Shimek Forest Campground
Open for camping April 1 through October 31. Reservations required for all sites and can be made up to 3 months in advance through the Iowa State Parks reservation system. Closed November 1 through March 31.
Tornado Watch issued June 11 at 3:40PM CDT until June 11 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
TORNADO WATCH 313 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 13 COUNTIES IN NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS BUREAU PUTNAM IN NORTHWEST ILLINOIS CARROLL HENRY IL JO DAVIESS MERCER ROCK ISLAND STEPHENSON WHITESIDE IN WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS HANCOCK HENDERSON MCDONOUGH WARREN IN IOWA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 15 COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA CEDAR CLINTON JACKSON JOHNSON JONES MUSCATINE SCOTT IN SOUTHEAST IOWA DES MOINES HENRY IA JEFFERSON KEOKUK LEE LOUISA VAN BUREN WASHINGTON IN MISSOURI THIS WATCH INCLUDES 2 COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST MISSOURI CLARK SCOTLAND THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALEDO, ANAMOSA, BETTENDORF, BURLINGTON, CARTHAGE, CLINTON, CREDIT ISLAND, DAVENPORT, FAIRFIELD, FREEPORT, GALENA, GENESEO, HENNEPIN, IOWA CITY, KAHOKA, KEOKUK, KEOSAUQUA, MACOMB, MAQUOKETA, MEMPHIS, MOLINE, MONMOUTH, MOUNT CARROLL, MOUNT PLEASANT, MUSCATINE, OQUAWKA, PRINCETON, ROCK ISLAND, SIGOURNEY, STERLING, TIPTON, WAPELLO, AND WASHINGTON.
Tornado Watch issued June 11 at 3:16PM CDT until June 11 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 313 UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING. TORNADO WATCH 311 HAS EXPIRED. THE NEW WATCH IS VALID FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 13 COUNTIES IN NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS BUREAU PUTNAM IN NORTHWEST ILLINOIS CARROLL HENRY IL JO DAVIESS MERCER ROCK ISLAND STEPHENSON WHITESIDE IN WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS HANCOCK HENDERSON MCDONOUGH WARREN IN IOWA THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 17 COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA CEDAR CLINTON IOWA JACKSON JOHNSON JONES LINN MUSCATINE SCOTT IN SOUTHEAST IOWA DES MOINES HENRY IA JEFFERSON KEOKUK LEE LOUISA VAN BUREN WASHINGTON IN MISSOURI THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 2 COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST MISSOURI CLARK SCOTLAND THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALEDO, ANAMOSA, BETTENDORF, BURLINGTON, CARTHAGE, CEDAR RAPIDS, CLINTON, CREDIT ISLAND, DAVENPORT, FAIRFIELD, FREEPORT, GALENA, GENESEO, HENNEPIN, IOWA CITY, KAHOKA, KEOKUK, KEOSAUQUA, MACOMB, MAQUOKETA, MARENGO, MEMPHIS, MOLINE, MONMOUTH, MOUNT CARROLL, MOUNT PLEASANT, MUSCATINE, OQUAWKA, PRINCETON, ROCK ISLAND, SIGOURNEY, STERLING, TIPTON, WAPELLO, AND WASHINGTON.
Flood Watch issued June 11 at 2:51PM CDT until June 11 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
One more round of thunderstorms this afternoon could lead to heavy rainfall and flooding. Although these storms will be fast-moving, they will have high rainfall rates, so areas that had storms this morning could be susceptible to runoff and flooding. * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of Illinois, including the following areas, Bureau, Carroll, Hancock, Henderson, Henry IL, Jo Daviess, McDonough, Mercer, Putnam, Rock Island, Stephenson, Warren and Whiteside, Iowa, including the following areas, Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque, Henry IA, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Muscatine, Scott, Van Buren and Washington, and northeast Missouri, including the following areas, Clark and Scotland. * WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks.
Flood Warning issued June 11 at 9:52AM CDT until June 14 at 11:15AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Iowa... Maquoketa River near Maquoketa affecting Jackson County. Cedar River near Conesville affecting Louisa and Muscatine Counties. Iowa River near Lone Tree affecting Louisa, Washington and Johnson Counties. English River at Kalona affecting Washington and Johnson Counties. Skunk River at Augusta affecting Henry IA, Des Moines and Lee Counties. Wapsipinicon River near De Witt 4S affecting Scott and Clinton Counties. ...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Illinois... Rock River near Joslin affecting Henry IL, Rock Island and Whiteside Counties. Rock River at Moline affecting Henry IL and Rock Island Counties. .Several rounds of heavy rainfall will produce flooding on several tributary rivers. * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Skunk River at Augusta. * WHEN...From Friday evening to late Sunday morning. * IMPACTS...At 16.0 feet, Water floods some agricultural land near the river. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 8:45 AM CDT Thursday the stage was 7.2 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage tomorrow evening to a crest of 16.1 feet Saturday morning. It will then fall below flood stage early Sunday morning. - Flood stage is 15.0 feet.
About
Shimek State Forest is Iowa's largest state forest, offering primitive camping in the rolling hardwood hills of southeast Iowa. The forest consists of five separate units totaling 9,148 acres, with camping concentrated in the Farmington, Donnellson, and Lick Creek units. Tent campers can choose between Bitternut Lake Campground (8 sites) in the Farmington Unit or White Oak Campground (11 sites, including one hike-in site) in the Donnellson Unit, both offering access to fishing lakes. Equestrian campers have access to 37 sites across the Lower and Upper Lick Creek campgrounds, featuring open-air stalls for overnight horse stabling, hitching posts, gravel parking areas, and horse shade structures. Over 25 miles of equestrian trails wind through the Lick Creek Unit. All campgrounds provide basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, water hydrants, pit toilets, and trash dumpsters. There are no showers, hookups, or modern restrooms. The forest offers excellent hunting, fishing at multiple lakes with boat ramps, hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Directions
From Farmington: Travel 4 miles east on Highway 2 to Lick Creek Unit road, turn south 1 mile. Forest headquarters located approximately 1 mile northeast of Farmington on county road J56.
Nearby Campgrounds
Location
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $12 - $16 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 83ft |
| Max Trailer Length | 76ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | Yes |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (319) 878-3811 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
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