Clear Springs Wilderness
Clear Springs Wilderness is a 4,739-acre wilderness area in Union County, Illinois. It rises from about 364 to 895 ft. The nearest town is Alto Pass, 3.9 miles away in a straight line.
Clear Springs Wilderness map
Clear Springs Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Agency fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- Alto Pass, IL is the nearest town, 3.9 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Clear Springs Wilderness is about 895 ft, and its lowest about 364 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model).
Who manages Clear Springs Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 4,739 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District, 618-833-8576 |
Getting to Clear Springs Wilderness
- Alto Pass, IL is the nearest town, 3.9 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Clear Springs Wilderness
- Godwin Trailhead West (inside the boundary, 744 ft), at 37.5830, -89.4317
- Inspiration Point (inside the boundary, 600 ft), at 37.5858, -89.4361
- McCann Springs Trailhead (inside the boundary, 390 ft), at 37.5899, -89.4381
- Crooked Tree (0.18 mi outside the boundary, 814 ft), at 37.5617, -89.4371 (mapped on OpenStreetMap)
- Snake Road North (0.26 mi outside the boundary, 360 ft), at 37.5830, -89.4397
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Trailheads mapped on OpenStreetMap: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License , accessed 2026-09-30. The extract used here, with distances from the boundary: osm-trailheads-il.json. Where an agency layer lists the same trailhead, the agency's point is shown instead.
Public lands next to Clear Springs Wilderness
- National forestClear Springs Wilderness lies inside Shawnee National Forest.
- Wilderness areaClear Springs Wilderness borders Bald Knob Wilderness.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in Illinois
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- apps.fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- openstreetmap.org (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.