I had read about this being a really nice, quiet campground for tent camping, and though I was not ready to stop for the night (on my way to a wedding up north), I did get off the highway and drive through it.  Honestly, I wanted to stay!

It was not a huge campground, and facilities were basic (I guess they call that primitive), but each campsite was generous in size, well separated from the next site and nicely landscaped by nature's appointment of trees and shrubs.  It was clean, well-kept, and enticing.

 I wanted to take a picture of one of the attractive sites, but couldn't decide which one!  The small lake was so peaceful, and there was some new-looking children's play equipment, as well as some benches perfect for reading or eating on its banks.   I only saw one campsite occupied with a tent, and one small camping trailer elsewhere, which may have simply been stored there.  It was Friday afternoon in early June.  I would have expected to see more activity there.  Perhaps, as some have mentioned, there is an abundance of mosquitoes and other insects from the river (which I was unaware of) that disuades people, I don't know.  I didn't notice any when I sat by the lake.

The author of the camping book through which I had found it also said he had found the place quite charming, and he did not understand why it was so little occupied.  He, apparently had spent the night there.  I'd like to stay there next time I am driving north on 94.

I gave it 4 stars even though I have not stayed there, because it has much of what I want in a campground, and which is getting harder for nature-loving tent campers to find--simple, quiet beauty.  I took off the extra star only because I haven't actually stayed there, and want to give East Fork a chance to live up to even more!

Blackwell Forest Preserve and its lake and grounds are really lovely, and a nature-filled surprise to find amidst such a populated area. The campground and the whole park are very well maintained, and the people working there, kind and helpful.

The design of the campground is perhaps the most difficult part.  At least half of the campsites are wrapped by a very busy main road, Winfield Rd, a few dozen yards away, and on a Friday and Saturday night you can hear, and from some sites, see every souped up car, motorcycle and truck that that goes by---late into the night.  As tent campers, we found it disturbingly loud and difficult to sleep with, or even to relax with during day and evening hours.  It seemed to defeat the purpose of being out in nature for us, which was frustrating in such a beautiful place.

On that side of the campground which was downhill, there is little privacy between  the fairly close together sites, and everyone had a fire built by suppertime.  The collective smoke just hung in the air from the ground up to the tree canopy, making for some uncomfortable breathing at night.

If you are in an RV with AC and can shut yourself in, you probably don't have to worry about either concern.  But if you are into actual camping, it might be a consideration, depending on your tolerance and sensitivity.

We would go back to the park in a hot minute if we were in the area.  However, we would likely only camp there if we could have a more private, upland site on the opposite side of the campground, that was also suitable for tenting.