Camping/Hiking trip

[Wandering_About]

So here's the deal. Spring Break for me is March 14-22, and I'd like to do a hiking or camping trip. Most of the places I like to hike a lot are in the mountains and are inaccessible and under a boatload of snow right now. Does anybody have any good areas for hiking or camping within, say, 1000 miles of Lincoln NE? Trying to get on with planning this fairly early so I can get some friends motivated to go with me.

If all else fails I'm going to do a grand tour of the Sandhills/Western NE. Would like to check out other options first, though, and if there are some good spots to go out I'd like to do it.

 

[Salamander42]

A 1000 mile radius makes for a LOT of territory! Did you maybe mean 100 miles? MapQuest puts Lincoln about 660 miles from Bloomington IN, and my favorite part of the Hoosier National Forrest is just a few miles further to the Southeast from there. The Shawnee National Forrest in southern IL would also be in range if you did indeed mean 1000 miles.

 

[storl]

You aren't that far from the Smokies, which is always excellent camping and hiking. I used to go every year during spring break from age 4-18, and maybe saw snow once or twice, so snow should not be a problem at all.

 

[BlackHills]

It's hard to say what the weather will be like in March but the Black Hills could be an option. A fair amount of the Centennial Trail should be accessible and since most of the Hills is Natl Forest you're not restricted to campgrounds. It's pretty much a given you won't run into many people regardless of where you go there in March.

The Badlands might be another choice. It won't be hot and you can hike/camp in the backcountry there.

 

[Wandering_About]

1000 miles, yes, I'm ambitious when it comes to driving to good hiking spots

The Smoky Mountains wouldn't be too bad of an idea, might be a little farther but could be worth it.

The Black Hills and Badlands are both serious considerations I forgot to mention before. I will look into that, those are both great places, been quite a few years since I've been to either. Going to buy a *good* sleeping bag sometime before this trip, and I'm not afraid of camping in the snow. Not a terribly long drive, either.

Thanks for the suggestions.