gets you in the area.

On a gravel road, in the back country like most everything else on this side of Illinois , fill your gas tank up and your food locker or you will be driving back out a ways to refill. 

IL1/Ohio River Scenic Byway(in Illinois, who knew;) off the ferry from the Kentucky side, not much phone signal in these parts so bring the old fashion paper map. 

There is a sign for Camp Cadiz, trust the sign. Stay right onto the gravel road at the Y and you will pass JJ’s.

This is a very cool little basic campground with two stone fireplaces and several other sites with shade. A pit toilet and water source that’s about it. 

This is a campground you wanna use if you like being off the beaten path out on your own. Would also be a good group outing. 

This is the Eastern trailhead for the River to River trail , there is also a shorter trail , Beaver. Good one to practice your backpacking skills on. Very dark at night, bring your headlamp. Good times to be had ;)

Right at the old tree stump

I love this campground. It's super quiet despite the gravel road nearby. The vault restroom is kept very clean. It has easy access to the River to River trail, and I love the CCC stonework. While we were there, a small pack of 3 local dogs wandered through the campground which was a bit concerning at first, but they were all friendly, so no issues there.

This is a nice quiet campground!

This camp ground is only about 10 min from Garden Of The Gods. It’s down a gravel road a bit but nothing too hard to find. The spaces are wide open and big for multiple tents. There is well water, a bathroom (open septic tank) for pit and picnic table at each site. No heavy traffic on the gravel road so it’s very quiet.

This was not my first pick but was available when plans changed. 

Motorcycle camping across America and I wanted to see grades of the gods. What I didn’t want was to camp on top of someone else ... Garden of the Gods camp was, in a word, awful. Cadiz was spacious, quiet, and the other campers wanted to camp not party. Stayed an extra day because of it 

Great alternative

This small, rustic camp is at the edge of Shawnee and only had a few campers staying multiple nights with us. Then the turkey hunting season came upon us and the sites filled.

  

We had site choices that ended up being along the gravel forest road that goes by camp. This put us away from other dogs but caused other issues. Every vehicle that went by generated dust which then coated everything in our camp. If you come here, we suggest taking the site that is furthest from the road (it's right next to the small forest road that heads off to the hiking trails. They had shade as well as sun and no dust. 

  

The sites are large but there isn't any foliage between them. Luckily the dogs were in camps further away from our dog so she was able to relax. The water pump got frequent use and the twin vault toilets were plenty for the campground. 

  

The hiking trails that headed out from the camp were wonderful. We even hiked down the forest road and found a hidden cemetery tucked away. The river to river trail heads out from camp too - we saw a group of backpackers leave their cars and head off for the night. Garden of the Gods area is a short drive away for more hiking options.

  

Choose your time wisely. Camp filled up with hunters who started generators at 3 in the morning to get ready to head out for turkey. Once we realized what was going on, we put our dog's bright shirt on. Everyone was wonderful and we had some interesting conversations. It was also morel mushroom time so some people were hunting for them.

Dusty, rustic camping at the edge of Shawnee

Stayed here in March 2020. My favorite part about this campground was that there were only 8 campsites so it was very quiet and remote. I arrived at 7pm on Friday and snagged the last site. The fire pit had a grate large enough to cook on and I didn’t need to use my extra grate that I keep in my camping kit. Bathrooms were not super clean but they were fine. There was potable water from a spigot and lots of kindling around to get fires going. No showers. Over all a nice site. I would stay there again. 

Photos of Camp Cadiz Campground

Real photos from real campers