Clear Springs Wilderness
Clear Springs flows heavily into Hutchins Creek, which separates this area from Bald Knob Wilderness to the south. An abandoned farmstead, complete with rusted-over machinery, stands as a reminder of the...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Illinois |
| Size | 4,739 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.5829, -89.4159 |
| 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
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 1 is within ten miles of it. 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, refreshed September 18, 2026. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedDk West De Rx
18 mi from the center point · 157 acres
- PrescribedBroken Handle A Rx
19 mi from the center point · 112 acres
- PrescribedPropeller Point Rx
19 mi from the center point · 367 acres
- PrescribedRed Shale Bn Rx
19 mi from the center point · 469 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.
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?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Pine Hills Campground, 2.3 miles out. 1 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Clear Springs Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.583, -89.416. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Clear Springs Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-18, the nearest Dk West De Rx at 18 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Clear Springs Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 13 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Clear Springs Wilderness?
22 National Register 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.