Your thoughts? Trip ideas for a Midwest backpacking trip

**jdeering** · 01-26-2017, 11:40

Hey guys

I am planning a trip to meet with some friends somewhere in the Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, southern Illinois, and Arkansas area. I currently reside in Texas and my buddies will be traveling from Michigan. We are planning this trip for May during Memorial Day weekend. We are meeting Wednesday 24 and heading home Monday 29. We are looking for a moderate mileage backpacking trip with potentially a day of just camp life. We will all be using hammocks. Probably in the 20-25 mile to stretch out over the four/five nights with a day of loafing. My friends are pretty green when it comes to hiking so they won't be doing 10-15 mile days.

We have looked at Shawnee NF in Southern Illinois, Mark Twain NF in Missouri, and Red River Gorge (Daniel Boone) in Kentucky. The first two are roughly 13/14 hrs drive for me while Red River is 17 hrs. The guys from Michigan will have an 8 hr drive either way. I am partial to the shorter drive from Texas but if Daniel Boone is worth it, I will make it work.

So basically I am looking for your experiences, trip ideas, and knowledge on locations, or any input that will help in planning locations, trails, and camps.

Thank you

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**JasonACraft** · 01-26-2017, 13:28

Hey John,
I highly recommend Red River Gorge, but if it's over memorial day weekend it'll probably be packed. The arches and views are awesome though.

**WIBackpacker** · 01-26-2017, 16:42

Yellow River SF in Eastern Iowa is one to look into. Unlike a lot of other states, Iowa doesn't require stickers (which can get super expensive for out-of-state cars!) in their state forests. Parks are a different matter, but Yellow River is designated as a forest.

RRG will definitely be slammed with climbers.

**Br@nch** · 01-26-2017, 17:37

If you end up at Mark Twain in MO, I would be in. I am relatively new to hammocks and real trail hikes, so I'm not sure I have enough experience yet to recommend anything. However, the parts of the Ozark Trail that I have been on have been very nice, Bell Mountain has a heck of a view for this area.

I will keep an eye on the thread to see what everyone comes up with.

**michigandave** · 01-26-2017, 20:41

John, make a detour up here the end of February and join us at Green Timbers again to test out your gear! It was great seeing you at the Gluttony hang. Safe travels!

**deuce656** · 01-26-2017, 20:47

Are the smoky mountains out?

**Xjtxbox** · 01-27-2017, 01:58

Why don't you drive up to your buddies up in Michigan and go to the isle royale? I spent a week on the island and it is a GREAT trip and hammock friendly. But if your headed south the ouachita and ozark national forest both have great trails. I would personally recommend this one.

http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/hik...ock-loop-trail

**jdeering** · 01-27-2017, 11:37

Thanks all. I am planning on doing the Apostle Islands in August, I will not be in Mi until then. If there are any late July trips I may come early!

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Going to look over all this stuff

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**jdeering** · 01-27-2017, 11:49

Northern Iowa and the smokeys are a bit too far for me. I was hoping to make my drive a one day ordeal.

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**Just Bill** · 01-27-2017, 15:58

River to River trail in Shawnee- it's 160 miles total but the middle sections are very nice.
Only issue- it might be pretty wet and sloppy that time of year.
But there is also the wine trail and numerous breweries that opened if you want a bit more of a buddy trip than a backpacking one (or want to hit a few on the way.)

If you stick to the western half (Makanda area/Giant City to the west) the trails are better marked and there are more opportunities for town stuff.
If you want to be out there- go east from makanda into the Lusk Creek Wilderness and towards Garden of the Gods.