Burden Falls Wilderness
An intermittent stream spills over Burden Falls, a picturesque series of waterfalls that drop a total of about 100 feet, with a greatest single descent of approximately 20 feet. Burden Creek flows northward toward the Little Saline River. The Wilderness shares its southern boundary with Bay Creek Wilderness, and both exemplify the scenic characteristics of the Shawnee Hills: sandstone ledges overlooking bluffs and cliffs on which dry-land communities of red cedar, farkleberry, and blackjack oak grow. At the bottom of the bluffs, greater soil depth supports post oak and, farther from the cliffs, white oak grows in even deeper soil.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Illinois |
| Size | 3,694 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.58° N, 88.64° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 13) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
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
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedCretaceous Hills State Natural Area Rx
25 mi from the center point · 48 acres
- PrescribedInagheh 1&2 Rx
44 mi from the center point · 62 acres
- PrescribedInagheh 4 & 5 Rx
47 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
- 5.6 miDupont, John, House ↗New Burnside, IL
- 9.1 miSaline County Poor Farm ↗Harrisburg, IL
- 10.7 miHarrisburg City Hall ↗Harrisburg, IL
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Illinois
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Burden Falls Wilderness?
3,694 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Burden Falls Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Burden Falls Wilderness in?
Illinois.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Burden Falls Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Burden Falls Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.582° N, 88.644° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Burden Falls Wilderness right now?
3 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Cretaceous Hills State Natural Area Rx at 25 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Burden Falls Wilderness?
The National Register has 3 listings within 15 miles, including Dupont, John, House and Saline County Poor Farm.
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.