Bathroom + Clean Hands
- Portable camping toilet or commercial WAG bags
- Toilet paper
- Handwashing water, soap + hand sanitizer
- Trash bags sturdy enough to pack everything out
Guide to Camping at Wild Indigo
Friends of the Forest
Welcome, Forest Friend.
A field guide for sleeping gently among the woodlands, wetlands + trails.
Wild Indigo is intentionally simple: more forest than campground, more stars than streetlights, and more self-reliance than hookups. Come ready to live lightly, listen closely, and let the land set the pace.
The One Thing to Know
Primitive Really Does Mean Primitive.
This is leave-no-trace camping. The land offers the setting; you bring the systems you need to camp comfortably and responsibly.
No toilet facilities. Bring a portable camping toilet or commercial WAG bags. Human waste and toilet paper leave with you.
No campsite shower. There are no shower facilities at the campsites.
No electrical, water or sewage hookups. Unlimited Berkey-filtered drinking water is available at Knob N' Wood Retreat Center; bring a bottle or container to refill.
Pack it in, pack it out. Trash, food scraps, pet waste and every other thing you bring into camp leaves with you.
Before You Leave Home
Pack Like a Forest Friend.
Nights here can feel cooler, darker and damper than town. A little preparation makes the wild part much more delicious.
Light + Weather
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Sturdy shoes
- Rain gear
- Season-appropriate bedding
Bugs + Ticks
- Insect repellent
- Tick-removal tool
- Long layers when the season calls for them
- A quick tick check before bed
Pond Time
- Life jackets for children
- Life jackets for anyone who is not a confident swimmer
- Water shoes if you prefer them
- Close supervision around wild water
Crossing the Threshold
The Forest Is Easier to Enter Slowly.
Give yourself daylight when you can, keep your reservation details close, and follow the route chosen for your particular campsite.
Save Before You Drive
Screenshot your campsite name, Hipcamp messages, map and campsite-specific arrival instructions before leaving home.
Message as You Approach
Message Elise through Hipcamp when you are approaching, especially if arrival is later than planned or after daylight.
Follow the Marked Route
Use only marked or host-approved routes and park only where directed. Forest roads and grassy areas may soften after rain. Never drive onto trails, meadows, wetlands or around gates and barriers.
Settle Into Your Site
Set up within your assigned campsite so pathways, trailheads, pollinator areas and neighboring sites remain open. Use low beams and quiet voices if unloading after dark.
Your first little welcome: a complimentary seasonal Wild Indigo juice is included with your stay.
Leave No Trace, Literally
The Least Glamorous Part Is Still Stewardship.
What comes in with you leaves with you—including the things nobody puts in the vacation photos.
Bathroom Waste
There is no flush toilet, porta-potty or composting toilet for campers. Use a sealable portable toilet or commercial WAG bags inside a private toilet tent on durable ground, away from water, trails and food areas. Seal waste securely and take it home for proper disposal.
Trash + Food Scraps
Pack out all trash, food scraps, pet waste, wipes, hygiene products and tiny bits such as bottle caps, foil and twist ties. Food scraps are still food for wildlife and do not belong on the forest floor.
Soap + Gray Water
Never wash dishes, bodies or gear directly in the pond, creek or wetlands. Use biodegradable soap away from natural water and follow host guidance for small amounts of plain gray water.
Water for Drinking
Unlimited Berkey-filtered water is available to campers at Knob N' Wood Retreat Center. There are no water hookups at individual campsites, so bring a refillable bottle or container.
Living Habitat First
The Forest Is the Host, Too.
These agreements keep camping possible without asking the land, wildlife or the next guest to pay for our stay.
Fire Belongs in One Place
Campfires are permitted only in the commUnity artisan-welded fire pit, and only when current conditions and host guidance say it is safe. No private campsite fires or new fire rings.
Admire, Don't Harvest
Stay on established trails and durable surfaces. Please do not pick, dig, cut, forage or collect plants, mushrooms, roots, flowers or firewood without permission.
Wildlife Gets Right of Way
Keep food, scented toiletries and trash sealed. Never feed or approach wildlife, beehives, nests or farm animals.
The Pond Is Wild Water
Our pond has no lifeguard. Swim, paddle and float at your own risk; supervise children closely and use properly fitted life jackets.
Pets Are Guests, Too
Keep pets leashed or reliably contained, prevent chasing wildlife or visiting neighboring campsites, and pack out all pet waste.
Let Night Sound Like Night
Keep music, generators, lights and voices low—especially after dark—so neighboring guests can hear the forest instead of each other.
A Little More Ease
Primitive Does Not Have to Mean Inconvenient.
When scheduling allows, add a few comforts so you can keep wandering, linger over breakfast or make an arrival feel a little more special.
Wash + Dry Laundry
Multiple standard loads washed and dried during your stay, returned clean and dry without folding.
$11 / loadGrocery + Farmers Market Run
Need something we do not already offer? We can make a local grocery or farmers market run when scheduling allows. Groceries are charged separately.
$20 service feeOccasion Alchemy
Flowers or gathered greenery, candles, a handwritten note and other artful touches for birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, reunions, honeymoons or simply because.
Starting at $33 + special purchasesWander + Graze Picnic
A forest-ready basket, blanket, reusable tableware and thoughtful presentation. Charcuterie and abundant grazing spreads are a specialty.
Starting at $33 + foodFood, coffee, tea, pastries, farm goods, pantry provisions + more are available seasonally.
Leaving Well
Take the Memories. Leave the Tiny Things, Too.
Before rolling out, make one last slow scan of your campsite: trash, food, toilet waste, pet waste, tent stakes, bottle caps, tissues, crumbs and every other trace comes with you. Return shared items where directed, make absolutely sure any communal fire is cold, and message through Hipcamp when you have departed.
Until the Forest Calls You Back
May You Leave Rested, Reconnected + A Little Muddier.
Thank you for helping keep Wild Indigo wild enough for the lives already rooted, winged, burrowed and blooming here.
Wild Indigo Forest Farm · Pekin, Indiana · Clark State Forest area