Join John Schirle, author of The Best in Tent Camping: Illinois as he takes you on an Illinois camping adventure that's sure to get you yearning for the great outdoors!

From the bubbling creeks and steep ravines of Apple River Canyon in the northwest, to the spectacular vistas of Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest to the southeast, the state of Illinois offers an amazing range of natural beauty to enjoy. There are rivers to canoe, lakes to fish, trails to hike and bike, and plenty of quiet places to camp amidst the wild diversity of the Prairie State. The Best in Tent Camping: Illinois is an indispensable guide for the tent camper who wants to enjoy all this up close, for whom camping is not just overnight lodging, but an integral part of the whole outdoor experience. If you want to go to sleep on soft grass surrounded by woods (and not a concrete slab surrounded by RVs), and wake to the sound of birds (and not your neighbor’s boombox), this book is for you.

Unlike other guides which merely list all campgrounds, The Best in Tent Camping: Illinois profiles in detail only the 50 best sites in the state for campers who seek the serene and secluded. You’ll find essential information about each campground (including season, facilities, rates, directions, GPS coordinates, and Web sites), as well as a description of the campground, the best sites, and nearby activities such as hiking, canoeing, fishing, and mountain biking. The guide covers well-known parks as well as some campgrounds that are local secrets, which you might not find on any Internet search.

This guide is perfect to toss in your pack for easy access along the trail. The profiles are painstakingly researched to bring you the ultimate up-to-date guide to tent camping. Whether you are a novice just starting out or an avid hiker this guide is perfect for anyone interested in hiking. So grab a copy today and get out on the trail.

John Schirle was raised in central Illinois and has been back in his home state since 1993. Since his college days he has loved getting away in the outdoors – camping, hiking, canoeing, and, more recently, caving. As a result he’s spent countless hours scouring the region for the ever-elusive ideal tent-camping getaway. Schirle has had a personal goal for some years of visiting every single state park in Illinois (which he hasn’t yet achieved – though he’s a lot closer now!). Over the years he’s been a Bible translator in central Africa, a college professor, camp program director, and is currently a children’s librarian and writing tutor in his hometown of Decatur, Illinois. And he suspects, but is not sure, that he’s the only Menasha Ridge author who speaks Congolese Swahili.