Josephine Campground
Bill T.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed May. 30, 2023

8$ road campgrounds

This is one of the first of about three campsites on the 8$ road after the bridge crossing the Illinois River.  On the near side, is a picnic spot with a pit toilet.  Across the bridge, there is a campsite downriver with a pit toilet.  There are several dispersed camp sites there, but on my visit (May 2023) it was closed.  You could drive down a park at the different sites if the gate was open.  

Opposite the forest service site is a dispersed site on upstream side of the bridge.  It is steep, requires 4X4 with high clearance and is not level.

The Josephine Campground it about half a mile further up the road from the bridge.  I did not stop, but it appeared to have a half dozen tent sites and a pit toilet.  You have to park your car in the lot and carry your gear a few yards to the different sites.

I believe there was one more similar forest service site on up the road with a pit toilet and walkin sites.  However, the rest of the road has many dispersed sites off the road.  Most of the eastern side of the road (uphill side) is restricted from any vehicular traffic due to special botanical interests.  The road goes for about nine miles from highway 199 and ends at a river crossing with further progress blocked with a large fallen tree.

I had intermittent one bar service with Verizon.  This is an absolutely beautiful area, was large open areas due a long ago fire.

SiteDispersed
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Josephine Campground by Bill T., May 30, 2023
  • Review photo of Josephine Campground by Bill T., May 30, 2023
  • Driving down the road, about midway point
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  • Cobra Lily and surrounding hills
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  • Review photo of Josephine Campground by Bill T., May 30, 2023
  • Review photo of Josephine Campground by Bill T., May 30, 2023
  • Review photo of Josephine Campground by Bill T., May 30, 2023
  • Review photo of Josephine Campground by Bill T., May 30, 2023
  • Review photo of Josephine Campground by Bill T., May 30, 2023