May Monthly Meeting
CAMP May monthly meeting, Chicago
Meet us on May 8th, Wednesday, at 7pm, at Pizza Lobo in Andersonville, in Chicago, for our May monthly meeting. The meeting is open to both members and non members who want to come and find out what we are about.
Signing up will be closed by May 7. Please sign up ON MEETUP or let us know via email (info@motocampingclub.com) that you are planning to attend.
On the agenda:
Update on CAMP 2024 motocamping season.
Update on Trainings and Seminars.
Update on Bookclub.
Update on members discounts.
Eating and socialising.
AOB
Heavy Enduro Midwest Open Ride
Join the Heavy Enduro crew at Cliff Insane Terrain (2681 US-6, Marseilles, IL 61341) for an open ride day. We’ll be riding the trails all day. You choose the adventure, Heavy Enduro will provide refreshments. Registration is free and you will be responsible for paying the park entrance fee ($25).
*Note there will be no training provided but HE will be available as trail support.
May BOOKCLUB: Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
CAMP MAY BOOKCLUB: Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Meet us for our bookclub meeting on Sunday, May 12, 11am at Rivers and Road Cafe in Chicago to discuss our book of the month. This cafe is national parks themed and offers coffees, teas, pastries and a light lunch. Check them out here.
This month we are reading Zen and the Art of motorcycle maintenance. Sign up on meetup or send an email to info@motocamping.club to confirm you are coming. You don’t need to be a CAMP member to attend the bookclub.
Pirsig wrote this book exactly 50 years ago, and although this is mentioned often as a must read in the motorcycle community, once you read it you realize that it has very little to do with motorcycle maintenance, but more about a definition of morals and what's good and bad and how to discern it. More info here.
CAMP Bookclub meets to discuss books that are motorcycle and outdoor related. You don't need to be a member of CAMP - The Motocamping Club to attend the bookclub. Please come with ideas for next month's book!
MotoGP viewing party
MotoGP Viewing Party
Join us for lunch and to watch the MotoGP race taking place in Le Mans, France. Meet us at 1,30pm at 302 Wheaton, located at 302 W. Front Street
Wheaton, IL 60187.
The SMOKY S’MORE
THE SMOKY S’MORE - SMOKY MOUNTAINS NP, TN, MAY 17-19
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for CAMP’s opening motocamping weekend in the Appalachian area, in Tennessee, on May 17-19.
THIS IS A PAVED AND UNPAVED S’MORE: plenty of street and dirt options in the area.
WHERE
Our base will be the Elkmont Campground inside the Smoky Mountains National Park, in Tennessee. Although we have been to the Smoky Mountains National Park many times as a group, this is a new campground for us.
Campers can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the Little River and countless other streams and rivers that snake through the mountains.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Elkmont Campground. The nearby and popular Laurel Falls Trail leads to a spectacular 80-ft. waterfall.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $45 per person. This includes your camping spot for 2 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night.
If you have a CAMP 2024 S’more pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
The DOOR COUNTY S’MORE, WI
THE DOOR COUNTY S’MORE - FISH CREEK, WI, MAY 17-19
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for CAMP’s Midwest opening motocamping weekend in Door County, at the Peninsula State Park, on May 17-19. This is a new location for CAMP, and one that was overwhelmingly requested by our members.
THIS IS A PAVED S’MORE.
WHERE
Our base will be the Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek, in Wisconsin. Spectacular bluffs, 8 miles of cobblestone shoreline, an 1868 lighthouse, outdoor summer theater, swimming beach, year-round naturalist programs, and diverse hiking and biking trails all make this park one of Wisconsin's mot popular camping destinations. All sites are within a 5-minute walk to the shoreline and only a short drive into the Door County communities of Fish Creek and Ephraim.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $45 per person. This includes your camping spot for 2 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night.
If you have a CAMP 2024 S’more pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
You don’t have a motorcycle but would like to join? Take advantage of CAMP Membership Plus, which includes 4 days of motorcycle rental.
CAMP Wisconsin Adventure Ride
WHAT, WHEN & WHERE
CAMP Trans Wisconsin Adventure Ride will take place on May 22-27, 2024. This is the ONLY Trans Wisconsin Ride planned for 2024.
The Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail is a 650 mile route starting in Galena, IL, and ending at Lake Superior, near the town of Cornucopia, WI. The route is a patchwork of paved roads, forest roads, deep gravel and sandy roads, taking you through the Northern Woods. Exhaustive info on the route is available here, along with answers to many common questions about the route. GPS files for download are available here.
This route is ideal both for those who are just dipping their toes into off roading, and for those with more experience. This is the perfect shakedown to test your skills and your gear before you join us for our South Dakota BDR X ride, or Colorado BDR or Mid Atlantic BDR.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
We will be camping 5 nights, in different locations (State parks, commercial campgrounds, national forests). We will be carrying all our gear on our motorcycle. There is no support vehicle.
This is our draft itinerary:
Wednesday, May 22: Arrival Day. Welcome dinner cooked for us at CAMP. Riders meeting.
Thursday, May 23: Paved and unpaved roads through Southern Wisconsin and Iowa. Our Basecamp will be in the Wildcat Mountain State Park, WI. Mileage: 150
Friday, May 24: mostly off road riding, with a lot of gravel, some sand and few single tracks. Camping in the Black River Falls Forest. Mileage: 100.
Saturday, May 25: Paved and unpaved, mostly off road. Camping by the Black Lake, in the Chequamegon National Forest. Mileage: 150.
Sunday, May 26: deep sand is waiting for us for our last day. Lunch at the Delta Diner, and final camping day on the shores of Lake Superior, in Cornucopia, WI. Mileage:150.
Monday, May 27: you ride home or continue wherever you want to go!
WHAT BIKE SHOULD YOU RIDE?
You must bring a dual sport/adventure motorcycle for this ride. All motorcycles need to be street legal, and they need to have a Wisconsin special pass (information will be emailed to all participants on how to get that pass).
The choice of tires is up to you, but having ridden the TWAT a few times, I can tell you that off road tires are a cheap insurance against falls. Personally I recommend 50/50 tires (i.e. designed for 50% off road use and 50% paved use). You won’t need them all the time, but when you need them, in the Northern Section, you will be very happy to have them.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The ride costs $190 per rider. This fee includes camping five nights in State Parks, National forests and Commercial campgrounds; welcome dinner on the first night; t-shirts; info pack with day to day itinerary and information.
Depending on the number of riders involved, we will split the group on the basis of pace/skills. Please note: this ride will take place if there are AT LEAST 7 riders signed up.
Please note that this ride is open to CAMP members only. Not a member? Just add your membership at check out and you are good to go.
This ride is included in our CAMP Dual Sport Pass.
Questions about this ride? Contact us or send us an email!
CAMP UP Rally S’more
CAMP UP RALLY S’MORE - MICHIGAN’S UPPER PENINSULA, JUNE 6-9
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for CAMP very first Rally: The CAMP UP Rally S’more, in Michigan’s UP on June 6-9. A Long weekend of motocamping, fun activities, friendly competitions, riding paved and/or unpaved roads, training opportunities and chances to win fun prizes, all weekend long.
We will be posting a lot of details over the next few months.
This is event is ideal both for street and off road riders.
WHERE
We will stay at the Marion Lake Campground, in Watersmeet, Michigan's Upper peninsula (375 miles/6 hours from Chicago; 280 miles / 4.5 hours for Milwaukee; 300 miles and 5 hours from Minneapolis). We will have a whole campground by ourselves, right by a lake in a wonderful lush forest. You will be able to come back to camp, park your bike next to your tent and go for a swim fifty feet away. I promise you will think you are in the remote wilderness of Alaska while you are there.
This is a primitive campsite, with limited facilities - there are picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, drinkable water, but no electricity and no sewage.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
The ticket to this event is only $100 per person. This includes:
Your camping spot for 3 nights;
Dinner for the three nights;
Many fun activities and a chance to win many prizes all weekend long - more details will come over the next few months, but think about slow races, timed events involving achieving the most average time possible, eating certain foods at certain locations…
Access to water and water activities all weekend
Curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area;
Event’s t-shirt
Firewood and s’mores every night.
If you have a CAMP 2024 S’more pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
You don’t have a motorcycle but would like to join? Take advantage of CAMP Membership Plus, which includes 4 days of motorcycle rental.
CAMP ARRAPAHO S’MORE
THE ARRAPAHO S’MORE, CO - JUNE 14-16
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for our Colorado season opener, the Arrapaho S’more, on June 14-16: a weekend of riding beautiful paved roads and dual sport trails, only one hour out of Denver. Only $30 per person!
Every participant will receive a Rider’s Book in advance with details about the mapped roads, things to do, logistics.
WHERE
Our base will be the Pickle Gulch area, in the Arrapaho forest of Colorado, only one hour outside of Denver.
Pickle Gulch is a group picnic and camping facility located just off the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway/Highway 119. Visitors enjoy the area for its scenic and off-road driving, and nearby hiking and fishing opportunities. The group campsites are all walk-to sites for tent camping only. The on-site host has wheelbarrows available for campers, to haul equipment from the parking area. Each campsite is equipped with picnic tables, a campfire circle and tent pads. Vault toilets and drinking water spigots are shared between sites.
A separate day-use area contains two volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, picnic tables and a vault toilet.
Firewood may be gathered from the surrounding forest, if available, or purchased from the host.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $30 per person. This includes your camping spot for 2 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night.
If you have a CAMP 2024 S’more pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
CAMP BRIAR BOTTOM S’MORE, NC
THE BRIAR BOTTOM S’MORE - July 12-14 - BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for a weekend of motocamping in North Carolina, at the Briar Bottom Campground, in the Black Mountain area, NC, on July 12-14.
THIS IS A PAVED AND UNPAVED S’MORE: plenty of street and dirt options in the area.
WHERE
Our base will be the Briar Bottom Campground. Located on the South Toe River, campers have a perfect place for swimming, tubing and fly fishing. Take in the incredible scenery of the Southern Appalachians by hiking the Hemlock Nature trail, or take a 5.7 mile hike to the top of Mount Mitchell State Park, the highest peak in North Carolina at 6,684 feet. Only an hour from Asheville, NC and only a few hours from Charlotte and Atlanta, GA.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $55 per person. This includes your camping spot for 2 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night.
If you have a CAMP 2024 S’more pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
CAMP BLACK HILLS S’MORE
THE BLACK HILLS S’MORE - Three Forks, South Dakota, JULY 24-29
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for a long weekend of motocamping in the gorgeous Black Hills of South Dakota, on July 24-29. This is a new location for CAMP, and one that was requested by a lot of our members.
THIS IS A PAVED S’MORE, with the option to turn it into a dual sport ride of the newly launched South Dakota BDR X. If you are interested in that, add the BDR X add-on to your cart, and/or read here.
There is the opportunity to have your bike transported back and forth from the Chicagoland at a fee - please drop a message about this at checkout. First come, first serve. You can also take advantage of CAMP Membership Plus, which includes 4 days of motorcycle rental. Up to you.
WHERE
Our base will be the Sheridan Lake Campground, located in the gorgeous Black Hills of South Dakota. This campsite is ideally situated, as it offers both a chance to explore the numerous beautiful paved roads of the area, as well as many off road trails.
There is a very good reason why the whole area of the Black Hills is one of the prime motorcycle destinations in America: with 5 million acres of forests and mountains, surrounded by thousands of miles of prairie land, this area is a motorcycle Mecca. Mount Rushmore, Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, Spearfish Canyon, Cement Ridge Lookout Tower, and the Custer Wildlife Loop are some of the many incredible features dotting the landscape of this scenic route.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more costs $160 per person. This includes your camping spot for 5 nights, curated paved rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night.
If you have a CAMP 2024 S’more pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RIDE THE BLAK HILLS BDR X, PLEASE ADD THAT OPTION TO YOUR CART. You can read more about that ride here
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
TRANSPORTING YOUR MOTORCYCLE
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 2 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $600 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
CAMP BLACK HILLS BDR X RIDE
CAMP BLACK HILLS BDR X RIDE, SOUTH DAKOTA, JULY 24-29
WHAT AND WHEN
Come ride with us the BLACK HILLS BDR Ride X with CAMP, in the wonderful Black Hills National Forest.
BDR X are dual sport rides that form a big loop, and they can be ridden by adventure bikes or lighter enduro/dual sport. The Black Hills BDR-X is the perfect introduction to a BDR in the midwest. With striking landscapes ranging from wide-open prairie, dense pine forests, and tall aspen trees, this 355-mile loop comprises three distinct sections and encompasses all the elements for your next adventure.
Enjoy a plethora of gravel and dirt roads, challenging two-track, and some of the best pavement you’ve ever ridden as you make way through historical towns in an area that shaped the west.
Mount Rushmore, Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, Spearfish Canyon, Cement Ridge Lookout Tower, and the Custer Wildlife Loop are some of the many incredible features dotting the landscape of this scenic route.
There is the opportunity to have your bike transported back and forth from the Chicagoland at a fee - please drop a message about this at checkout. First come, first serve. You can also take advantage of CAMP Membership Plus, which includes 4 days of motorcycle rental. Up to you.
WHERE
This ride is held in conjunction with our CAMP Black Hills S’more, which is a paved event. The riders on the BDR X ride will share the same Basecamp as the S’more for most of the nights, but we will be camping elsewhere as well. This is why to participate in CAMP South Dakota BDR X ride you need to purchase BOTH a spot for the South Dakota S’more AND the BDR X add on below.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This ride costs $210 per person. This includes your camping spot for 5 nights, a group t-shirt, s’mores and woods every night.
In order to purchase a ticket for this ride you need to add BOTH the S’more AND the BDR X add-on to your cart.
If you have a CAMP 2024 Dual Sport Ride Pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores and rides are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
WHAT BIKE SHOULD YOU RIDE ON A BDR RIDE?
You must bring a dual sport/adventure motorcycle for this ride. The choice of tires is up to you, but we recommend 50/50 tires (i.e. designed for 50% off road use and 50% paved use). You won’t need them all the time, but when you need them, you will be very happy to have them.
TRANSPORTING YOUR MOTORCYCLE
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 3 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $600 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
AUGUST Monthly Meeting
CAMP Monthly Meeting - Chicagoland
Info and sign up coming soon.
CAMP COLORADO BDR
CAMP COLORADO BDR RIDE - August 8-13
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for CAMP Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) Ride, on August 8-13 - five days of riding off road and motocamping along the gorgeous setting of Colorado’s mountains.
This ride is immediately before CAMP Colorado S’more (August 14-18), and we recommend you attend both, so you can mix the best of the dual sport and paved worlds.
The Colorado BDR is a sub 700 miles ride that includes dirt, rocks, sand and water crossings, all at very high altitude, extending from the Four Corners (Colorado/New Mexico/Utah/Arizona intersection) to the Wyoming border. It is considered an “intermediate” off road ride, and it requires skills, appropriate tires (fifty/fifty recommended) and an appropriate motorcycle (adventure, dual sport). It definitely isn't a route you should try if this is your first foray into off-roading.
We will send every attendants plenty of information, the GPX files and everything you need to know about the ride.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
The plan is to ride five of the six sections of the Colorado BDR, South/North. Starting on August 9 in the morning, we will ride one section a day until we reach the end of section, 5 on August 13. We will be camping every night in a different place.
Please note - there will be the possibility to have your motorcycle trailered from the Chicagoland to the Denver/Estes Park area and back for a fee.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND HOW DO I BOOK?
This event only costs $190 per rider. This includes all your nights of camping, plus a rider book with plenty of information about the ride and a group t shirt.
If you have a CAMP 2024 Dual Sport Ride Pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores and rides are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
WHAT BIKE SHOULD YOU RIDE ON A BDR RIDE?
You must bring a dual sport/adventure motorcycle for this ride. The choice of tires is up to you, but we recommend 50/50 tires (i.e. designed for 50% off road use and 50% paved use). You won’t need them all the time, but when you need them, you will be very happy to have them.
TRANSPORTING YOUR MOTORCYCLE
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 3 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $600 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
CAMP COLORADO S’MORE
CAMP COLORADO S’MORE - AUGUST 14-18
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for five days of motocamping and riding some of the most beautiful paved roads of Colorado. Our CAMP Colorado S’more will take place on August 14-18, 2024, in the gorgeous Rocky Mountains National Park.
Every participant will receive a Rider’s Book in advance with details about the mapped roads, things to do, logistics.
This S’more is right at the end of our Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route Ride, scheduled for August 8-13. Book them both to experience the best of both worlds, paved and unpaved roads.
WHERE
Our base will be the Rocky Mountains National Park, 15 minutes west of Estes Park, CO. This is home to some of the most beautiful roads of Colorado.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $95 per person. This includes your camping spot for 4 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night.
If you have a CAMP 2024 S’more pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
CAMP LAKE MICHIGAN CIRCLE MOTOCAMPING RIDE
CAMP LAKE MICHIGAN CIRCLE MOTOCAMPING RIDE - AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 3
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for CAMP’s first ride around Lake Michigan, on August 30-September 4.
The “Lake Michigan Circle Tour” follows state highways around Lake Michigan, through Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
If you like lighthouses, Fall colored trees, beautiful landscapes over large expanses of water, this is the trip for you.
The Lake Michigan Circle Tour is roughly 1,100 miles long and would take 14.5 hours with no stops. We are adding a couple of detours to the Southern shore of Lake Superior, so our total ride will be approximately 1,400 miles, over 6 days/five nights.
The Lake Michigan Circle Tour was part of a plan that began in 1985 and included circle tours around all the Great Lakes. It was the brainchild of Jack Morgan, who worked for the Michigan Department of Transportation. In 1987, the governors of Michigan and Indiana struck a deal and the Great Lakes Circle Tour was finalized in November 1988. In 1998, signs were posted throughout the route, covering 1100 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline.
We will send every attendants plenty of information, the GPX files and everything you need to know about the ride.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
We will be camping every night in a different place. Our first night, Friday August 30, will be spent in Northern Wisconsin, so that folks from different parts of the country can all convene there. We will then continue north, spending also two nights on Lake Superior, where you will have a chance to explore Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The last day, September 4, will be devoted to riding back to our respective homes.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND HOW DO I BOOK?
This event only costs $275 per rider. This includes your five nights of camping, plus a rider book with plenty of information about the ride and a group t shirt.
Please note: CAMP S’mores and rides are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
WHAT BIKE SHOULD YOU RIDE?
Any bike, as long as it is street legal and can go up to highway speed, will be perfect. This is NOT an off road ride, although a gravel road may pop up here and there to access certain locations.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
CAMP BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE CAMPING TRIP
CAMP BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE CAMPING TRIP - SEPTEMBER 8-13
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for a 5 nights/6 days trip to Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). This is not a motocamping trip (although you are welcome to ride your motorcycle to the departure point) - it is a canoe camping trip through one of the most remote areas of the United States.
It is the first time that CAMP - The Motocamping Club organizes something like this. We picked this time of the year because the days are still plenty long so far North, with plenty of light; the weather is still warm enough to enjoy the water, and there are no mosquitos. And if we are lucky, we should start seeing the leaves turning red/yellow.
Established in 1964, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is over one million acres of rugged and remote boreal forest in the northern third of the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. The BWCAW extends nearly 150 miles along the International Boundary, adjacent to Canada’s Quetico and La Verendrye Provincial Parks, is bordered on the west by Voyageurs National Park, and by Grand Portage National Monument to the east. The BWCAW contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites. The BWCAW is composed of lakes, islands, rocky outcrops and forest.
The sculpting of the landscape by powerful glaciers over an immense period of time has left behind a variety of landforms and rocks as well as thousands of lakes and streams, interspersed with islands. This network of connecting waterbodies provides unique opportunities for long distance travel by watercraft—a rare experience within the continental United States.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
The plan is to spend 5 nights in the Boundary Waters Area, exploring it on canoes. We are building a trip that will be comfortable for canoe beginners, but also interesting for those who are more experienced. If you like fishing, going through remote areas with very few other people, camping under the darkest skies in America, you don’t want to miss this.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND HOW DO I BOOK?
The cost of this event will depend on how many people sign up. We can have a maximum of 9 people, due to permit restrictions in force in the BWCA - groups of more than 9 people, including guides, are not allowed.
If you are interested in joining, please purchase the $200 deposit now - Michele (CAMP founder) will be negotiating with several outfitters to get the best price for our group, on the basis of the number of deposits we get.
Please note: this deposit is fully refundable if you cancel before March 1st, 2024. After that date, the deposit will not be refunded. This is due to the fact that the cost for everyone depends on the exact number of people attending - if you commit to attend, you pulling out at the last minute affects everybody.
We expect this trip to cost between $500-800 per person, including canoe rental, camping fees, equipment and (possibly) a guide. The final price will be established asap and communicated to everyone.
In the check out process, please indicate if you need canoe rental; if you would like a guide; if you would like a “full outfitting option per day” - this would include food, camping equipment, several tools.
SEPTEMBER Monthly Meeting
CAMP Monthly Meeting - Chicagoland
Info and sign up coming soon.
CAMP DOWN Rally S’more
CAMP DOWN RALLY S’MORE - SHENANDOAH NP, VA, OCTOBER 3-7
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for CAMP Southern Rally: the CAMP DOWN Rally S’more, in Virginia, on October 3-7. A Long weekend of motocamping, fun activities, friendly competitions, riding paved and/or unpaved roads, training opportunities and chances to win fun prizes, all weekend long.
We will be posting a lot of details over the next few months.
This is event is ideal both for street and off road riders.
WHERE
We will stay at the DC Dirt Camp facility, in Middletown, VA. This is 660 miles from Chicago, 400 from Asheville, NC and 300 from Raleigh, NC. We will have the DC Dirt Camp facility all to ourselves. Only 10 miles from the beautiful roads of the Shenandoah National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway and many others, right when all the leaves turn red and yellow.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
The ticket to this event is $145 per person. This includes:
Your camping spot for 4 nights;
3 dinners (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
Many fun activities and a chance to win many prizes all weekend long - more details will come over the next few months, but think about slow races, timed events involving achieving the most average time possible, eating certain foods at certain locations…
Access to DC Dirt adventure and off road classes at a discounted rate - please indicate in your check out form if you are interested, and we will reach out.
Curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area;
Event’s t-shirt.
Firewood and s’mores every night.
If you have a CAMP 2024 S’more pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
TRANSPORTING YOUR MOTORCYCLE
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 3 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $600 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
CAMP MID ATLANTIC BDR RIDE
CAMP MID ATLANTIC BDR RIDE - OCTOBER 6-12
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for CAMP MID ATLANTIC BACK COUNTRY DISCOVERY ROUTE (BDR) RIDE, on October 6-12 - a full week of riding beautiful trails along the Appalachian mountains, from Virginia to Pennsylvania.
This ride is immediately after CAMP DOWN Rally S’more, (October 3-7), and we recommend you attend both. If you attend the rally you will be able to leave your vehicle/trailer at the rally location while you ride the BDR with us. Also, at the rally you will be able to attend an adventure class organized by our friends at DC Dirtcamp that will help you on this ride.
The MABDR is a scenic ride for dual-sport and adventure motorcycles that uses dirt, gravel and paved roads to wind through remote parts of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Starting in Damascus Virginia, and ending in Lawrenceville, Tioga County, PA, this 1,080-mile route, primarily uses forest roads and rural country lanes, to lead riders through the Appalachian mountains, majestic forests, bucolic farming landscapes, Amish country, and locations that played pivotal roles in early American history. It is considered the easiest of the BDRs, so it is ideal if you have ridden the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail with us in the past, and want to get a little more technical. But regardless of the difficulty, what makes this ride gorgeous this time of the year are the Fall colors of the mountains. You should join even if you are pro at off road riding!
We will send every attendants plenty of information, the GPX files and everything you need to know about the ride.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
The plan is to ride all the sections of the MABDR, South/North. Starting on October 6 in the morning, we will ride all the way to the Pennsylvania terminal on October 12. We will be camping every night in a different place.
Please note - there will be the possibility to have your motorcycle trailered from the Chicagoland to Virginia and back at a fee. See below.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND HOW DO I BOOK?
This event only costs $250 per rider. This includes your six nights of camping, plus a rider book with plenty of information about the ride and a group t shirt.
If you have a CAMP 2024 Dual Sport Ride Pass, just let us know you are coming - this ride is included. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores and rides are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
WHAT BIKE SHOULD YOU RIDE ON A BDR RIDE?
You must bring a dual sport/adventure motorcycle for this ride. The choice of tires is up to you, but we recommend 50/50 tires (i.e. designed for 50% off road use and 50% paved use). You won’t need them all the time, but when you need them, you will be very happy to have them.
TRANSPORTING YOUR MOTORCYCLE
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 3 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $600 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
OCTOBER Monthly Meeting
CAMP Monthly Meeting - Chicagoland
Info and sign up coming soon.
CAMP HALLOWEEN S’MORE, WI
THE HALLOWEEN S’MORE - BLACK RIVER STATE FOREST, WI, OCTOBER 25-27
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for our final S’more of the year, in Wisconsin’s Black River State Forest, on October 25-27. This is the perfect way to end our motocamping season, surrounded by trees changing colors.
THIS IS A PAVED S’MORE.
Bring your best Halloween S’more and win some cool prizes.
WHERE
Our base will be the Black River State Forest, in Wisconsin. Two forks of the Black River flow through this 68,000-acre forest comprised of pine and oak woods. This central Wisconsin forest offers many recreational opportunities, including canoeing, hunting, hiking, skiing and ATV riding.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $45 per person. This includes your camping spot for 2 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night.
If you have a CAMP 2024 S’more pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
You don’t have a motorcycle but would like to join? Take advantage of CAMP Membership Plus, which includes 4 days of motorcycle rental.
NOVEMBER Monthly Meeting
CAMP Monthly Meeting - Chicagoland
Info and sign up coming soon.
CAMP Christmas Party
CAMP ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY AND RAFFLE!
Info and sign up coming up soon.
The SEDONA S’more, Arizona
THE SEDONA S’MORE - SEDONA, AZ, APRIL 14-17
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for CAMP’s season opening motocamping weekend in Sedona, Arizona, on April 14-17, 2024. This is a new location for CAMP, and one that we are very excited about. April is often a difficult time for many of us, with winter not letting go. We are itching to go motocamping, and here is your chance. Come discover one of the most beautiful areas of the Southwest in the best time of the year.
$95 per person. Every participant will receive a Rider’s Book with a detailed agenda, curated rides and relative GPX files, things to do, logistics.
THIS IS A PAVED AND UNPAVED S’MORE: plenty of street and dirt options in the area.
WHERE
Our base will be the Chavez Crossing Campground, located in gorgeous Sedona. This campsite is ideally situated, as it offers both extreme proximity to the city and its services, and yet a complete sense of remoteness in the red desert.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $95 per person. This includes your camping spot for 3 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night.
If you have a CAMP 2024 S’more pass, just let us know you are coming. You don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
TRANSPORTING YOUR MOTORCYCLE
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 2 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $600 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
April Monthly Meeting
CAMP Monthly Meeting - Chicagoland
Meet us on April 10th, Wednesday, at 7pm, at Pizza Lobo in Andersonville, in Chicago, for our April monthly meeting. The meeting is open to both members and non members who want to come and find out what we are about.
Signing up will be closed by April 9. Please sign up here on meet up or let us know via email (info@motocampingclub.com) that you are planning to attend.
On the agenda:
Update on CAMP 2024 motocamping season.
Update on Trainings and Seminars.
Upcoming bookclub
Update on members discounts.
Eating and socialising.
AOB
Colorado CAMP meeting
COLORADO CAMP MEETING
Come to our first CAMP Colorado meeting - meet us at 6,30 MT at Westrail Tap and Grill in Denver, CO. Your host will be Mark D. Please RSVP either on meetup or by sending us an email.
We will go through the activities of CAMP - The Motocamping Club, review our 2024 schedule, including the motocamping trips planned in Colorado and in the surrounding States, and just have a good time.
CAMP - THE MOTOCAMPING CLUB is a Riders Club that brings together motocamping enthusiasts, i.e. people who like to ride their motorcycle and camp along the way. Founded in 2019 in Chicago, CAMP organizes motocamping trips during the Summer, training days and many off the bike community events all year long. Most of our activities are in the Midwest, the Appalachian Mountains, Colorado.
The meeting is open to EVERYONE, paved and dirt riders, experienced and non experienced in motocamping.
Heavy Enduro / CAMP Seminar - Trailside Repairs
Heavy Enduro / CAMP Seminar - Trailside Repairs
We have all been through it: we are on a trail or a beautiful windy road, and all of a sudden the motorcycle doesn’t work, or doesn’t seem to work properly. What to do? Join us on Sunday, March 10 at noon, for a seminar in which Andy Janik, from Heavy Enduro, will teach us about the most common trailside repairs.
The event will take place at the private residence of Andy and Susan, in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. We will send participants the address. Bring $5 for lunch - we will order something.
The event is free, but you need to register by “buying” a spot below - the system will ask you to input your credit card, but the event is free. Please note - there are limited spots: if you are booking a spot, make sure you are coming or let us know WELL IN ADVANCE that you are not coming, out of courtesy for your hosts and other people who want to attend.
MARCH Monthly Meeting
CAMP MARCH Monthly Meeting - Chicagoland
Meet us at Skadarliya in Brookfield, in the Chicago burbs, for our March monthly meeting. The meeting is open to both members and non members who want to come and find out what we are about.
Signing up will be closed by March 5. Please sign up here on meetup or let us know via email (info@motocampingclub.com) that you are planning to attend.
On the agenda:
Update on CAMP 2024 motocamping season.
Update on Trainings and Seminars.
Update on CAMP Bookclub.
Update on members discounts.
Eating and socialising.
AOB
Motocamping Seminar
Motocamping Seminar + Moto Guzzi Stelvio unveiling
CAMP founder and motocamping expert Michele will be giving a Seminar about Motocamping at the Moto Guzzi / Aprilia dealer Top Gear Powersports in Roselle, IL.
Come learn how to pack your bike, what to bring, what NOT to bring. We will have lots of gear for you to look at, and two different set ups to take inspiration from (a motorcycle with soft bags, a motorcycle with hard cases). Food and drinks will be provided by the kind folks of Top Gear Powersports.
This will be the occasion also to see the new Moto Guzzi Stelvio live (the photo here is of my old Stelvio, which is, to this date, my favorite bike EVER).
You'll learn:
- How to pack your bike
- Packing needs vs. wants
- Planning your route & more!
The event is open to anyone, so bring your friends!
CAMP WINTER S’MORE 2024
CAMP WINTER S’MORE 2024 - GRANITE PEAK, WI, FEBRUARY 9-11
WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE?
Join us for CAMP annual Winter S'more, at Granite Peak, in Wasau, WI, a four hours drive from Chicago (227200 Snowbird Ave, Wausau, WI 54401). This ski area has more than 70 runs, 6 terrain parks and - at least by Midwestern standards - decently long slopes, some of them shy of a mile. Plenty of green slopes for newbies, plenty of blue and plenty of black slopes too. Skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing available.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND HOW DO I PAY?
This event is “pay as you go”, i.e. you make all reservations and bookings for your lodging and your lift tickets by yourself. YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A CAMP MEMBER TO JOIN THIS EVENT. Just come ski with us!
However, we please ask you to let us know if you are coming - just add this s’more to the cart and check out as if you were paying for it. The price is zero, but this will give us an idea of how many are coming. Alternatively just drop us an email. We are organizing dinners for our group on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 so we need to have an idea of how big the group is going to be!
Lodging: unlike other ski resorts, Granite Peak does not have its own hotel, but it works with many hotels in the area, with special rates. You can see (and book) the hotels at a discounted rate HERE. Some of them are less than a mile from the ski area, some of them are a little further away or in Wasau proper, but still only 5-6 miles away. Rates start from $80ish per night per room (2 people) at the Super 8 and La Quinta, all the way up to $200 plus at the Hilton and everything in between. Please book whatever hotel you want, either from that list or anywhere else.
Ski pass: The earlier in advance you buy your ski pass here, the more you will save. If you are coming with a kid, look at the "combo" options, as they are cheaper. Please take note of their cancellation policy. Please book your lift ticket asap, because we have seen them close ticket sales for dates that are too busy/crowded.
Ski, snowboard, boots and helmets rental, are all available. You can book it all online when you buy your tickets. Please note that I have an extra snowboard to lend you, if you want (a 158 Burton Blunt - first come, first served). If other members have equipment to lend, please let me know.
Lessons: lessons of several types are available: group, private, semi private (up to 4). I know there are a few beginners who were interested in joining, and you could pool in to take a semi private lesson.
X-country skiing and Snowshoeing: the Southern part of the same mountain hosting the ski resort hosts Mountain Rib State Park, which has plenty of snowshoe trails. You can read about your options here, or do a google search. If you are into Xcountry skiing, there are many trails at the adjacent Nine Mile Forest Recreation area. You can read about them here.
CAMP February Monthly Meeting (Copy)
CAMP February Monthly Meeting
Meet us at the restaurant Las Palmas in Harwood Heights for our February monthly meeting. The meeting is open to both members and non members who want to come and find out what we are about. Please let us know via email (info@motocampingclub.com) that you are planning to attend.
CAMP SECOND ANNUAL ICE S’MORE
CAMP SECOND ANNUAL ICE S’MORE - GOVERNOR DODGE STATE PARK, WI, JANUARY 27-28, 2024
WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE?
Join us for a quick overnight winter camping trip in Wisconsin’s Winter Wonderland on January 27-28, at Governor Dodge State Park. This State Park traditionally plows a few of its campsites for the Winter, and that’s where we will camp. Yes, in January. Are we crazy? No (ok, maybe).
Camping in the winter is not impossible, but it comes with its risks. You have to have the right sleeping bag, the right sleeping pad, and a lot of base layers. Depending on the temperature, it may be very pleasant, or it may be a no go. We will watch the weather and see how it is. But if you come, come prepared! We will share well in advance a wealth of material for you to read on. But this is a nice article to start with.
We will drive to Governor Dodge’s State Park on Saturday morning, build our tents, build a beautiful fire, and spend the day outdoors enjoying the Winter Wonderland. We will cook great warm food and tell each other how silly we are or how great we are, it will all depend - and bring your snowshoes for a trek to Stephens Falls, where we will watch ice climbers climbing the frozen cascade.
If you are interested but don’t have enough winter camping gear, send us a message - you can borrow some of our gear.
THE COST OF THIS EVENT IS $10 PER PERSON.
CAMP Christmas Party
CAMP ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY AND RAFFLE!
Join us for a night of Christmas Cheer: raffle, prizes, food. Sign up “BUYING” your free spot here. The event is entirely free, but it is capped at 40 people.
Open to members and non members. We will celebrate with some jolly good time and also draw the winners of CAMP Holiday raffle, give prizes to the winners of our MotoGP Fantasy League, our Grand S'more Award and our Mileage contest.
CAMP Holiday Raffle:
$20 for CAMP members and $30 for non members - they give you a chance to win incredible prizes and donate to a just cause. Let’s look at the prizes:
Mosko Moto 50 Liter Motorcycle duffle in black (value $280) in black/gray.
Mosko Moto 30 liter motorcycle duffle in high desert (sand) color (value $230).
Jetboil Minimo Cooking set (value $165) - the perfect motocamping cooking companion everyone should have.
Mosko Moto First Aid Kit (value $149) - very complete and very cool looking emergency first aid kit.
Mosko Moto Fatty Tool Roll plus rain cover (value $125) - So you can do like me, have 20 pounds of tools on you, and still be unable to fix what breaks.
A free day of off road training with Heavy Enduro in 2024 (value $300): you will have a chance to improve your skills using your own motorcycle. Many CAMPers have taken this training over the past couple of years, and we all found it extremely fun, helpful and absolutely worth the money: you can do it for free!
Gift cards from Moto Camp Nerd, to buy whatever camping gear you need for next year.
$600 gift card for Temple of Moto- Temple of Moto organizes motorcycle tours that offer the best riding AND the best way to explore the great outdoors, all in one tour. Use this gift card against any 2023 tours in Baja, Yellowstone, Utah, Joshua Tree National Park, Redwoods National Park, the Black Hills, the American Southwest, Smoky Mountains.
A Coleman Gladiator camping stove (value $99) - this is for the car camping in all of us. The reliable stove that will last you a lifetime.
An Opinel Nomad Cooking Kit (value $89) - perfect for motocamping and your picnics, it includes a cutting board, a serrated knife for bread, a corkscrew knife and a folding peeler, together with a microfiber cleaning cloth that also acts as a pouch to put it all together.
Giant Loop Possible pouch (Value $69) - strap it anywhere on your bike to carry your essentials.
MSR Dromedary bag (value $60) - super compact and perfect for motocamping.
2 Opinel Knives No. 8 - one green, one purple (value $40 in total). Folding knife with a 3.28 inches blade.
Lifestraw water filter (value $20) - perfect if you are planning to motocamping in remote areas.
Swag from Mosko Moto, Temple of Moto, CAMP.
NOVEMBER Monthly Meeting
FINAL MOTOCAMPING HURRAY
Our Chicago monthly meeting, originally scheduled for Saturday, November 11th will be replaced by a motocamping/camping night on November 10-11 in Shabbona, IL. Patrick, one of our members, will host us for one last motocamping/camping hurray on his farm. This is event is FREE.
Join us Friday, November 10, as of 4pm to set up your tent on the farm’s lawn. Bring your own food to cook and your own stoves and we will celebrate the end of the year by a bonfire. On Saturday morning we will go for breakfast at a local diner and we will then drive/ride home.
Please sign up here- add the event to your cart and complete the checkout, even if the price is zero.
Colorado CAMP meeting
COLORADO CAMP MEETING
Come to our first CAMP Colorado meeting - meet us at 6,30 MT at Westrail Tap and Grill in Denver, CO. Your host will be Mark D. Please RSVP either on meetup or by sending us an email.
We will go through the activities of CAMP - The Motocamping Club, review our 2024 schedule, including the motocamping trips planned in Colorado and in the surrounding States, and just have a good time.
CAMP - THE MOTOCAMPING CLUB is a Riders Club that brings together motocamping enthusiasts, i.e. people who like to ride their motorcycle and camp along the way. Founded in 2019 in Chicago, CAMP organizes motocamping trips during the Summer, training days and many off the bike community events all year long. Most of our activities are in the Midwest, the Appalachian Mountains, Colorado.
The meeting is open to EVERYONE, paved and dirt riders, experienced and non experienced in motocamping.
The Smoky S’more, Smoky Mountains NP, TN
THE SMOKY S’MORE - Smoky Mountains National Park, TN - October 19-23
WHAT AND WHEN
Courtesy of US129photos
The Smoky S’more on October 19-23 will be our final motocamping trip for the 2023 season. This is the third year in a row we are going to this location, and there is a reason for it: wonderful paved windy roads while the leaves around us will be a thousand shades of yellow and red (see the photos below from 2022!). Sounds like a dream? Only $60 a person.
This will be a “paved roads” event. Looking for dirt? Join our Smokey 500 ride on October 16-18 (right before this s’more) for some serious dirt action, and then come to this S’more afterwards.
Every participant will receive a Rider’s Book with a detailed agenda, curated rides and relative GPX files, things to do, logistics.
WHERE
Our base will be the Cosby Campgrounds inside the Great Smoky Mountains. It is a very peaceful and secluded campground, without the hustle and bustle of the busier campgrounds.
Please note that this campground is PRIMITIVE: there is running drinkable water and there are flushing toilets, but no showers and no electricity. Showers are available 2 right outside this campground. Plan accordingly.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $60 per person. This includes your camping spot for 4 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night. You can addd dinner for Thursday night for $10.
If you have a CAMP 2023 S’more pass, please add your code at check out, and the cost of your S’more will be zero (you will still need to pay separately for dinner though). you don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member, please add your membership to your cart together with your S’more ticket. Your reservation will not be complete unless you are a member, and your spot will not be secured.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
The plan, in a nutshell, is the following:
We will arrive on Thursday afternoon at our campground in Cosby, Tennessee, inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After setting up camp, there will be a camping welcome dinner for all attendants (and s’mores of course…).
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday you will be able to choose among several rides that we have prepared for you, or do whatever activity you want - hiking, fishing, small town hopping (you can also go visit the motorcycle museum Wheels through time, which is nearby).
Guided rides will include sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway (a very pleasant riding experiences), the Cherohala Skyway, the Great Smoky Mountains road, the Tail of the Dragon. All rides will be paved, but you can join our Smoky 500 ride right before this S’more for some serious dirt action.
All participants will be sent a Riders’ book with info and links to planned rides and more details on things to do.
On Monday (but of course you can leave on Sunday) we will go back home.
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 2 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $600 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
Please note we will be camping in bear country - there are no grizzlies, only black bears: bear-proof storage is provided at the campground. We will send out information that will help you to familiarize yourself about what to do when camping in bear country ahead of time.
Questions? Please email us or contact us via this form.
FINAL NOTES ABOUT CAMPING IN THE FALL
One word concerning camping in cold weather: we are going to be camping in the mountains in late Fall. Even if we are in the South, things will get chilly, especially at night: if you are camping in a tent, you will need a warm, good sleeping bag and a good sleeping pad with a high insulation rating (called R rating).
CAMP Smokey 500 Ride
CAMP SMOKEY 500 RIDE - October 16-18
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for CAMP Smokey 500 ride on October 16-18 - Three days of riding off road and motocamping in the Smoky Mountains. 15 riders max.
The Smokey 500 (spelling is intentional) is a 500ish mile long loop in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, mostly off-road (approximately 70% of the route). It is divided in three sections, color coded (see photo here), and is usually ridden in three days, one section per day.
The route can be ridden on big adventure bikes, but it requires off road tires and some skills. It definitely isn't a route you should try if this is your first foray into off-roading. There are rocks, water crossings, dirt and gravel, even if the vast majority of the route is relatively easy.
This ride will be immediately followed by CAMP Smoky S’more (October 19-22), which focuses on paved roads in the area. Book them both and make it a combo.
We will send every attendants plenty of information, the GPX files and everything you need to know about the ride.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
October 15, arrival: campground around Fontana Dam (the Smokey 500 starts in that area).
October 16 - Yellow section of the Smokey 500. Stay at the Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground. Tent Camping does not require reservations. They also have cabins. Food is available on premises, but the campground also has gas grills available for anyone to cook your own food. More info HERE.
October 17 - Green section of the Smokey 500. Stay at Two Wheels of Suches. Tent Camping does not require reservations. More info about the location HERE.
October 18 - Red section of the Smokey 500. Camp in the same location of our first day, TBD.
October 19 - Cosby Campground for CAMP Smokey S'more.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND HOW DO I BOOK?
This is a pay as you go event, i.e. you will be paying individually your camping fees and your food every day as we stop for the night. However, since there are only 15 spots for this CAMP ride, we ask you to pay $10 below to secure your spot.
Please note: this CAMP ride is open to CAMP members only. If you are not a member, please add your membership to your cart together with your ride ticket. Your reservation will not be complete unless you are a member, and your spot will not be secured.
HOW DO I GET THERE AND BACK?
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 2 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to the Smoky Mountains area and back for $300 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
Questions? please email us or contact us via this form.
October Monthly Meeting
OCTOBER CAMP MONTHLY MEETING - CHICAGO
Meet us at Skadarliya, a Balkan restaurant in Brookfield, IL, for our Chicago area October monthly meeting. The meeting is open to both members and non members who want to come and find out what we are about.Sign up
Signing up will be closed by October 9, to give us time to confirm the number of attendants with the restaurant. Please sign up on meetup or let us know via email (info@motocamping.club) that you are planning to attend.
On the agenda:
Update on our last S'more of the season, to the Smoky Mountains.
Update on end of the year activities (trainings, Holidays party)
Update on 2024 season + 2024 membership
Update on members discounts
Eating and socialising
AOB
CAMP Wisconsin Adventure Ride FALL
WHAT, WHEN & WHERE
CAMP FALL 2023 Wisconsin Adventure Ride will take place on September 27 - October 2, 2023.
The Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail is a 650 mile route starting in Galena, IL, and ending at Lake Superior, near the town of Cornucopia, WI. The route is a patchwork of paved roads, forest roads, deep gravel and sandy roads, taking you through the Northern Woods. Exhaustive info on the route is available here, along with answers to many common questions about the route. GPS files for download are available here.
This route is ideal both for those who are just dipping their toes into off roading, and for those with more experience. This is the perfect shakedown to test your skills and your gear before you join us for our Smoky 500 Ride in October.
A riders pack with a day to day itinerary, GPX tracks, essential information and more will be sent to all participants.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
We will be camping 5 nights, in different locations (State parks, commercial campgrounds, national forests). We will be carrying all our gear on our motorcycle. There is no support vehicle.
This is our draft itinerary:
Wednesday, September 27: Arrival Day. Welcome dinner cooked for us at CAMP. Riders meeting.
Thursday, September 28: Paved and unpaved roads through Southern Wisconsin and Iowa. Our Basecamp will be in the Wildcat Mountain State Park, WI. Mileage: 150
Friday, September 29: mostly off road riding, with a lot of gravel, some sand and few single tracks. Camping in the Black River Falls Forest. Mileage: 100.
Saturday, September 30: Paved and unpaved, mostly off road. Camping by the Black Lake, in the Chequamegon National Forest. Mileage: 150.
Sunday, October 1: deep sand is waiting for us for our last day. Lunch at the Delta Diner, and final camping day on the shores of Lake Superior, in Cornucopia, WI. Mileage:150.
Monday, October 2: you ride home or continue wherever you want to go!
WHAT BIKE SHOULD YOU RIDE?
You must bring a dual sport/adventure motorcycle for this ride. All motorcycles need to be street legal, and they need to have a Wisconsin special pass (information will be emailed to all participants on how to get that pass).
The choice of tires is up to you, but having ridden the TWAT a few times, I can tell you that off road tires are a cheap insurance against falls. Personally I recommend 50/50 tires (i.e. designed for 50% off road use and 50% paved use). You won’t need them all the time, but when you need them, in the Northern Section, you will be very happy to have them.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The ride costs $150 per rider. This fee includes camping five nights in State Parks, National forests and Commercial campgrounds; welcome dinner on the first night; t-shirts; info pack with day to day itinerary and information.
Depending on the number of riders involved, we will split the group on the basis of pace/skills. Please note: this ride will take place if there are AT LEAST 7 riders signed up.
Please note that this ride is open to CAMP members only. Not a member? Just add your membership at check out and you are good to go.
Questions about this ride? Contact us or send us an email!
Off Roady Day Practice in WI
Off Roady Day Practice at Richard Bong Recreation Area, WI
Join us for a day of off road practice organized by our Member Josh K at Richard Bong State Park in Wisconsin, just north of the WI-IL border. RSVP on Meetup, here.
This park has off highway motorcycle (OHM) trails, and Josh wants to practice his off road skills. Just to the north of the Park is a unique cidery and orchard, Æppeltreow Winery and Brightonwoods Orchard . The winery is unique because they use pre-prohibition recipes to create their hard ciders.The orchard is not pick-your-own, but emphasizes preserving heirloom varieties.
Bikes must be registered (1) in advance with WI to be allowed use of state off road trails. Registration is $30.Park entrance fee is $11.
For those in the Chicagoland: 10am meet up at the Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, 5337 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60646
THE LAKE JAMES S’MORE, NC
THE LAKE JAMES S’MORE - NEBO, NC, September 22-24
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for a weekend of camping and riding organized in one of the most beautiful State Parks of North Carolina - we will be staying at the Lake James State Park, on September 22-24. Only 35$ per person.
Come for a weekend of riding, sitting around the campfire, water activities, hiking! Every participant will receive a Rider’s Book with a detailed agenda, curated rides and relative GPX files, things to do, logistics.
WHERE
Our base will be the Lake James State Park, in Nebo, NC. This is one of North Carolina's most popular state parks for a variety of activities. Go swimming, sunbathing or enjoy a quiet picnic along the lakeshore. Boat, water ski or fish in the lake's cool mountain waters or take a walk on the wild side and enjoy the beautiful forest wildflowers and abundant wildlife along park trails. Of course, you just may find that your favorite thing to do at Lake James is simply relaxing. The roads are simply spectacular around here and you will be spoiled for choices.
Water and showers available. No electricity at campsites.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $35 per person. This includes your camping spot for 2 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night. Your host, Sarah and Alex, can also cook dinner for you, for an extra $10. Add that request when you book your S’more, and we will follow up.
If you have purchased a CAMP 2023 S’more pass, please note that this S’more is not included in your pass.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member, please add your membership to your cart together with your S’more ticket. Your reservation will not be complete unless you are a member, and your spot will not be secured.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
The plan, in a nutshell, is the following:
Friday, September 22: arrival to our campground.
On Saturday and Sunday you can join daily activities led by one of our members; you can ride solo following one of the itineraries we will share with you in advance; or you can do whatever other activity you want - hiking, relaxing at camp.
On Sunday afternoon we will go back home.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
Questions? please email us or contact us via this form.
The Sleeping Bear S'more
THE SLEEPING BEAR S’MORE - Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore, MI - September 14-17
WHAT AND WHEN
The Sleeping Bear S’more, September 14-17: join us for a long weekend of motocamping in one of the most beautiful (and underrated) areas of the US: Sleeping Bear Dunes, in Michigan. This will be the perfect way to celebrate the end of Summer: riding wonderful paved roads through quaint villages, tubing down the Platte River, laying on the beach (fingers crossed for the weather), eating cherries in Traverse City, drinking wine in the Leelanau Peninsula. Only $50 per person.
Every participant will receive a Rider’s Book with a detailed agenda, curated rides and relative GPX files, things to do, logistics.
WHERE
Our base will be the Platte River Sleeping Bear Dunes campground. This is a gorgeous area and a beautiful campground - we will be surrounded by evergreens, and will enjoy some of the darkest skies of North America.
Flushable toilets, showers, proper bathrooms, water are all available. Our campsite will not have electricity - plan accordingly.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $50 per person. This includes your camping spot for 3 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night. You can addd dinner for Thursday and Friday if you want, for $10 each.
$50: camping spot for the four nights in total (not per night - this is TOTAL, per person)
$10 per dinner on Thursday
$10 per dinner on Friday
If you have a CAMP 2023 S’more pass, please add your code at check out, and the cost of your S’more will be zero (you will still need to pay separately for dinner though). you don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
The plan, in a nutshell, is the following:
Thursday, September 14: we will arrive on Thursday afternoon to the Platte River Sleeping Bear Dunes campground. This is right by where the Platte River meets Lake Michigan. If you cannot make it for Thursday night, no stress, you can join us on Friday night.
There will be a welcome dinner for CAMP members both on Thursday and Friday - these are optional. Free s’mores every night, of course, for everyone.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday you will be able to choose among several activities: you can join daily group rides lead by one of our members along routes we have prepared for you; you can ride solo following one of the itineraries we will share with you in advance; or you can do whatever other activity you want - hiking the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, going to a wine tasting in Traverse City, rent a boat, tube down the Platte River while sipping on a drink.
On Sunday afternoon we will go back home.
Possibility for Chicagoland CAMPers to have their bike transported there and back for a fee - see below.
The event is capped at 25 participants.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member, please add your membership to your cart together with your S’more ticket. Your reservation will not be complete unless you are a member, and your spot will not be secured.
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 2 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $200 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
Please note we will be camping in bear country - there are no grizzlies, only black bears: bear-proof storage is provided at the campground. We will send out information that will help you to familiarize yourself about what to do when camping in bear country ahead of time.
Questions? please email us or contact us via this form.
SEPTEMBER MONTLY MEETING
SEPTEMBER CAMP MONTHLY MEETING - CHICAGO
Meet us at Park and Fields, in Chicago, for our September monthly meeting. The meeting is open to both members and non members who want to come and find out what we are about.
Please sign up on meetup or let us know via email (info@motocamping.club) that you are planning to attend.
On the agenda:
Update on CAMP 2023 motocamping season
Update on Trainings and Seminars.
Update on CAMP MotoGP Fantasy League
Update on CAMP Bookclub.
Update on members discounts.
Eating and socialising.
AOB
The Great Sand Dunes S’more, Colorado
THE GREAT SAND DUNES S’MORE, COLORADO - AUGUST 26-28
WHAT AND WHEN
Would you like to ride your motorcycle on the biggest sand dunes of North America? Join us for a weekend of motocamping INSIDE the Great Sand Dunes national park in Colorado. Only $35 per person!
Every participant will receive a Rider’s Book in advance with details about the mapped roads, things to do, logistics.
WHERE
Our base will be the Pinon Flats Campground inside the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The campground is situated among pinon pines and sagebrush beneath the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Most sites have beautiful views of the snow-covered peaks. This is the perfect base for a variety of activities including: hiking, sand boarding and sand sledding, bathing in the Medano creek, enjoying the dark skies. And clearly, we will be riding too.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $35 per person. This includes your camping spot for 2 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member, please add your membership to your cart together with your S’more ticket. Your reservation will not be complete unless you are a member, and your spot will not be secured.
CAMP Colorado BDR Ride
CAMP COLORADO BDR RIDE - August 21-25
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for CAMP Colorado Backcountry Discovery Ride (BDR), on August 21-25 - five days of riding off road and motocamping along the gorgeous setting of Colorado’s mountains.
This ride is immediately after CAMP Colorado S’more (August 16-21), and we recommend you attend that too if you are planning to do the BDR ride.
The Colorado BDR is a sub 700 miles ride that includes dirt, rocks, sand and water crossings, all at very high altitude, extending from the Four Corners (Colorado/New Mexico/Utah/Arizona intersection) to the Wyoming border. It is considered an “intermediate” off road ride, and it requires skills, appropriate tires (fifty/fifty recommended) and an appropriate motorcycle (adventure, dual sport). It definitely isn't a route you should try if this is your first foray into off-roading.
We will send every attendants plenty of information, the GPX files and everything you need to know about the ride.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
The plan is to ride five of the six sections of the Colorado BRD, North/South (*). Starting on August 21 in the morning in Steamboat Springs, we will ride one section a day until we reach Dolores, at the Four Corners, on August 25, spending our last night in Durango. We will be camping every night in a different place.
On the 26 we will go back to our respective homes. Please note - there will be the possibility to have your motorcycle trailered from the Chicagoland to the Denver/Estes Park area and back for a fee.
You have two options to join this ride:
Join the Colorado S’more, on August 16-21, get acclimated with with riding at high altitude for two-three days, head to Steamboat Springs on August 20 in the evening, and start riding the BDR on the 21. This is recommended, because it gives your body the time to get accustomed to riding at 11K feet plus…
Join us directly in Steamboat Springs in the evening of August 20, ready to ride the BDR on the 21st.
(*) We are skipping one of the six sections of the Colorado BDR, the one that from Steamboat Springs goes to the Wyoming border.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND HOW DO I BOOK?
This event only costs $155 per rider. This includes all your nights of camping, plus a rider book with plenty of information about the ride. We will also have pre ride meetings/briefings.
Please note: this CAMP ride is open to CAMP members only. If you are not a member, please add your membership to your cart together with your ride ticket. Your reservation will not be complete unless you are a member, and your spot will not be secured.
HOW DO I GET TO STEAMBOAT SPRINGS AND BACK?
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 2 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to the Denver/Estes Park area and back for $400 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
WHAT’S THE DRAFT DAY TO DAY ITINERARY?
AUGUST 20 - We get to Steamboat Springs in the evening, either as a group from our Colorado S’more, or individually. Camping location will be provided to all participants.
AUGUST 21 - 120 miles from Steamboat Springs to Eagle. Highlights of the day will the Stagecoach Reservoir, the Colorado River and our first water crossing.
AUGUST 22 - 136 miles will take us to Buena Vista. Sandy tracks, alpine passes and wonderful vistas all day long.
AUGUST 23 - our longest day, 144 miles, will take us to Lake City. Several alpine passes, mining towns.
AUGUST 24 - only 64 miles to Telluride, but full of breathtaking views. This is a whole day affair, despite the short mileage.
AUGUST 25 - 90 miles down to the Four Corners of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. Then last night in Durango.
AUGUST 26 - going back wherever home is. Only 300 miles from Denver, and then from there wherever you need to be.
Questions? please email us or contact us via this form.
The Colorado S’more
THE COLORADO S’MORE - August 16-21
WHAT AND WHEN
The Colorado S’more, August 16-21: join us for our longest s’more of the year - five days of motocamping inside the Rocky Mountains National Park and riding wonderful PAVED roads! Only $80 per person.
Looking for dirt options? Make it a combo - join us also for our CAMP Colorado BDR Ride, which will start from the same Colorado S’more location on Monday, August, 21.
Every participant will receive a Rider’s Book in advance with details about the mapped roads, things to do, logistics.
WHERE
Our base will be the Glacier Basin Campgrounds in the Rocky Mountains National Park. This is a PRIMITIVE campground: there is running drinkable water and there are flushing toilets, but no showers and no electricity. Plan accordingly. This is the perfect base for riding, hiking, and all other activities available in the area.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $80 per person. This includes your camping spot for 5 nights, access pass to the Rocky Mountains National Park, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night. You can addd dinner for Wednesday and Thursday, if you want, for $10 each.
$80: camping spot for the five nights in total (not per night - this is TOTAL)
$10 per dinner on Wednesday
$10 per dinner on Thursday
If you have a CAMP 2023 S’more pass, please add your code at check out, and the cost of your S’more will be zero (you will still need to pay separately for dinner though). you don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member, please add your membership to your cart together with your S’more ticket. Your reservation will not be complete unless you are a member, and your spot will not be secured.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
The plan, in a nutshell, is the following:
We will arrive on Wednesday afternoon at our campground inside the Rocky Mountains National Park, in Estes Park, CO. After setting up camp, there will be a camping welcome dinner for CAMP members (and s’mores of course…). If you can’t arrive on Wednesday, no stress - we will have a welcome dinner for the latecomers arriving on Thursday.
On Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday you will be able to choose among several activities: you can join daily group rides lead by one of our members along routes we have prepared for you; you can ride solo following one of the itineraries we will share with you in advance; or you can do whatever other activity you want - hiking in the park, white water rafting, swinging in a hammock under a ponderosa tree, visit town.
On Monday morning we will go back home, or you can join our Colorado BDR ride (spots are limited).
Possibility for Chicagoland CAMPers to have their bike transported there and back for a fee - see below.
The event is capped at 24 participants.
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 2 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $650 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there? Good news: you can take advantage of CAMP Membership Plus, which includes 4 days of rental of any of Temple of Moto motorcycles (BMW GS, BMW R, Triumph Scrambler, MV Agusta). Your bike would be waiting for you at camp.
Questions? please email us or contact us via this form.
Heavy Enduro Off Road Training with CAMP
Join us for a CAMP exclusive off road training day with Heavy Enduro: SATURDAY, August 12, 2023.
This is a one day training you take on your own motorcycle, with 6 available spots, CAMP members only, first come first serve. CAMP members pay only $250 per person vs the regular cost of $300.
This training session is right before CAMP Colorado BDR Ride, scheduled on August 21-25 - you would be a fool to miss this training if you are registered for that ride, as this would give you a last chance to get trained or to come test your gear and your bike before you leave on your off road adventure.
To book your spot, just email us and we will give you instructions on how to pay your quota of $250. (Please note: saying "I want a spot" and not paying does not save you a spot). If you would like to join this exclusive training day and you are not a CAMP member, that's easy to fix: our annual membership is only $40 a year. Get your membership here.
Participants will be sent detailed instructions about gear, time and location.
July Monthly Meeting
JULY CAMP MONTHLY MEETING - CHICAGO
Meet us at Park and Fields, in Chicago, for our JULY monthly meeting. The meeting is open to both members and non members who want to come and find out what we are about. Please sign up ON MEETUP or let us know via email (info@motocamping.club) that you are planning to attend.
On the agenda:
Update on CAMP 2023 motocamping season: new S'mores!
Update on Trainings and Seminars.
Update on CAMP MotoGP Fantasy League
Update on CAMP Bookclub.
Update on members discounts.
Eating and socialising.
AOB
The Upper Peninsula S’more, Michigan
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for a weekend of motocamping and riding paved and/or unpaved roads in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on July 7-10. Only $50 per person.
Every participant will receive a Rider’s Book with a detailed agenda, curated rides and relative GPX files, things to do, logistics.
WHERE
We will stay at the Marion Lake Campground, in Watersmeet, Michigan's Upper peninsula (375 miles/6 hours from Chicago; 280 miles / 4.5 hours for Milwaukee; 300 miles and 5 hours from Minneapolis). We will have a whole campground by ourselves, right by a lake in a wonderful lush forest. You will be able to come back to camp, park your bike next to your tent and go for a swim fifty feet away. I promise you will think you are in the remote wilderness of Alaska while you are there.
This is a primitive campsite, with limited facilities - there are picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, drinkable water, but no electricity and no sewage. Although there are no showers, we are trying to arrange for portable showers for all attendants - no guarantees.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $50 per person. This includes your camping spot for 3 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night. You can addd dinner for Thursday if you want, for $10.
$50: camping spot for the four nights in total (not per night - this is TOTAL, per person)
$10 per dinner on Thursday
If you have a CAMP 2023 S’more pass, please add your code at check out, and the cost of your S’more will be zero (you will still need to pay separately for dinner though). you don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member, you can buy your membership here.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
The plan, in a nutshell, is the following:
Friday, July 7: we will arrive on Friday afternoon to Marion Lake Campground.
There will be an optional welcome dinner for CAMP members on Friday. Free s’mores every night, of course, for everyone.
On Saturday and Sunday you will be able to choose among several activities. You can join daily paved and unpaved group rides lead by one of our members along routes we have prepared for you:
Paved roads: there will be group rides to Copper Harbor, Porcupine Mountain State Areas and everything in between. GPX files will be provided in advance in case you don’t want to join a group ride.
Unpaved: this area is ripe with forest/dirt roads passing by small alpine lakes, and they start right off our campground. We will give you GPX files, but there will be local guides leading shorter and longer rides in the woods.
Other activities available: you don’t want to ride and you would rather do something else? You are in luck: there is a swimming beach right at campsite; there are hiking trails connecting 34 little lakes in the Sylvania wilderness area; you can go kayaking, canoeing, fishing, cycling/mountain biking.
On Monday we will go back home (but you can leave on Sunday, if you prefer).
Possibility for Chicagoland CAMPers to have their bike transported there and back for a fee - see below.
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 2 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $200 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
Please note we will be camping in bear country - there are no grizzlies, only black bears. We will send out information that will help you familiarize yourself about what to do when camping in bear country ahead of time.
JUNE Monthly Meeting + GPX Training
June Monthly Meeting + GPX Route planning training
Join us for CAMP June monthly meeting on June 21st, at 6,30pm at Top Gear Powersports, the new Moto Guzzi and Aprilia motorcycle dealer in Roselle, IL. This meeting will be a special one, as we will also have a training on how to build your GPX files and then import them onto your GPS/phone.
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
Review and status of bookings for all our S'mores
Upcoming seminars and trainings
Update on members discounts
GPX Training!
Eating and socialising
Michele - founder of CAMP - The Motocamping Club and owner of motorcycle touring company Temple of Moto - will teach you how you can build your GPX routes using the desktop version of REVER and how you can then import these files in different ways onto your GPS unit or your phone, using different apps. The training will NOT touch Garmin Basecamp (the proprietary software that Garmin uses to plan rides on your desktop), but it will include how to input your GPX files prepared on Rever (or other systems) on your Garmin Zumo XT, using the desktop or your phone.
The meeting and the training are free, and the fine folks at Top Gear Motorsports will also offer us dinner. The event is open to both CAMP members and non members. However you need to “buy” your free spot below - the system will ask you to input your credit card, but the cost is zero. There are only 25 spots, first come, first serve - please only sign up if you are planning to attend.
CAMP Blue Ridge Monthly meeting
CAMP BLUE RIDGE Monthly Meeting
Join CAMP Blue Ridge for our next monthly meeting at Eluvium Brewing in Weaverville, NC on June 12 at 5:30pm.
CAMP - The Motocamping Club has over 10 motocamping events planned for 2023 (5 of which in the Appalachian area - look them up here), lots of social events, trainings and much more. Everyone is welcome, regardless of what motorcycle they own or what experience they have motocamping.
RSVP on Meetup or by sending us an email!
The Devil’s Lake S’more, Devil’s Lake State Park, WI
THE DEVIL’S LAKE S’MORE - Devil’s Lake State Park, June 9-11
WHAT AND WHEN
Join us for a weekend of motocamping and riding at Devil’s Lake State Park, in Wisconsin, on June 9-11. Only $35 per person.
This is another new destination for CAMP, and one that was overwhelmed requested by our members. The park is less than 200 miles from Chicago, 120 from Milwaukee and 230 miles from Minneapolis, and offers
Every participant will receive a Rider’s Book with a detailed agenda, curated rides and relative GPX files, things to do, logistics.
WHERE
Our base will be the campground at Devil’s Lake Park, in Wisconsin. Situated along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Devil's Lake State Park offers magnificent views from 500-foot quartzite bluffs overlooking a 360-acre lake. The riding in the area is as good as Midwest riding gets. Tired of riding? 30 miles of hiking trails, lakeshore picnic areas, swimming beaches, paddling opportunities. Sounds like fun?
The campground we will be staying at is completely wooded, one mile from the lake, and NON electric. Bathrooms, showers and water are available, together with fire rings and picnic tables.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?
This S’more only costs $35 per person. This includes your camping spot for 2 nights, curated rides with relative GPX files and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area, firewood and s’mores every night. You can addd dinner on Friday for $10.
$35: camping spot for two nights in total (not per night - this is TOTAL, per person)
$10 per dinner on Friday
If you have a CAMP 2023 S’more pass, please add your code at check out, and the cost of your S’more will be zero (you will still need to pay separately for dinner though). you don’t have a S’more pass, buy you are interested in it? Find out more and get yours here.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member please add your membership to your cart before you pay for your S’more. Your S’more reservation will not be completed unless you are a member.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
The plan, in a nutshell, is the following:
Friday, JUNE 9: we will arrive to our campground - We will set up camp and there will be a welcome dinner. Free s’mores every night, of course, for everyone.
On Saturday and Sunday you will be able to choose among several activities: you can join daily group rides lead by one of our members along routes we have prepared for you; you can ride solo following one of the itineraries we will share with you in advance; or you can do whatever other activity you want - hiking, relaxing at camp, sunbathing at the beach, paddling.
On Sunday afternoon we will go back home.
Possibility for Chicagoland CAMPers to have their bike transported there and back for a fee - see below.
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 2 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $100 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
You would like to join but don’t have a suitable motorcycle? Become a CAMP Plus member, and you get 4 days of motorcycle rental included in your membership.
Questions? please email us or contact us via this form.
CAMP Wisconsin Adventure Ride
WHAT, WHEN & WHERE
CAMP 2023 Wisconsin Adventure Ride will take place on May 24-29, 2023.
The Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail is a 650 mile route starting in Galena, IL, and ending at Lake Superior, near the town of Cornucopia, WI. The route is a patchwork of paved roads, forest roads, deep gravel and sandy roads, taking you through the Northern Woods. Exhaustive info on the route is available here, along with answers to many common questions about the route. GPS files for download are available here.
This route is ideal both for those who are just dipping their toes into off roading, and for those with more experience. This is the perfect shakedown to test your skills and your gear before you join us for our Colorado BDR Ride in August and our Smoky 500 Ride in October.
A riders pack with a day to day itinerary, GPX tracks, essential information and more will be sent to all participants.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
We will be camping 5 nights, in different locations (State parks, commercial campgrounds, national forests). We will be carrying all our gear on our motorcycle. There is no support vehicle.
This is our draft itinerary:
Wednesday, May 24: Arrival Day, Galena. Camping at the Palace Campground in Galena. Welcome dinner cooked for us at CAMP. Riders meeting.
Thursday, May 25: Paved and unpaved roads through Southern Wisconsin and Iowa. Our Basecamp will be in the Wildcat Mountain State Park, WI. Mileage: 150
Friday, May 26: mostly off road riding, with a lot of gravel, some sand and few single tracks. Camping in the Black River Falls Forest. Mileage: 100.
Saturday, May 27: Paved and unpaved, mostly off road. Camping by the Black Lake, in the Chequamegon National Forest. Mileage: 150.
Sunday, May 28: deep sand is waiting for us for our last day. Lunch at the Delta Diner, and final camping day on the shores of Lake Superior, in Cornucopia, WI. Mileage:150.
Monday, May 29: you ride home or continue wherever you want to go!