Natick Campground

Short version - super peaceful, nice trees, some of the sites are open enough for Starlink connectivity. Fire rings and picnic tables at each site. I would camp there again.

Stayed 1 night, April 29 to 30. I had the entire campground to myself. There are multiple designated sites (10+) in the campground all are fairly close to each other. No electric, $15 per night, iron ranger, fire ring and picnic table at each site. There is a vault toilet in the campground. This area is designed to be the horse camping area for the national forest/grassland unit.

The drive to the campground from the main entrance of the NNF is 7-8 miles on a mix of paved and gravel road. The first section of paved road nearest the entrance is in excellent shape while the remainder of the road is gravel, which is in fine condition, and paved road in poor condition. With that said, I expect almost any vehicle could make it to the campground, it just would be slow and uncomfortable in a sedan. No issues in a stock truck or SUV. 

Natick was not part of the fires a couple of years ago, other sections of the forest and grasslands were. Based on the grass and tree debris in and around the horse corrals I doubt that anyone has had their horses out there yet this year. The only things I heard while there was the wind in the trees, some wildlife, and an occasional airplane.

I went to the Bessey section of the NNF just to get away from people and drive around the trails. The trails are soft, no surprise in the Sandhills, but are not technical. Just good easy fun. No need to even air down, although you may want to for ride comfort. I kept the tires near 40psi in my 4th Gen Ram. 

Other than people working at the HQ building, on the bridge leading into Bessey, and planting trees, I saw fewer than a dozen people while I was there. A few people were camping in the area near the entrance (where there is electric) who looked like longer term campers. I saw 2 people, in just 1 of the spots, out at the Whitetail campground. I would have stayed at Whitetail since it is on the Dismal River if it had been empty, but why camp near others when there are other options.