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Camping Hidden Springs State Forest in Illinois

Camp Illinois had the chance to speak with Jodi about camping at Hidden Springs State Forest. She also shared some great insights on popular activities in the state forest and what to fish for in Lake Shelbyville.


Jodi’s Favorite Thing To Do In The Forest
A great activity while at Hidden Springs is to hike Rocky Springs Trail

Jodi’s Favorite Campsites
The best places to camp at Hidden Springs State Forest are sites 11 and 12. They are secluded with a great view of the creek bottom

Get To Know Hidden Springs State Forest

When was Hidden Springs State Forest founded. How did it start?
Hidden Springs consists of approximately 1,200 acres of land and was assigned to the forestry division in 1960.The forest area was originally going to be a lake but that changed when plans were altered during the construction of the Shelbyville Reservoir.

What are the most popular activities in the state forest?
The most popular activities at Hidden Springs State Forest are hiking, picnicking, hunting, camping. There are some really great hiking trails like Possum Hollow, The Big Trail and Rocky Springs trail. There is a picnic area with shelter, water, grill and a playground for children. There are some great hunting opportunities at Hidden Springs. Other than the 240 acres that the campground and picnic area are on visitors can hunt with shotgun and bow and arrow.

Where is Hidden Springs State Forest located? What are some other attractions in the area worth checking out?
Hidden Springs State Forest is located about 10 miles southeast of Shelbyville. The biggest attraction to the Lake Shelbyville area is the fishing. Visitors can fish in more than 11,000 acres of clear water where catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, walleye, muskie, white bass and bluegill are in abundance.

What are the campsites like in Hidden Springs? Are they more open or secluded?
There are 28 sites in the campground, they are all class C sites, which have tent pads but no electrical hook ups. The campsites are fairly large and are somewhat wooded.

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