Hercules-Glades Wilderness
Some of the most scenic country in Missouri, perhaps in the Midwest, lies protected by the Hercules Glades Wilderness: open grassland, forested knobs, steep rocky hillsides, limestone outcroppings, a maze...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Missouri |
| Size | 12,423 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.6893, -92.9264 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 14) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
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. 2 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 trailhead. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 2 miHercules Tower Trailhead ↗Trailhead · January to December
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
9 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 30 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Hercules Glade Tower ↗ | 6.4 | |
| Hercules Glades-Pees Hollow ↗ | 5.5 | |
| Hercules Glades- Long Creek ↗ | 5.3 | |
| Hercules Glades-Coy Bald | 4 | |
| Hercules Glades- Blair Ridge | 2.6 | |
| Hercules Glades-Upper Pilot | 1.7 | |
| Hercules Glades-Lower Pilot | 1.5 | |
| Hercules Glade- Middle | 1.3 | |
| Hercules Glades- Pete Hollow | 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
- WildfireAr State Assist Advance
47 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
- 5.8 miSwan Creek Bridge ↗Forsyth, MO
- 13.1 miParnell, Samuel T. and Mary B., House ↗Branson, MO
- 13.3 miBranson City Park Historic District ↗Branson, MO
- 13.9 miDowning Street Historic District ↗Hollister, MO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Hercules-Glades Wilderness?
12,423 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Hercules-Glades Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Hercules-Glades Wilderness in?
Missouri.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Hercules-Glades Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Hercules-Glades Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Beaver Creek, 4.6 miles out. 2 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
Where are the trailheads in Hercules-Glades Wilderness?
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site here, including 1 trailhead. Each one links to its Forest Service page.
Source: Trailheads and sites
How do I get to Hercules-Glades Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.689, -92.926. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Hercules-Glades Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-18, the nearest Ar State Assist Advance at 47 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Hercules-Glades Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 14 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 Hercules-Glades Wilderness?
4 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Swan Creek Bridge and Parnell, Samuel T. and Mary B., 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.
- 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.