Clear Springs Wilderness
Clear Springs Wilderness, located on the west side of Shawnee National Forest, is one of the largest designated Wilderness areas in Illinois. Elevations range from 400 to over 900 feet, featuring rugged terrain with narrow ridgetops, steep slopes, and scenic creeks winding through the valleys. Adjacent to Bald Knob Wilderness to the south and the LaRue-Pine Hills/Otter Pond Research Natural Area to the west, Clear Springs is also defined by the waters of Hutchins Creek, which flows through the area. At the western boundary, you’ll find stunning views of the Mississippi and Big Muddy Rivers from sheer limestone bluffs that rise 400 feet above the valley floor.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Illinois |
| Size | 4,739 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.58° N, 89.42° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 13) |
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
5 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 15 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Godwin ↗ | 6.8 | |
| Clear Springs/Illinois Ozark | 2.8 | |
| Hutchins Creek | 2.3 | |
| King Hollow | 2 | |
| Bridgeman | 1.3 |
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
2 mi from the center point · 62 acres
- PrescribedInagheh 4 & 5 Rx
5 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
- 4.5 miTower Rock ↗Wittenburg, MO
- 5.2 miUnion Lookout ↗Jonesboro, IL
- 8.2 miConcordia Log Cabin College ↗Altenburg, MO
- 9.4 miBainbridge Ferry ↗Cape Girardeau, MO
- 10.2 miSt. Anne's Episcopal Church ↗Anna, IL
- 10.3 miRiverside Park Bandshell ↗Murphysboro, IL
- 10.3 miStinson Memorial Library ↗Anna, IL
- 10.8 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 Clear Springs Wilderness?
4,739 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Clear Springs Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Clear Springs Wilderness in?
Illinois.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Clear Springs Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Clear Springs 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 Clear Springs Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.583° N, 89.416° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Clear Springs Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Inagheh 1&2 Rx at 2 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Clear Springs Wilderness?
The National Register has 23 listings within 15 miles, including Tower Rock and Union Lookout.
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.