Joe Lake Western Narrows – Campsite #11

I’m not crazy about most sites on the western shore of Joe Lake, but this one in particular is pretty terrible. It’s extremely small and the canoe landing is basically nonexistent in high water levels. The campsite is also very exposed to the elements. The fire pit is about 3 feet away from the waterline, and the one main tent spot is about 5 feet behind the fire pit. That’s the whole site. I didn’t venture inland to see if there was anything else, but it surely didn’t look like there would be. There’s also no privacy while staying at this campsite due to its location on a popular canoe route and the fact that the fire pit and tent spot are right at the waters edge. The only single thing I’ll give the campsite credit for is the large flat rocks beside the fire pit. They’re cool looking and good to use for kitchen prep or to lay out some gear, but otherwise they’re not really functional as seating. This would be a great campsite to stop at for lunch on a sunny day, but I definitely wouldn’t choose to camp here.