Panther Den Wilderness
Panther Den Wilderness is an 821-acre wilderness area in Union County, Illinois. It rises from about 509 to 738 ft. The nearest town is Goreville, 5 miles away in a straight line.
Panther Den Wilderness map
Panther Den 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
- Goreville, IL is the nearest town, 5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Panther Den Wilderness is about 738 ft, and its lowest about 509 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model).
Who manages Panther Den Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 821 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District, 618-833-8576 |
Getting to Panther Den Wilderness
- Goreville, IL is the nearest town, 5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Panther Den Wilderness
- Panther Den (0.24 mi outside the boundary, 699 ft), at 37.5799, -89.0882
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Public lands next to Panther Den Wilderness
- National forest Most of Panther Den Wilderness lies inside Shawnee National Forest.
- National wildlife refugePanther Den Wilderness borders Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.
- Wilderness areaPanther Den Wilderness borders Crab Orchard 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)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.