Allie L.recommendsSeptember 22, 2022
Goose Creek Lost Acre
Creekside Camping
Beautiful property! Cute, wooded campsite overlooking the creek. Katie was very welcoming and an awesome host!
Dave K.recommendsSeptember 18, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Another great campout
been coming here for a few years, always a great time wonderful place to relax the Hoist is the best..
Scot W.recommendsSeptember 5, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Recommended. Would Stay Again!
Katie was a great host, with a beautiful site on a shady hill just above a large pond that plays home to turtles and egrets. The land is very private and remote from the main road via a good drive down a dirt path. Katie brought us there and showed us around. There are good short hikes from the campsite on the property, including around the pond, or through the woods to a sandy river bank.
Despite feeling very remote, the site is not far from town, so there is the occasional town noise in the distance like boats on the river, hogs on the highway, and late evening freight trains, but mostly you'll hear birds and crickets and wind in the trees.
Joey A.recommendsSeptember 5, 2022
Goose Creek Lost Acre
Percfect spot! Even better host!!
Susie C.recommendsAugust 28, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
We loved this location!! Great spot for fishing. We went swimming in the river. Very remote and had the place to ourselves. Super close to several state parks. Host was very responsive and friendly.
Diana A.recommendsAugust 23, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
LOVE the place. Friendly host. I am looking forward to returning soon!
Tom W.recommendsAugust 22, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Another excellent time at Katie's property! This was our 2nd time there (see my previous review for more tips!) and, despite a lot of rain, we really enjoyed it again. Since we arrived later on Friday, Katie had the firewood we purchased and a couple jugs of water waiting for us at the campsite - very kind of her!
The rain does make the campsite(s) pretty muddy, so bring boots if there is rain in the forecast and put anything you don't want to get dirty in your car before the rain starts. (We had heavy rain and, even with a canopy, almost everything that was underneath it got splattered by the rain hitting the mud around it.)
If you want to fish in the pond on the property (you can do it right from the campsite!), your best bet will be to target carp - there's a lot of them and they're hungry for whatever you throw at them (bread, corn, fruit, etc..). Just make sure you have a net with a long enough handle or you'll be stepping in the water to get them out!
Be on the lookout for poison ivy! There's some around the one possible campsite (the raised peninsula that juts out into the pond).
The bar/restaurant Dockside down the road is a great spot if it rains or just in general if you want to have a meal/drink by the river. The food is good (try the mac 'n cheese bites) and the staff is very nice. Both times we've camped here, they let us fill up our water jug from their hose.
Overall, love this place and we will keep coming back!
Daniel M.recommendsAugust 19, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
💖Perfect & near an adorable town🏡
Katie & Jim were great hosts, super accommodating and friendly. They had multiple options once we arrived, and we decided to stay in the back pasture by the woods & river. It was very peaceful. There was an occasional train but we thought that added to the charm. Exploring Ottawa was really fun, and it’s only a few minutes from the campsite. Would love to come back and stay again to explore the grounds and the town a bit more! Thank you!! - @flowerdenretreats
Kevin C.recommendsAugust 14, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Private, rustic camping
We did a multi-day trip this year at Katie’s property and it was great. The property and sites are clean and it’s quiet for my 8 and 6 year old boys. They love exploring the wild the convenience of town nearby is a great backup for easy lunches and activities.
Katie is a great host. I forgot an essential item (corkscrew) and she delivered two to me within minutes.
This is 15 mins from starved rock which made it easy to get there early on a weekend.
We’ll be heading back again next year / this place is a gem.
Zack F.recommendsAugust 11, 2022
Goose Creek Lost Acre
Nice secluded site with easy in/out. No complaints, would stay there again.
Beth M.recommendsAugust 11, 2022
Goose Creek Lost Acre
Great stay! Great spot. Really private, tucked back at the edge of a huge meadow. Would come back :)
Scott J.recommendsAugust 9, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Katie was a very welcoming host and the camping spot was beautiful! You feel very isolated while camping and it’s super quiet minus the occasional train in the distance. Would definitely recommend!
Erik M.recommendsJuly 18, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Had a great time camping here with 4 kids. Katie showed us around when we got there and explained the different areas we could set up camp. Nice views and we were even able to swim in the river.
Sydney M.recommendsJuly 3, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
We loved staying on Katie’s land! There were quite a few spots to set up our tent and it was an east walk to the Illinois River to do some paddle boarding. The morning was peaceful and we even saw the beaver working on its newest project. :)
Victoria B.recommendsJune 28, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Great spot!
Perfect escape after a day of boating
Sally W.doesn't recommendJune 27, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Not for RV/Fifth-wheel or trailers
When we arrived, we were told that our fifth wheel wouldn’t make it to the place we reserved without scratching the trailer. It was advertised as a RV site, so weren’t happy. She had a place on the lawn to park, or she thinks we might be able to go to where she used to keep her horses. So for $40+ we paid to park on a lawn in a residential area. We were thinking we were going to relax by the river, instead listened to loud music and unable to relax. Not happy at all.
Tom W.recommendsJune 26, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Amazing place
This was by far the coolest place we’ve ever camped at. We managed to fit our tent and a fairly large canopy up on the raised peninsula that juts out into the pond. It was just two of us but we felt like there was plenty of room up there - with more people it could potentially feel a little crowded. But the clearing closer to the entry road has plenty of room for several tents. The view of the pond and woods adjacent to it is so pretty, especially in the morning. The pond is shallow but there are fish, lots of turtles, frogs, a beaver, and some awesome birds. I was able to fish the pond basically right from the campsite - I caught a couple baby catfish and a massive carp!
There is a decent amount of poison ivy, even right along the campsite, so be sure to familiarize yourself with what it looks like before you go to avoid it. If there’s rain in the forecast, prepare for mud! If it’s going to be hot, make sure you bring a canopy because there’s not much shade in the campsites.
Overall, we loved this place. Katie is very friendly and helpful. We cannot wait to come back!!
Saronita M.recommendsJune 1, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Very quiet and secluded property.
Jennifer M.recommendsMay 8, 2022
Goose Creek Lost Acre
Solitude
I had a great stay! Katie gave me a tour of the property and let me know about the train and baseball field (as you’ve read before) but none of this was bothersome. I hung my hammock right on rivers edge with fire 3 feet away. She delivered my preordered fire wood as I was setting up camp.
I’d stay here again 👍🏻👍🏻
Danny L.recommendsApril 24, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Camping with my dog
Katie was an awesome host. I met up with her and she drove me to the location and proceeded to walk me around the site to give me and overview of what to expect. Overall, it was a good experience.
Cory P.recommendsApril 9, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Loved the open space & quiet surroundings!
Tasha L.recommendsMarch 24, 2022
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Very easy process and lovely camp site!!
Laureen B.recommendsFebruary 21, 2022
Goose Creek Lost Acre
Katie was a great host. We had a great time winter camping. We fit our four man tent without a problem!
Saronita M.recommendsNovember 15, 2021
Ottawa IL East Woods / Rainbow Pond
Amazing getaway’
It was great! This is our second visit here.