Panther Den Wilderness
Long ago, a large waterway carved the valley now known as Panther Den. The Panther Den Wilderness is the smallest in Illinois, sharing its northern boundary with Crab Orchard Wilderness. Three fingers of Devil's Kitchen Lake extend into the northern section, offering excellent fishing for large and smallmouth bass, crappie, and bluegill. The sandstone bluffs and multilayered rock formations draw canoeists and photographers to the waters of Panther Den. Sheltered overhangs beneath the bluffs provide habitat for the endangered French's shooting star (Dodecatheon frenchii). Common wildlife includes muskrats, deer, and beavers, while mink and bobcats, both endangered in Illinois, have also been spotted.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Illinois |
| Size | 821 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.59° N, 89.08° 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.
Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 6 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Panther Den ↗ | 4.6 | |
| Panther Loop | 1 |
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
21 mi from the center point · 62 acres
- PrescribedInagheh 4 & 5 Rx
23 mi from the center point · 205 acres
- PrescribedCretaceous Hills State Natural Area Rx
39 mi from the center point · 48 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
- 4.6 miGiant City State Park Lodge and Cabins ↗Makanda, IL
- 5.9 miGiant City Stone Fort Site ↗Makanda, IL
- 8.9 mi
- 11 miReef House ↗Carbondale, IL
- 11.1 miFuller, R. Buckminster, and Anne Hewlett Dome Home ↗Carbondale, IL
- 11.1 miIllinois Central Railroad Passenger Depot ↗Carbondale, IL
- 11.3 miStotlar, Ed. M., House ↗Marion, IL
- 11.4 miAllen, Willis, House ↗Marion, 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 Panther Den Wilderness?
821 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Panther Den Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Panther Den Wilderness in?
Illinois.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Panther Den Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Panther Den Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.592° N, 89.080° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Panther Den Wilderness right now?
3 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Inagheh 1&2 Rx at 21 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Panther Den Wilderness?
The National Register has 14 listings within 15 miles, including Giant City State Park Lodge and Cabins and Giant City Stone Fort Site.
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.