Bald Knob Wilderness
Bald Knob is situated at the farthest edge of the Ozark Uplift, separated from the Clear Springs Wilderness by an abandoned dirt road. Together, these two areas create a vast expanse for backcountry exploration. The old road follows spring-fed Hutchins Creek, which is recognized as one of the highest-quality waterways in Illinois. Hutchins Creek has carved out a wide, flat valley, a rarity in the Ozarks. Beyond the creek, the landscape shifts to more typical Ozark features, including steep slopes (some exceeding 70 degrees), rocky bluffs, and sharp V-shaped creek drainages. As you explore Bald Knob Wilderness, you’ll encounter secluded valleys where a mix of deciduous trees provides shade on hot summer days, making for easy hiking.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Illinois |
| Size | 5,800 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.55° N, 89.37° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 14) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
10 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 22 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Godwin ↗ | 6.8 | |
| Ranbarger Hollow | 3.8 | |
| Hutchins Creek | 2.3 | |
| King Hollow | 2 | |
| Bald Knob | 1.6 | |
| Bald Knob West | 1.5 | |
| Lyerla Chapel | 1.5 | |
| Bridgeman | 1.3 | |
| Lead Mine | 1.1 | |
| Spring House | 0.5 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedInagheh 1&2 Rx
5 mi from the center point · 62 acres
- PrescribedInagheh 4 & 5 Rx
7 mi from the center point · 205 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 2.8 miUnion Lookout ↗Jonesboro, IL
- 7.1 miSt. Anne's Episcopal Church ↗Anna, IL
- 7.3 miStinson Memorial Library ↗Anna, IL
- 7.4 miTower Rock ↗Wittenburg, MO
- 8 miBainbridge Ferry ↗Cape Girardeau, MO
- 8.8 miGiant City State Park Lodge and Cabins ↗Makanda, IL
- 8.9 miSt. Paulus Evangelisch Lutherischen Gemeinde ↗Jonesboro, IL
- 9.1 miGiant City Stone Fort Site ↗Makanda, IL
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Illinois
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Bald Knob Wilderness?
5,800 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Bald Knob Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Bald Knob Wilderness in?
Illinois.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Bald Knob Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Bald Knob Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Bald Knob Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.554° N, 89.374° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Bald Knob Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Inagheh 1&2 Rx at 5 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Bald Knob Wilderness?
The National Register has 24 listings within 15 miles, including Union Lookout and St. Anne's Episcopal Church.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.