Wilderness in Missouri?
 Jefferson City, Mo., – Tired of the crowds; the hustle of the city; long waits at the airport; Interstate highways teeming with road-hogging 18-wheelers; fast-food restaurants? Want to rediscover your family all over again? These are all good reasons to enjoy America’s great wilderness areas—right here in Missouri. Wilderness? Missouri? Yes! There are eight congressionally designated Federal Wilderness Areas in Missouri.The Wilderness Act of 1964 describes wilderness in these terms: A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled (not confined or limited) by man; where man himself is a visitor who does not remain . . . an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions . . . generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work substantially unnoticeable . . . has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation . . . shall be devoted to the public purposes of recreation, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation and historic use. Activities within Wilderness Areas may include hiking, backpacking, camping, canoeing, rafting, kayaking, climbing, mountaineering, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing . . . in short, most types of outdoor recreation are allowed. However, mechanical transport, motorboats, cars, trucks, off-road vehicles, bicycles, hang gliders, the landing of aircraft (including helicopters) are prohibited, unless expressly approved for the specific area. Best to check first before you plan your Wilderness activities.
The Irish Wilderness is Missouri’s largest wilderness The Eleven Point River marks the western boundary of The Irish Wilderness. With 16,277 acres of undulating topography, The Irish is Missouri’s largest Wilderness. It offers hiking, backpacking and primitive camping opportunities. The Whites Creek Trail meanders from the Camp Five Trailhead, located 16 miles southwest of Van Buren on Route J, extending 18.6 miles to Whites Creek Trailhead, which is accessible from the Eleven Point River. Allow two days to make the complete round trip. The trail traverses hardwood forests, dried creek beds, springs, grasslands, glades, bluffs with breathtaking views of the river, sinkholes, disappearing streams that reappear downstream, and terrain ranging from flat to rugged. Along the Eleven Point you will find Whites Creek Cave, a spacious walk-in cave with numerous crystalline formations. Let’s talk swamp. Yes, swamp. In Missouri. One mile north of Puxico, on Route 51, you will find the 7,730-acre Mingo Wilderness, which takes up the western one-third of the vast 21,592-acre Mingo National Wildlife Refuge. This is a nature lover’s paradise, where more than 245 species of birds have been recorded, including several year-round nesting bald eagles. The Wilderness, with its diverse habitat and abundant wildlife, is an area highlighted by gentle rolling hills, situated beside Monopoly Marsh with intersecting streams and rich swamplands. Meandering underneath a canvas of cypress and mixed hardwoods, the Mingo River flows out of the Mingo Wilderness into the remainder of the Wildlife Refuge, offering many miles of waterways for easy canoe access. The Refuge contains a variety of habitats, flora and fauna. Hunting and fishing, wildlife observation, camping, canoeing and boating, a 25-mile auto tour and more than 50 miles of hiking trails, including a wheelchair accessible one-mile boardwalk, are available in the Wildlife Refuge. Restrictions and regulations differ between the Wilderness area and the Refuge, so check first. The 9,143-acre Bell Mountain Wilderness, near Potosi, is part of the St. Francois Mountains, one of the oldest landforms in North America. The 12-mile Bell Mountain Trail ascends Bell Mountain. This rugged trail is recommended for experienced hikers only. Elevations range from 1,702 feet at Bell Mountain to 970 feet in the area of Joe’s Creek. Shut-in Creek, a perennial spring-fed stream with several shut-ins along its path, crosses this area. Steep slopes intersect the stream at several locations. Joe’s Creek is another small perennial stream within the Wilderness. An ideal area for day-hikes or overnight backpacking is the Devils Backbone Wilderness, near West Plains. With 6,687 acres, this Wilderness is a unique blend of Missouri Ozark flora and fauna, characterized by rugged topography, springs and the floatable North Fork of the White River. Thirteen miles of maintained foot and horse trails follow the Devils Backbone and four other ridges, dropping off into surrounding hollows in the forest. Four trailheads offer good entry points. Some of the most scenic and unique country in the Midwest is found in the 12,413-acre Hercules-Glades Wilderness, near Bradleyville. There are 32 miles of maintained trails which follow open glades, forested ridge tops and Long Creek; cross country, off-trail hiking is allowed. Key attractions along the trail include Long Creek Falls, panoramic views of the Ozarks countryside, and a variety of open limestone glades and mixed forests. The sparsely marked trails are rated More Difficult to Most Difficult, with steep terrain, stream crossings, and steep elevations. Slightly more than 7,000 acres make up Paddy Creek Wilderness in northwestern Texas County. There are 18 miles of designated trails, with elevation changes of 500 feet between a point near Roby Tower on the western edge of the area, and Paddy Creek as it meets the eastern boundary. Signs and trail marking are minimal or non-existent; the use of a map and a compass is suggested. Piney Creek Wilderness, near Branson, has a total area of 8,178 acres. From Pineview Tower Trailhead on the north, two paths, approximately 1.5 miles each, lead south to Piney Creek. From there, the major east-west trail follows Piney Creek for about four miles. Two other maintained foot and horse trails leave the main trail to head south for a grand total of 13 miles. Portions of the trail system utilize old roads. Using maps and a compass is recommended. An ancient circle of granite rock piled atop of the mountain by early man gives the 4,238-acre Rock Pile Mountain Wilderness its name. Located southwest of Fredericktown, the area is primarily a broken ridge, having steep rocky slopes running from Little Grass Mountain on the north to the National Forest boundary four miles to the south. From the trailhead there is a two-mile section of maintained trail. The rest of the area is accessed by old roads or by cross-country hiking. The area is within the St. Francois Mountains. To insure the quality and values of these Wilderness areas remains intact, please practice good wilderness manners and comply with all regulations. In most of these areas, travel is by foot or horseback only; no motorized or mechanized vehicles are permitted. For details on these wilderness areas, common and uncommon wildlife, usage regulations, maps and entry points, see the U.S. Forestry Service, Mark Twain National Forest Web site. For more information on Missouri vacations, visit www.VisitMo.com or call 800-519-4800 to order a free copy of the Official 2010 Missouri Travel Guide. Links used in this article - Federal Wilderness Areas: |
