Devils Backbone Wilderness
A long, narrow ridge (the backbone) supports the center of this Wilderness, with 1,020 feet at its highest elevation. Thirteen miles of maintained foot and horse trails follow the Devils Backbone and four...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Missouri |
| Size | 6,691 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.7369, -92.1528 |
| 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
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, refreshed September 18, 2026. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- WildfireAr State Assist Advance
42 mi from the center point · 150 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
- 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.
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?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is North Fork Recreation Area, 0.2 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 Devils Backbone Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.737, -92.153. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Devils Backbone Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-18, the nearest Ar State Assist Advance at 42 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Devils Backbone 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 Devils Backbone Wilderness?
6 National Register 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.