Getting ready to start planning an annual "primitive" camping trip and trying to branch out a little bit.

Right now I'm leaning towards Hocking Hills, but was wondering if anyone had any suggestions.

I'm not opposed to traveling out of state, but would like to keep it within a 4-5 hour drive from home (central Ohio).

Looking for a spot that we could hike, fish, etc.

Anyone have any good spots?

All my suggestions are outside of your range.

But, if you are willing maybe in the future, lots of stuff in the Grand Canyon is fun. Montana for fly fishing. Some of the most peaceful days Ive ever had were fly fishing in different rivers in Montana.

Finally, Moab, UT. Amazing place. Lots of national forest. Its a great combo of canyons (but not the Grand, so less touristy) and Fly Fishing areas.

Mohican area, of course. A few of the campsites offer primitive camping. I recommend Mohican Wilderness

http://www.mohicanwilderness.com/camp.php

Rates aren't bad, family oriented place. Plus the area has canoeing, put put, horseback riding (not bareback, ******), go carts, umm, some skill course (zip lines kinda stuff)

Zeleski State Forest near Hocking has primitive camping/backpacking http://ohiodnr.com/Portals/18/forests/pdf/ZaleskiBackpackBrochure_7.pdf

as does Shawnee State Forest near Portsmouth http://backpackohio.com/shawnee.html

If I remember right, Shawnee is a more vigorous hike.

Do yourself a favor and just bite the bullet and make the drive to Ely, Minnesota. The Boundary Water are simply amazing. I camped and canoed for 10 days there and no where else has even come close. Also you can see the northern light at night which is just great.

I don't know about the fishing but Hocking Hills has a lot to offer in the area... I enjoy Hocking Hill when we go down there

BTW some highlights from the boundary waters were:
The Northern Lights
Animals ( we saw Moose, Wolves, Bears, Bald Eagles) a few times throughout the 10 days
Fishing simply put the best fishing I've ever experienced
Seclusion we only saw one other group of campers the whole time
Indian Hieroglyphics are pretty easy to spot.

just do a google image search and be amzed

sportchampps;1590045 wrote:BTW some highlights from the boundary waters were:
The Northern Lights
Animals ( we saw Moose, Wolves, Bears, Bald Eagles) a few times throughout the 10 days
Fishing simply put the best fishing I've ever experienced
Seclusion we only saw one other group of campers the whole time
Indian Hieroglyphics are pretty easy to spot.

just do a google image search and be amzed

Dear boundary waters chamber of commerce,

You can see/do all of those things in ohio. With fewer mosquitoes.

Thanks

You can camp primitively in any wooded area.

Kaiser Lake.

Power Lands southeast of Zanesville. Best pond fishing in OH.

I'll second AEP lands out side of McConnelsville Ohio, also Burr Oak has a decent primitive campground

Can someone explain "primitive" camping? Are you going to a campsite with no electricity or going out in the woods?

hang_loose;1590234 wrote:Can someone explain "primitive" camping? Are you going to a campsite with no electricity or going out in the woods?

Depends on the person, but primitive can mean both. Basically what I'm looking at, no camper/cabin, no electricity, no water, no close neighboring camp sites, etc. I just want a tent, a fire and some place to hike and/or fish. And fishing isn't even that important, because I don't really fish....but I seem to enjoy it when I do.

sportchampps;1590045 wrote:BTW some highlights from the boundary waters were:
The Northern Lights
Animals ( we saw Moose, Wolves, Bears, Bald Eagles) a few times throughout the 10 days
Fishing simply put the best fishing I've ever experienced
Seclusion we only saw one other group of campers the whole time
Indian Hieroglyphics are pretty easy to spot.

just do a google image search and be amzed

Yeah, call me a ***** but I don't really want to sleep in a tent anywhere where bears or wolves can be seen regularly.

Do they have cabins? Because that could be another trip.

ernest_t_bass;1590116 wrote:Kaiser Lake.

Kiser Lake

Buckeye Lake

Snot no Cabins...

we did have to bear bag all are food at night (put it in a bag and tie a rope to it and raise it into a tree). We saw most of these animals on shore while we were canoeing 20 miles each day. The only dangerous animals I saw near the campsites were snakes. The very last day we were portaging about a mile when I saw wolves about 30 yards from me. I had the canoe over my head and all I could think was walk faster and if it comes after me fall down and hold the canoe over me. The pack of wolves ( there were 3) just sat still though.

they basically limit the number of people who can be in the nature preserve at a time. When you go the park knows how many days you should be on the land. Once you have entered you can use a map and choose how you will navigate the area. There's literally 100's of lakes and paths to choose from. When your ready to sleep for the night you look for a campsite on the map. The campsites is just really a small piece of land that is flat and cleared out. It also has a path to a latrine. You have to but special soap so you don't pollute the water. I know our guide went through our packs and basically left us with 2 pairs of shorts and 4 extra shirts and soap and toothpaste for the 10 days as our only personal items unless you wanted a book.

SnotBubbles;1590250 wrote:Depends on the person, but primitive can mean both. Basically what I'm looking at, no camper/cabin, no electricity, no water, no close neighboring camp sites, etc. I just want a tent, a fire and some place to hike and/or fish. And fishing isn't even that important, because I don't really fish....but I seem to enjoy it when I do.

So basically anywhere in the woods?

Holland State Park in Holland Michigan. On the lake. Not maybe as rustic as you want but doubt a bear bag is necessary.

Around four hours from Central Ohio.

Matter of fact Michigan has tons of little state parks all over the place.

Search this -

http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Listing.aspx

Hop on the PA turnpike and stop somewhere, it is all primitive over there.

se-alum;1590665 wrote:So basically anywhere in the woods?

Technically, yes. But I want something where it's scenic and I'm not going to get shot or arrested for trespassing.

Check out that Susquehanna trail or whatever it is in PA

sportchampps;1590043 wrote:Do yourself a favor and just bite the bullet and make the drive to Ely, Minnesota. The Boundary Water are simply amazing. I camped and canoed for 10 days there and no where else has even come close. Also you can see the northern light at night which is just great.

My best friend and I are in the process of planning a trip to the Boundary Waters in July.

sportchampps;1590282 wrote:Snot no Cabins...

we did have to bear bag all are food at night (put it in a bag and tie a rope to it and raise it into a tree). We saw most of these animals on shore while we were canoeing 20 miles each day. The only dangerous animals I saw near the campsites were snakes. The very last day we were portaging about a mile when I saw wolves about 30 yards from me. I had the canoe over my head and all I could think was walk faster and if it comes after me fall down and hold the canoe over me. The pack of wolves ( there were 3) just sat still though.

they basically limit the number of people who can be in the nature preserve at a time. When you go the park knows how many days you should be on the land. Once you have entered you can use a map and choose how you will navigate the area. There's literally 100's of lakes and paths to choose from. When your ready to sleep for the night you look for a campsite on the map. The campsites is just really a small piece of land that is flat and cleared out. It also has a path to a latrine. You have to but special soap so you don't pollute the water. I know our guide went through our packs and basically left us with 2 pairs of shorts and 4 extra shirts and soap and toothpaste for the 10 days as our only personal items unless you wanted a book.

Which entry point did you use?