Upland Island Wilderness
By 1930, loggers had chopped down almost all the pine with any commercial value, leaving behind a few small "islands" of immature trees and remnants of sawmill sites. A dense cover of second-growth pines and hardwoods now fills out the Wilderness, while the more stately longleaf pines have established fiefdoms on the wide, flat ridge tops. Upland Island may be the most interesting Texas national forestland acreage, with flora ranging from the carnivorous pitcher plant to wild azaleas and rose pogonias, a member of the orchid family. The "upland" portion, to the south, rises only a few hundred feet above sea level.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Texas |
| Size | 13,248 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 31.08° N, 94.36° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
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 3 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Trinity 9616
40 mi from the center point · 145 acres · 0% contained
- PrescribedRx Polk 9275
42 mi from the center point · 900 acres · 0% contained
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
- 8.7 miGibbs--Flournoy House ↗Manning, TX
- 13.3 miSmyth, Andrew, House ↗Jasper, TX
- 14.7 miDoom, Col. Randolph C., House ↗Jasper, TX
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Texas
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 Upland Island Wilderness?
13,248 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Upland Island Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Upland Island Wilderness in?
Texas.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Upland Island Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Upland Island 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 Upland Island Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 31.082° N, 94.358° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Upland Island Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Trinity 9616 at 40 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Upland Island Wilderness?
The National Register has 3 listings within 15 miles, including Gibbs--Flournoy House and Smyth, Andrew, House.
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.