I’ve lived in northeast Illinois all my life, but have typically gone camping elsewhere (Wis/Ind/etc). I’m looking for places that are far enough from the city to have as little ambient light as possible. I know I’ve been to places in Wisconsin where you can actually make out the Milky Way and not just the big dipper and a few other really bright stars.
Anyone know of any places, preferebly north of 80, or not much further south, that are truly dark at night?
Well, I remember camping at Rock Cut State Park years ago. There wasn’t much in the way of star gazing. We were more into getting drunk and trying to jump over the campfire without bursting into flames. It was a really pretty place as I remember it. http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/Parks/R1/ROCKCUT.HTM
Well, I don’t drink personally but others in the group might partake in that sort of activity. Since I’m apparently in charge of planning the outing I figure the place should meet my criteria first. Not too many places prohibit it anyway. Though even without the alcohol I might just be tempted to jump it if challenged!
State parks can be a pleasant combination of nature and convenience. However, often part of the convenience is lights on buildings (e.g. restrooms) and roads, which may not suit you. Sometimes federal or state forests or conservation areas allow camping. These can be quite dark if far enough away from a city, but might have no amenities such as running water.
I recently went camping at Mississippi Pallisades State Park. While there were restroom lights it was reasonably dark where I was (site 175 - though probably too many trees for good stargazing)
So, looking at the map here, I’d say that your best bet for the darkest possible sky while staying north of I-80 is Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area or Morrison-Rockwood State Park. You’ll want to get as far away from Chicago/Rockford as possible without getting too close to the Quad Cities or Dubuque. Sounds like Lake Le-Aqua-Na provides a bit more “rustic” camping experience of the two…
I stayed at Moraine View Park while driving through Illinois last summer. Lovely place, with a lake and a restaurant and two campgrounds, one for comfort with lots of amenities and the other for those who prefer to rough it. It’s near Bloomington but not close enough that light should be a problem, and there’s also an excellent view of nearby windmills.
Just this past weekend I stayed at the Jellystone Park in Amboy, IL. According to the Dark Sky Finder linked to above, it is about as dark as you’re going to get in northern IL.
It is west of I-39 between I-80 and I-88. We did tent camping in their hookup lots right between the two big pools, waterslide and lake front. They also have mini golf and an arcade. Being that close to everything, it was a bit bright but there were so many stars up in the sky. Go to the wilderness area and I’m sure it would be much darker.
And we did drink there. In fact, they sell beer in their general store.
You didn’t mention if you had kids, but my kids had a great time.
I grew up in this area and have never been to Lake Le-Aqua-Na but have been to Apple River Canyon State Park many, many times. It’ll put you about 15 miles further west of Freeport so it should be darker there. A lot of web sites talk about it being near Galena but it’s really near Stockton and Warren. It doesn’t have a lake but you can fish and there are trails. I highly recommend the Tower Rock trail. When you get to the rock at the end and climb it (an easy climb as it’s the only rock I’ve ever climbed) to see the canyon on the other side, it’s spectacular. If you stay somewhere else in the area it’s worth a day trip just to do that.
