Cabin Camping

There are many places close to the City of Chicago that have cabins for winter rental.  Some are run by Boy Scout Councils, some by Girl Scout Councils and some by various Forest Preserve districts.  If you have additions to this list please let me know so that they can be added. And the same in reverse, if a facility is closed down, then please let us know so that it can be deleted. All links last checked 9/2007.

Spring and fall these facilities can also be used as tent camping sites. Keep the outing in Scouting, and try not to camp at the same place all the time. 

Camps are listed in mileage order from the north side of Chicago.

Camp Dan Beard 
Wheeling IL 

1 cabin no kitchen 
North East Illinois Council  
2745 Skokie Valley Rd. 
Highland Park IL 60035
1-847-433-1813
Jim Neubaum Director 
22 miles 

Camp Rhineberg,
Palatine Il. Part of the Cook County Forest Preserve

FROM THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 53 AND DUNDEE ROADS GO WEST TO QUENTIN ROAD THEN NORTH ABOUT 1/4 MILE. THE PLACE IS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE STREET.

Central kitchen area, various sized heated cabins. Hiking, big open field, sledding near by. 

847-991-3165 is the number of the actual camp

708-366-9420 is the number for reservations.

September 15th is when reservations open up for the following year. 

25 miles 

 

Camp Sullivan 
Part of the Cook County Forest Preserve
143rd and Oak park in Tinley Park  

708-366-9420 is the number for reservations.

September 15th is when reservations open up for the following year. 

35 miles 

 

Camp Falcon
Part of the Cook County Forest Preserve
143rd and Harlem in Tinley Park 

708-366-9420 is the number for reservations.

September 15th is when reservations open up for the following year. 

35 miles 

 

Camp Big Timber

Cabins for winter and spring
Elgin Il. 
Three Fires Council # 127  
415 N Second St.
St. Charles IL 60174-9990
1-630-584-9250
38 miles 

Camp Dean
Big Rock IL 

Girl Scouts of Fox Valley 
200 New Bond St. 
Aurora IL 60506
630-897-1565
54 miles

Hoover 
Yorkville Illinois 

Kendall County Forest Preserve. 

Jody Strohm 630-553-4025

60  miles

 

Camp Lakota
Woodstock Il 
North West Suburban Council 
600 N. Wheeling Road
Mt. Prospect IL 60056
1-847-824-6880
1-847-824-6925 fax 
60 miles 

Rainbow Council Scout Reservation 

Adirondacks  3 sided structures
Morris  Illinois    

Rainbow Council  # 702
2600 N Winterbottom Rd
Morris IL 60450
1-815-942-4450

Map 61 miles

 

Butternut Springs 
Girl Scouts Chicago Great web site
Valparaiso Indiana

65 miles

 

Camp To-Be-Ne-Bee
Michigan City IN
LaSalle Council
1433 Northside Blvd. 
South Bend IN. 
574-289-0337
71 miles

Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta
Burlington Wisconsin

Southeast Wisconsin Council
2319 Northwestern Ave. 
Racine WI
262-632-1655
72  miles

Camp McCormick
Stillman Valley, IL
Rock River Valley Council GSA
2101 Auburn Street 
Rockford, IL 61103
phone: 815-962-5591 • 800-242-5591
fax: 815-962-5658
Indoor Pool
90 Miles
Camp Juniper Knoll
Girl Scouts Chicago Great Web site
East Troy Wisconsin
90 miles 

DeKalb County Forest Preserve
Shelters include lights, electricity, and wood stoves (firewood provided)

Camp Lowden   
Oregon Illinois    

Blackhawk Area Council
1800 7th Av.
P.O. Box 4085
Rockford IL 61104
1-815-397-0210
webmaster@camplowden.org

Map 103 miles 

Camp Indian Trails 
Janesville, WI

Glacier's Edge Council 
5846 Manufacturers Drive
Madison, WI 53704
Phone: (608) 273-1005
Map 107 miles
Camp Betz
Berrien Springs MI

Calumet Council
8751 Calumet Ave. 
Munster IN. 
708-474-6212

112 miles

 
Indian Mound Scout Reservation
Oconomowoc WI

Milwaukee County Council
330 South 84th St. 
Milwaukee WI. 414-774-1776
115  miles

I stopped here since I wouldn't want to drive any further than this for a weekend camping trip. 

References for this list included the Central Region Camp Guide, the internet,  and Scout Camps USA Volume 2 .