| Irish Wilderness | |
|---|---|
 Irish Wilderness, June 2010 | |
  Location in Missouri  Location in United States | |
| Location | Oregon County, Missouri, United States |
| Nearest city | Fremont, Missouri |
| Coordinates | 36°43′51″N 91°10′30″W / 36.73083°N 91.17500°W |
| Area | 16,277 acres (65.87 km2) |
| Established | May 21, 1984 [2] |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Irish Wilderness is a 16,227-acre (66 km2) wilderness area in the U.S. State of Missouri. The U.S. Congress designated it a wilderness in 1984. The Irish Wilderness is located within the Eleven Point Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Alton, Missouri. The Irish Wilderness is one of eight wilderness areas protected and preserved in Missouri.
Hiking and horseback riding are popular on the White's Creek Trail, an 18.6 miles trail throughout the wilderness. Attractions include White's Creek Cave (temporarily gated to protect endangered bats), Fiddler and Bliss Springs, traces of old tramway railroads, and overlooks of the Eleven Point River. The karst topography of the area creates very scenic views along this trail. Wildlife present include black bear, mountain lion, whitetail deer, timber rattlesnakes, turkey, and bald eagles.[3]
- ^ Protected Area Profile for Irish Wilderness from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved May 2 2023.
- ^ "Irish Wilderness - Applicable Wilderness Law(s) - Public Law 98-289". Wilderness Connect. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
- ^ "Wilderness.net - Irish Wilderness - Laws Affecting This Area". Wilderness.net. Retrieved 22 May 2017.