Camping With Bigfoot: True Encounter Story In Illinois Woods

Justin Harmon recalls a True Bigfoot Encounter while camping with his brothers in Southern Illinois.

In the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest, tales of elusive creatures like Bigfoot have captivated imaginations for decades.

While many dismiss Bigfoot as a mythical creature, some claim to have had real encounters.

This article shares a gripping account of camping with Bigfoot – a true story that raises questions about what might genuinely roam the wilderness.

As Tyler Bounds, a Bigfoot investigator, puts it, searching for Bigfoot is “camping with a purpose.”

It encourages campers to be more aware of their surroundings, pay attention to unusual sights and sounds, and engage with nature more deeply.

For many enthusiasts, the pursuit of Bigfoot is less about proving its existence and more about the journey itself. It’s an opportunity to explore remote areas, appreciate wildlife and natural beauty, and keep an open mind to the possibilities of the unknown.

Bigfoot Description

A mysterious, rarely-seen forest dweller that has captured the imagination of outdoor enthusiasts and researchers alike.

Bigfoot represents the unknown in nature, a creature that blurs the line between myth and reality. It’s often associated with remote wilderness areas, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, though sightings have been reported across North America.

This elusive being is typically portrayed as a tall, hairy, bipedal humanoid standing over eight feet tall and powerfully built.

Bigfoot Skepticism

While Bigfoot remains an intriguing subject for many, the scientific consensus is that there is no conclusive evidence supporting the existence of such a creature.

Despite decades of searching, no definitive physical evidence like a body, bones, or DNA has been found to prove Bigfoot’s existence.
Many reported Bigfoot sightings can be explained by misidentification of known animals, hoaxes, or the human tendency to see patterns where none exist.
Despite the widespread availability of high-quality cameras and increased surveillance of wilderness areas, clear photographic or video evidence remains elusive.
The scientific community generally regards Bigfoot as a combination of folklore, misidentification, and hoaxes rather than a real biological entity.
The idea of Bigfoot taps into human imagination and cultural concepts, reflecting our fascination with the unknown and our relationship to nature.
The Bigfoot phenomenon has been plagued by numerous hoaxes and fake videos, especially in the age of social media, making it difficult to separate potential evidence from deliberate fabrications.
There’s no clear ecological niche or sustainable population that could support a large, undiscovered primate in North American forests.

The Setting

Our story unfolds in a secluded campsite deep within the towering conifers and ancient ferns of the Olympic National Forest.

A family of campers embarked on a weekend excursion, eager to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse themselves in the tranquility of nature.

Little did they know that their peaceful retreat would soon take an unexpected turn.

Camping With Bigfoot: True Story

I wasn’t sure how I was going to start this story. I’ve always been one to embrace superstitions. My uncles would tell my brothers and me stories when I was growing up.

They told stories of someone they knew who had spotted Bigfoot at the north end of one of the state parks we used to go to.

I always thought about that. I thought about going to the north end, where the trees were so thick that at the brightest part of the day, nothing more than a foot’s distance could be seen in front of you.

I imagined being brave and venturing into the forest to find the Bigfoot.

I never actually did, of course, but I probably would if I found my way back. This may or may not have affected what happened on the camping trip I am about to tell you about, and I felt it might be worth mentioning.

One thing is sure. If it did, it happened to all of us.

We set up camp around noon on a beautiful late summer day. One of our cousins came with my brothers and Uncle on this trip; it was her first time camping with us. I’m unsure how old we were, but I think I was around 10 or 11.

My two brothers, one likely 13, the other 7, and our cousin 13 were all stoked to get to our destination. We loved the sense of adventure when with our Uncle.

Our best times as kids were hanging out and camping with our Uncle. He used to pick out various spots deep in the woods to camp with us. This spot, in particular, we had been to once before with no eventful occurrences I can recall.

Making a Campfire In the Woods

We usually started the day by finding kindling to add to the wood my Uncle would chop for the night’s fire. Shortly after arriving and picking up as many sticks as our little arms could carry, my cousin said something, which I immediately responded to.

She said she felt like someone was watching her. The hairs on my neck were already standing up before this, but I got a little scared after she said it. We went to meet with my brothers to investigate.

We looked around the camp, searching for signs of other people, houses, and animals, yet nothing. Nothing was there. We were in the middle of nowhere, 3+ miles from any road.

The day moved on, but something didn’t feel right. I was getting a bad vibe, something I knew wasn’t right. I remember feeling like I should have looked over my shoulder constantly.

Sure, my cousin had said something earlier that didn’t help, but why was a “sixth sense“ seemingly telling me something? I didn’t know what it was.

After setting up camp, we all decided to walk down this very close trail. After walking for about 10 minutes, we came to this clearing.

The trail stopped and opened into a large field with a single red barn on top of a hill. This was odd as no houses or roads for a few miles existed. The strange feeling returned, and it came to us this time.

After deliberating whether to check it out, we returned to camp. For the rest of the day, we just talked. As night approached and the sun finally set, we stayed close to the campfire and started to forget.

Forget the notion that something strange was going on. Then it happened!

My Uncle was partially standing or sitting on the hood of his car when he felt it move. He said the front felt like it was dropping. I remember him thinking it was his brother trying to sneak into us.

Our other Uncle was the only one who knew about this particular camping spot. It happened again! This time, we could see the car dip, and it would have taken three or four men to make it drop that far.

The hood was hitting the dirt, and my Uncle slid off.

Not knowing what to do, we heard thuds of something running behind the car. We were frozen with fear, and there was nothing we could do. Our only weapon was an Ax, laid next to a tree.

Suddenly – the most frightening moment of my life was before me.

Meeting Bigfoot

A HUGE dark figure appeared behind the fire. Still frozen with fright, we could only look on as this strange creature stared at us with some of the most prominent reddest eyes we had ever seen.

I can remember the only visible features of this creature were its red eyes and white hair on its broad shoulders.

Rather than the expected fear, an inexplicable calm settled over me as I locked eyes with the legendary creature.

The encounter lasted for several minutes, and the creature observed the group with an almost intelligent curiosity.

Witnesses described the creature’s eyes as deep and expressive, suggesting a level of sentience beyond that of a wild animal.

The campers noted the creature’s massive size, estimated to be well over seven feet tall, with broad shoulders and a distinct humanoid shape.

Its movements were deliberate and calculated, leaving an indelible impression on those fortunate (or perhaps unfortunate) enough to witness this rare spectacle.

As suddenly as it appeared, the enigmatic figure melted back into the shadows, leaving the campers in awe and disbelief.

The forest, once again, embraced the silence broken only by the crackling embers of the dying fire.

We could hear trees falling as they ran into the night. It was moving fast, so we started moving more quickly. We grabbed what we could with our hands, shaking with fear, not knowing if it would return.

At that moment, the worst-case scenario happened. The car didn’t start. Uncle tried again, but it still didn’t start. One more time, yet nothing. We jumped into the car, ready to tear away like something fierce.

After the fourth attempt, the miniature Cavalier finally started, and we were gone.

We returned to my Uncle’s house around 4 in the morning. We tried to make sense of what happened but could only agree that it had to be Bigfoot, and there was nothing else that the creature resembled.

The group, still processing the surreal encounter, struggled to articulate the magnitude of what they had just experienced.

After daybreak and no way to fall asleep with the phenomenon, we decided to go back for our tents and equipment that we left.

When we arrived, everything looked intact. Searching around the perimeter, we found our cooler tipped over and emptied with soda and an open loaf of bread scattered across the dirt. One of the tents was on its side.

Some trees that stood the day before were knocked over to confirm what we heard that night. We gathered everything up without incident and left.

Many years have passed, and I have told the story to only a few people. To this very day, neither I nor my brother nor cousin have returned to that spot deep in the woods.

My Uncle went by himself a few years later without any incident.

The supernatural disturbance that could only be defined as Bigfoot still lingers with me. I wonder about that day when I heard a strange story or scary phenomenon.

Was it Bigfoot that I encountered? Or was it a correlation of events that day that made an average animal appear to be something more? I guess we will never know.

Have you ever encountered a Bigfoot?

Camping With Bigfoot Conclusion

The account of camping with Bigfoot remains a vivid memory for those there, challenging preconceived notions about the boundaries between myth and reality.

While skeptics may dismiss such stories as mere folklore, those who have encountered the mysterious creature insist that there are aspects of our world that defy explanation.

As the debate over Bigfoot’s existence continues, tales like these add a layer of intrigue to the vast and unexplored wilderness, inviting us to contemplate the mysteries that may still lurk in the shadows of the natural world.

About the Author: Justin Harmon writes for Unplugged Recreated. He believes everyone deserves fulfillment in life. We can do it by changing our world.