Carbondale

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Heron House Total Eclipse Camping

 2024 Total Eclipse Camping in the Path of Totality and Longest Duration

Four minutes and six seconds of totality!

Pitch your tent in the path of totality at the edge of Kinkaid Lake and the Shawnee Forest.  Campsites have shade and views of open skies for the eclipse.  Immerse yourself in the experience at the edge of a lake away from light pollution.  The entire eclipse will last over 2 hours, start to finish.

Additional attractions and amenities are detailed below.   We look forward to hosting you!

Heron House Campground is in the path of totality and just a few miles from the point of greatest duration.  This listing is for 1 of a handful of sites that can be booked on a first-come, first-served basis.

Heron House is located a few miles northwest of Murphysboro at the edge of Kinkaid Lake and the Shawnee National Forest  in the Illinois Ozarks (away from city lights).  It is gorgeous country!

Here the skies are dark,  the laughs are belly-deep, the wildlife is boisterous, and deep breaths  of contentment live among the breezes in the bluffs.  

Heron House is a relaxing camping environment with friendly hosts.

$90 per camper per day, tents only.  Campsites are available April 6-April 11.  There will be numerous events taking place in the region.  3-night minimum.  Feel free to participate in all of them or simply kick back and enjoy the serenity of springtime at the edge of a lake in the Shawnee National Forest.

Campsites have shade trees and access to  uninhibited views (open skies for the eclipse).  The night skies are  stunning here.  Heron House also has a shaded porch that campers are  welcome to sit and enjoy a cold beverage on. :) Campsites  will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Attractions and Amenities: 

~Multiple gorgeous hiking trails—from easy to rigorous—and biking opportunities close by

~Owners/hosts on-site

~Walking distance to restaurant, bar, laundry (coin), showers, and convenience shop

~Kinkaid Lake Spillway is the area’s most beautiful “swimming hole” and can be accessed by car (6-min. drive) or boat

~Fishing docks and lake within walking distance  

~Beautiful lakeside and sunset strolls

~Scads of wineries and breweries in the area, including the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

~Parking on-site (one standard-size parking place per campsite)

~Award-winning restaurants nearby, including 17th Street Barbecue, three-time World Grand Champions

~Science and history museums (adult and kid-friendly)

~The area is a nature lover’s paradise, surrounded by national forest and state parks and stunning beauty.

Campers have access to shared, serviced toilet  facilities and hand-washing stations that meet county code. Laundry (coin) and shower facilities are located within walking distance.  Potable water, dumpster for trash, and a large, in-the-ground, shared campfire pit for campers to share.  Campers are very welcome to bring self-sustaining cooking/campfire  equipment as long as it is in a contained unit that is raised off of the  ground.  In other words, no fires or dig pits  on/in the ground.  Thanks!

A power-strip station is available for campers to  share to charge mobile phones, laptops, and tablets; these are the only  electronic devices that can be charged at the power station, so please  be sure to have adequate batteries or charging  equipment for other devices.  For the courtesy of others, gas-powered  generators are not permitted, and power is not available on-site for  electric generators.

Please note that each individual camper must sign a  release of liability (guardians sign for minors).  If  the release has not been signed before arrival, it must be signed upon arrival.  Please note that refunds will not be granted, including for refusal to sign the release on the part of any camper in the party.

Free coffee in the morning for early risers from 6  a.m. 'til it's gone—and free treats in the evening for after-supper  snackers ('til they're gone).   :)

We look forward to hosting your magnificent stay in Southernmost Illinois for the 2024 Total Eclipse!

Setting up the tent in the huge, beautiful backyard

Nature's harmony lives on the breath of night and day in these trees--coyotes, bobcats, frogs, foxes, owls, herons, coots, hawks, eagles, and the occasional panther. 

This is a happy place. Whatever heaven is, it's a little closer here. 

Lights are strung all throughout the trees in the backyard and create a magical ambiance at night

Delight yourself with a sunset tree swing!

The Shawnee National Forest puts on a color show in the fall. Heron House is surrounded by the Shawnee. This hike is a must. It will remain with you forever. 

Warm up or do some cooking at the large communal firepit

The drive to the Kinkaid spillway, a watering hole in the nearby area

The Kinkaid Spillway--a favorite local watering hole...just across the lake from Heron House

Pets

Pond Ridge Adventure

We have 50 acres located in Southern Illinois 4 miles south of Murphysboro connected to 100 acres of Shawnee National forest.We set up a small family primitive campground for our family to enjoy every evening we ride our utv over from our house and watch the wildlife there are deer turkeys bobcats and many other small animal.Learn more about this land:Mostly suitable for Rv with generators and self contained units

Ruff Neck Campsite

Located in Southern Illinois, home to the Saluki. Ruff Neck Campsite offers a great location just 2 miles from Walker's Bluff, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (Shawnee Forest), and town amenities. The campsite is a great place to see the wildlife and if you are lucky, catch a glimps of the Bald Eagle 🦅Learn more about this land:Pitch your tent at the Ruff Neck Campsite. Located 2 miles from Walker's Bluff, Crab Orchard  National Wildlife Refuge, and town with eateries.

Showers

Cooking equipment

Gathering around the fire at Hickory Ridge Winery.

Wine Trail Wilderness

The Shawnee National Forest surrounds us, accessible only by wandering roads, passing over creeks and alongside wineries. The trip is worth the beautiful drive, eventually arriving at "The Villa".
   Our home looks like an Italian villa, appropriately placed between two wineries in the middle of the Shawnee Forest. 
It is actually a straw-bale home with supplemental solar energy.

Originally built as a Holistic Healing Center, we have converted it into a comfortable home with great vibes.

      We have converted an old grain bin into a "GrainZebo" just outside our home as a fun place to hang out with friends and family. We hope you enjoy the same relaxed feel we get while living out here in the woods, when you come visit.

 We will be happy to help you feel at home out here. We love sharing the Shawnee experience.

We've been #1 and #3.... This year we're #2. Whatever.... We know that we always try to make you #1 at WTW Hipcamp. 😊🏕️🔥🌛🦉🍷

Strawberry moon light and a fire in the Grainzebo.

Look for the WTW HIPCAMP sign and you will know you are at the right spot!
Wine Trail Wilderness Hipcamp 🍷😊

The Oaks Campsite - Beautiful site under large oak trees just East of the Grainzebo. 😊🏕️🍷🔥

Camp Ondessonk

Operating since 1959, Camp Ondessonk is a non-profit youth camp on 983 acres of beautiful wooded property adjacent to the Shawnee National Forest. Guests have access to several miles of paved road for walking and cycling, 15 miles of on-site hiking and biking trails, and access to a huge network of public Shawnee National Forest trails including the River-to-River Trail. Our property is home to the tallest free-falling waterfall in Illinois, Cedar Falls, as well as rock bottom creeks, canyons, prairies, forests, and hills. Detailed trail maps of our property and the surrounding area are available. Guests are welcome to stroll the grounds, observe our horses grazing in the pastures, enjoy views of our lakes and forests, or relax by the campfire. Stop by the Camp Store at the Trading Post to purchase Ondessonk apparel, souvenirs, or essential items. To schedule a guided hike, boating, archery, or horseback riding program, or test yourself on our high challenge course or climbing wall, contact Ondessonk staff for program availability and more information. The Camp Kitchen can prepare certain meals for you; contact us for meal availability and more information. 

Plenty of room for tents and parking at Kane Lake. 

Fire pit area, outhouse, and Pavilion at Kane Lake.

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