Devils Backbone Wilderness
Named for the long, narrow ridge early settlers called the Devils Backbone, this Wilderness area is a distinctive mix of Missouri Ozark flora and fauna, with rugged terrain, spring-fed streams, and the scenic North Fork River. Covering 6,687 acres, Devils Backbone Wilderness is ideal for day hikes or overnight backpacking. Its central ridge rises to a peak of 1,020 feet, with thirteen miles of maintained foot and horse trails following the Backbone and four other ridges, dropping into surrounding hollows shaded by oak, hickory, and shortleaf pine. Elevations range from 1,020 feet to 680 feet along the North Fork of the White River, a high-quality, spring-fed Ozark stream fed by Blue, Amber, and McGarr Springs.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Missouri |
| Size | 6,691 acres |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.74° N, 92.15° 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
6 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 15 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Devils Backbone-Mary Hollow | 4.2 | |
| Devils Backbone-Raccoon Hollow | 3.3 | |
| Devils Backbone-McGarr | 3.1 | |
| Devils Backbone-Collins Ridge | 2.7 | |
| Devils Backbone-Backbone | 1.4 | |
| Blue Spring Trail | 0.7 |
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.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5 miHodgson-Aid Mill ↗Sycamore, MO
- 14.4 miInternational Shoe Company Building ↗West Plains, MO
- 14.8 miElledge Arcade Buildings ↗West Plains, MO
- 14.8 miSmith, W.j. and Ed, Building ↗West Plains, MO
- 14.8 miWest Plains Bank Building ↗West Plains, MO
- 14.9 miMount Zion Lodge Masonic Temple ↗West Plains, MO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Missouri and hiking across the country
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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 Devils Backbone Wilderness?
6,691 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Devils Backbone Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Devils Backbone Wilderness in?
Missouri.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Devils Backbone Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1980.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Devils Backbone 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 Devils Backbone Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.737° N, 92.153° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Devils Backbone Wilderness?
The National Register has 6 listings within 15 miles, including Hodgson-Aid Mill and International Shoe Company Building.
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.