Bald Knob Wilderness
Bald Knob is located at the farthest extreme of the Ozark Uplift. It is separated only by an abandoned dirt road from Clear Springs Wilderness. Together these two wilderness' create a very large area...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Illinois |
| Size | 5,800 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.5537, -89.3735 |
| 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.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 1 is within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedDk West De Rx
16 mi from the center point · 157 acres
- PrescribedBroken Handle A Rx
17 mi from the center point · 112 acres
- PrescribedPropeller Point Rx
18 mi from the center point · 53 acres
- PrescribedPropeller Point Rx
18 mi from the center point · 367 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.
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?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Pine Hills Campground, 1.9 miles out. 1 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Bald Knob Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.554, -89.374. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Bald Knob Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Dk West De Rx at 16 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Bald Knob Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 14 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Bald Knob Wilderness?
23 National Register 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.
- 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.