Best Dispersed Camping near Norris City, IL
Searching for the perfect place to dispersed camp near Norris City? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. Find the perfect dispersed campsite for your next adventure.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Norris City, IL (5)
1. Jackson Falls
Shawnee National Forest, Illinois20 Reviews•66 Photos•420 SavesJackson Falls offers many opportunities for technical climbing and is a beautiful scenic area of the Shawnee National Forest. It is in the general forest area located east of the small town of Ozark, IL. This non-developed area has a small trailhead with a vault toilet. A short trail leads from the trailhead to the top of Jackson Falls. There are high dangerous bluffs in the area, visitors should be cautious and aware of their surroundings. Camping is allowed here at no cost, since this is part of the general forest area and not a developed campground. Access: A narrow gravel road leads to the Jackson Falls Trailhead, but then the road becomes dirt and deadends past the trailhead.
- Pets
- Fires
- Dispersed
- Trash
- WiFi
- Toilets
2. Lake Glendale Recreation Area
Grantsburg, Illinois12 Reviews•43 Photos•174 SavesLake Glendale If you are looking for a place in the center of the Shawnee National Forest, then Lake Glendale Recreation Area is for you. Its central location makes it easy to visit main attractions on either side of the forest or any place in-between. Surrounded by tall pine trees and mixed hardwood forests, Lake Glendale Recreation Area offers a wide range of recreation opportunities including hiking, camping, swimming, boating, fishing and bicycling. The picnic area has a large picnic shelter near the lake with party grills for group gatherings. Recreation Area brochure/map Lake Glendale Campgound Map
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$12 - $44 / night
3. Dutchman Lake Camp
Buncombe, Illinois3 Reviews•6 Photos•45 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Group
- Dispersed
4. Dispersed Campsite Shawnee National Forest
Grantsburg, Illinois1 Review•3 Photos- Pets
- RVs
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
5. Panther Den Wilderness, Shawnee National Forest
Be the first to review!Goreville, Illinois•24 SavesThe United States Congress designated Panther Den as a wilderness area in 1990. It now has a total of 1195 acres, 1081 acres is National Forest System and other portion is the Crab Orchard Wilderness. The primary trail system is the River to River Trail. This trail is well marked and has several loops are in the system. Several other trails branch off the River to River Trail and support the main trail system.
Primitive camping is allowed within designated wilderness. There is no fee for primitive camping, however visitors are limited to camping a maximum of 14 continuous days. Camp and wash 150 feet away from lakes and streams. Primitive camping is NOT allowed within designated natural areas or research natural areas (boundaries are marked with yellow posts)
- Fires
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
Recent Dispersed Reviews in Norris City
36 Reviews of 5 Norris City Campgrounds
Rodarius S.
Traveler
Dispersed Campsite Shawnee National Forest
Nice spots on the highway
Love this spot! It's easily accessible by all rig types. Backs up to the open forest and you pull right back onto the highway.
Jonathan H.
Scout
Dutchman Lake Camp
Weeke d at the lake
Great little spot right off the interstate. Lots of nice scenery and decent fishing.
Matthew Z.TravelerDutchman Lake Camp
Road trip break
Beautiful spot with easy access and not far off the highway
Matt V.Traveler
Jackson Falls
Love this place!
This is a spectacular place if you are looking for private and semi-private dispersed campgrounds that you can drive up to. Great hiking around the area.
The road to get into the primitive camp area is long, and just a little bumpy but we had no problem in a 4x4, also saw volvos and subarus do just fine. Sprinter vans would be fine. Was pretty dry when we visited, could see the road getting a little sketch after big rain. Definitely not gonna be fun for even small RV's. Tough turnarounds for large trailers or 5th wheels.
- JJ A.
GuideDutchman Lake Camp
Beautiful Verizon works well
Beautiful little spots as you come in. Quiet and easy to get too.
- Kristi D.
Legend
Lake Glendale Recreation Area
Peaceful spot
We almost had the entire campground to ourselves because it was February. We stayed here one night while coming back from MO. It had a huge campsite, unfortunately the bathrooms and showers were locked. Also part of the campground road was blocked off. We pulled up and didn't think we were going to be able to stay. We did a self registration and put a check in a slot and didn't otherwise speak to anyone in charge. We were able to walk a small trail by the campground along the lake but it started to rain so only got in about a mile. We packed up and headed out after that.
- Kayaun P.Traveler
Jackson Falls
No Signal, No Problem
Went here in early May of 2022 with two friends. This area is massive; there are a handful of hammock friendly tent sites near the Vault toilet and parking lot, and there are plenty of sites available further up the road. When we went, it was rainy and fairly cool, so there were few bugs. My only complaint was that I had no cell service. I was too busy enjoying being there.
- RRebekahTraveler
Jackson Falls
Great campground
Off the beaten path and wasn’t sure what to expect but once there it was nice…just a parking lot with a vault lock toilet and a few campsites you see right away… also a few down the path if you want a little remote. The bathroom was stocked with tp but you will want to bring hand sanatizer or water. None available there. Cool views of the Bluffs 1/4 mile down the path and a bridge that would go over a waterfall if it wasn’t so dried up…would probably real pretty to see in the spring. Drove my Hyundai Elantra thru just fine, but it is a rough road and your car will get dirty.
Dusti M.GuideLake Glendale Recreation Area
Amazing place
We stayed there 1 night after the other place we stayed was a disaster. Very nice park. Very well maintained and taken care of. Lake was nice with large clean and well kept sand beach for $5 a person. They had paddle boats, kayaks for rent as well. $22 for electric sites, a little pricey at $12 for nonelectric primitive sites. They have firewood available for $4 a bundle and ice at $5 a bag. VERY VERY clean and well taken care of bathroom/shower house. Flush toilets and hot water showers. Was very impressed with them, honestly cleaner than most gas station bathrooms! Nicely located with lots of other parks and activities within driving range, like cave-in-rock and the Ohio river. Paducah Kentucky is only about a 30 minute drive where you can get anything you’d need from shopping to eating. The only bad is they only had 1 very small playground located centrally in the campground. We will definitely be staying there more often when we head down to Shawnee National Forrest.
Kandice W.ScoutJackson Falls
Too Cool!
This was our first trust disperse camping and I adored it. FREE is just that FREE. It’s a first come first served basis. Be prepared for random bugs dropping onto you as you’re doing things. If you’re terrified of wildlife this is not the place for you. It’s an interesting thing to hear what nature does when people aren’t around. The sounds in the night, the random howls in the distance …..
Try it out. You may just love it.
OH! By the way, the only negative things are the gravel road on the way down is pothole riddled and you have to hike to your spot. Don’t worry there are close spots .
JK Bronco A.TravelerLake Glendale Recreation Area
Great rustic camping
Clean sites and great location.
- Jeremy S.Traveler
Jackson Falls
Great place to camp
Great place to backwoods camp. It can be busy on the weekends and can be difficult to find an open site at times. Alot of hiking and rock climbing to do at Jackson falls.
AbrahamGuideJackson Falls
Good adventure camping
Campsites are up a poorly maintained dirt track from the parking area. A couple water crossings before the sites, the first one being the worst. Everything here accessible to a good 2WD with decent clearance. Only saw 3 vehicle sites and a couple tent sites before the third water crossing, which is as far as I looked.
- KarenGuide
Jackson Falls
Not recommended for sedans..
Had to cross two rather deep streams and the road has many ruts and is very uneven.
- Heather P.Traveler
Lake Glendale Recreation Area
Beautiful sites
Most sites are great size. Lots of trees for shade. Decent price. Lots are first come first serve. My only complaint is that the shower house only had one shower and the door wouldn't shut. Also it is not a super quiet place during the day, lots of dogs barking and loud music.
Jacob T.GuideJackson Falls
4x4 and tents only
We were hoping to stay there but upon arrival realized that was not to be. The east side of the road is where the camping sites would be but the road was completely washed out. It would be challenging for a jeep to make it back to some of those sites.
On top of that the river feeding Jackson Falls was all but dried up this time of year. Nothing but a trickle going down the cliff.
We headed to Glendale Lake nearby and had much better luck at Oak Point.
Marta S.GuideJackson Falls
Unimpressive and crowded
The campsite is considered to be primitive, which is fine, but it is right along the trail without any cover. All the campsites are one on top of the other without any cover in between or from the trail. They were all taken and incredibly packed during the Memorial Day weekend and honestly seemed very messy and unpleasant. I would not feel comfortable leaving my equipment and gear here unattended at all. I'm not sure if it's any better the further along the trail you go, but the areas we hiked it didn't appear there were additional primitive/dispersed camping spots available other than the ones near the trail head. Also, important to note that there are lots of ticks and poison ivy everywhere.
I have camped in backcountry locations and have done dispersed/primitive camping and enjoy it quite a bit, but I would have been miserable at this location.
- DDenise R.Traveler
Lake Glendale Recreation Area
Spring camping
Easy check in, camped in the tent sight. Unfortunately there was a lot of glitter pieces, plastic kid’s pieces and my self along picked up 34 cigarette butts. Besides the the people that don’t care about using a garbage can. Everything else was wonderful. Trail around lake just beautiful, bathroom clean and fun paddling on the lake. Would given 5 starts if it was not for such a messy camp sight.
Mark F.TravelerJackson Falls
Quick and Easy Primitive Camping
Car camped without any issues but it’s worth mentioning that I didn’t have T-Mobile cellphone reception and the bathroom was a bit dirty. Also there was a shallow creek crossing right before the camping areas that I was worried about when I arrived at night, but I realized in the morning that it was not a big deal even for 2WD vehicles. It’s also very secluded so chances are you may only run into one or two other campers. Overall, solid spot!
Jeremy R.ScoutJackson Falls
Beautiful secluded spot. Careful if wet.
Beautiful location. Definitely off the beaten path. There was another group of campers but they camped on the trail. Grave Road getting there was a bit rough for my Ram Promaster. Hill down to trail head could get slick if wet weather. Was alittle nervous getting out after it had rained. But luckily it wasn't to much rain. Definitely coming back when warmer.
Joe L.GuideJackson Falls
Nice secluded spot
Was able to find the camping right away. There was one other group set up. Nice roomy sites with fire rings. After setting up I took a great hike on the nearby trails connected to Jackson falls. Some wonderful hiking and an abundance of climbing! I did some free climbing on small boulders and managed to climb my way back to the top of the gorge. Upon returning i noticed the other camp had left the grounds to myself. Rain came over night and eventually forced my hand to leave the next day and dry out. Definitely going back. Careful with the rain, the camp is right on the stream so I woke to being surrounded by streams. The path out is also very steep. I was able to handle it with a small car but any more mud or rain I would have been stuck. good luck!
ACGuideJackson Falls
Fall time
Beautiful fall foliage. No falls since it hasn't rained in a while. Great hike around. Campsites were plentiful, alot of cars driving in late at night. Toliet was clean and open. Bring everything you need, there is no water source and bring lots of wood. We scavenged wood from the hills around but ultimately had to leave and purchase wood.
- CCasie A.Traveler
Jackson Falls
Fun Even when Dry
Lost cellphone service immediately upon entering reserve, FYI. The place is beautiful; forests and great big, moss covered boulders. It was fun climbing down to the bottom of the falls, even with small kids. The site is popular and there was a good amount of people on Labor Day weekend, however secluded camp sites were easy to find, isolation was achieved, garbage was very minimally found (occasional broken glass or bottle caps near camp sites), and the trails were long and winding. We went during a dry spell and there was no running water at the falls! Still had a blast there though!
GoWhereYouAreDraw N.LegendJackson Falls
Waterfalls, hiking, climbing, and FREE camping
Jackson offers some of the best rock climbing in southern Illinois. There are about 60 climbing areas along the sandstone bluffs and freestanding boulders, with multiple routes. Most of the routes here are sport routes, though there are a number of trad routes.
There are primative campsites on both sides of Glen Street Falls Road near the trailhead. You can drive right up and park next to your campsite. If those campsites are full, there are additional campsites further down the road.
Most campsites have fire rings. There are no picnic tables or campfire grills there. There are also no garbage cans. You must pack out all of your garbage. You also need to bring your own drinking water as there is no fresh water there.
There's a single outhouse at the trailhead that is well maintained and pretty clean.
- Chelsea D.Guide
Lake Glendale Recreation Area
We LOVE this campground!
Lake Glendale is a true southern Illinois gem. They have recently improved the shower houses, the kids love the playground, and there is SO much shade! The campsites are pretty private and some of them are nice and large. There is a ton of hiking nearby, and we visited the Chocolate factory as well, which was a real treat.
- John F.Guide
Lake Glendale Recreation Area
Super Clean
We had a wonderful stay! Camp Host was very nice and helpful. One of the cleanest parks we’ve stayed at. Lots of hiking options. The only bad thing was we had to come home.
J K.LegendLake Glendale Recreation Area
Our IL #1
This campground is an absolute gem and is by far our favorite in Illinois.Tucked into the tall pines of the Shawnee national forest, this park offers a handful of gorgeous sites for campers to enjoy, many that back right up to Lake Glendale. The sites are mostly private and have water hookups as well as electric. A nearby beach is available to enjoy during the summer as well as hiking trails. While this campground is certainly off the beaten path it is perfect for those that want to get away and enjoy some quiet time. No reservations though so you’ll want to get there ahead of time to ensure yourself a spot If you enjoy a very
Guide to Norris City
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Norris City, Illinois, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the hustle and bustle. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, you can immerse yourself in the great outdoors.
Tips for free and dispersed camping near Norris City, Illinois
- Many dispersed camping areas, like Jackson Falls, allow for free camping, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious adventurers.
- Be prepared for rough roads; accessing spots like Lake Glendale Recreation Area may require a vehicle that can handle bumpy terrain.
- Always pack out what you pack in, especially in remote areas such as Dutchman Lake Camp, where trash disposal facilities are not available.
Dispersed campers should check out Jackson Falls
- Jackson Falls is known for its stunning hiking trails and picturesque views, making it a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts.
- The area offers a mix of private and semi-private spots, perfect for those seeking solitude while enjoying nature.
- Keep in mind that the access road can be challenging after rain, so a reliable vehicle is recommended for your trip.
Scenic views and activities at Lake Glendale Recreation Area
- This location features a beautiful lake with a sandy beach, ideal for swimming and relaxing on warm days.
- Visitors can enjoy various activities, including paddle boating and kayaking, making it a great spot for water lovers.
- The well-maintained facilities, including clean restrooms and showers, enhance the camping experience, especially for families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Norris City, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Norris City, IL is Jackson Falls with a 4.2-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Norris City, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 dispersed camping locations near Norris City, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.