Over the long weekend, my partner and I invited her parents to camp out in the great Shawnee National Forest for a couple of days. It’s about a 5.5 hour drive each way for us.
Garden of the Gods
There are multiple campsites throughout the forest, all of which are first come first serve (carry some cash to pay at the actual site). For this trip, we decided to stay in an area that is a little bit more lively and a place we knew there was water and bathrooms (vault toilets) nearby to make things a little easier for the party.
We got here early enough to have a few options on where to camp within Pharaoh campground in the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area.
After setting up camp and resting from the long drive, we went next door to the Garden of the Gods Trail (a 2 minute drive from camp) to checkout the glorious forest and sandstone formations!
We also came back after dinner to try and catch the sunset over the rocks, which was beautiful.
Food
Besides all the snacks, coffee, and light bites, our main courses were the following:
1. Grilled Salmon with brocollini and mashed potatoes, with a side of corn.
2. Pizzas made over a fire
3. Chorizo and Eggs
Bell Smith Springs
Of course, the next big area we wanted to make sure we visit with Bell Smith Springs Recreation area (the trail and the actual Spring). This was about a 45 min drive from camp. This little spot was great! Short trail to get here (you can make it longer if you really want to…though in our case, we were trying to avoid the incoming heat wave). The water was nice and cool which was perfect in 100 degree weather. I suggest getting here early to avoid a large crowd of locals (we got here around 9 – 10 am, which was perfect.
Be sure to bring a towel and some water shoes!
Rim Rock Trail
We actually meant to hang out in the “abandoned” beach near camp (15 min drive) in the Pounds Hollow area…but it was PACKED. So we decided to do a small part of the Rim Rock Trail right next door instead. Beautiful trail and it can go as short as 1 mile to a pretty intense trail, especially under the blazing sun.
Heading Out
Overall, it was a great mix of visiting some key areas, knowing where to visit next time, and enjoying time at camp! Although we were lucky to not have a ton of mosquitos, there were plenty of ticks, so beware and come prepared! Great trip overall.
On the way back home, we stopped at a pond full of geese and ducks that you were able to feed!
Youtube Video
Enjoy this short video about the trip!