The
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...
designated the Bell Mountain Wilderness in 1980. The
wilderness
Wilderness or wildlands (usually in the plural), are natural environments on Earth that have not been significantly modified by human activity or any nonurbanized land not under extensive agricultural cultivation. The term has traditionally re ...
area now has a total of . Bell Mountain is located within the Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger District of the
Mark Twain National Forest
Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) is a U.S. United States National Forest, National Forest located in the southern half of Missouri. MTNF was established on September 11, 1939. It is named for author Mark Twain, a Missouri native. The MTNF cover ...
, south of
Potosi,
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. The wilderness lies in the
Saint Francois Mountains
The St. Francois Mountains in southeast Missouri are a mountain range of Precambrian igneous mountains rising over the Ozark Plateau. This range is one of the oldest exposures of igneous rock in North America.
The name of the range is spelled out ...
and it was named after its highest point, Bell Mountain (elevation: 1,702). The namesake Bell Mountain has the name of Henry Bell, a pioneer settler.
The Bell Mountain Wilderness is one of eight wilderness areas protected and preserved in Missouri. The area is popular for hiking as there are of trail, including a section of the
Ozark Trail.
Bell Mountain Wilderness is part of a large parks-and-wilderness area which includes
Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park,
Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, and several
conservation areas
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...
.
See also
*
List of mountain peaks of Missouri
This article comprises three sortable tables of the significant mountain peaks of Missouri. This article defines a significant mountain peak as a summit with at least of topographic prominence, and a major summit as a summit with at least of ...
*
Devils Backbone Wilderness
The Devils Backbone Wilderness is one of eight wilderness areas protected and preserved in the U.S. State of Missouri. The United States Congress designated the wilderness area in 1980, and it now has a total of 6,595 acres (26 km2). Devil' ...
*
Hercules-Glades Wilderness
The Hercules Glades Wilderness is a wilderness area in Taney County in the Ozarks of southwest Missouri. The United States Congress designated it a wilderness in 1976, making it the oldest wilderness area in Missouri. It is one of eight wilderne ...
*
Irish Wilderness
The Irish Wilderness is a 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, northeast ...
*
Mingo Wilderness
*
Paddy Creek Wilderness
The Paddy Creek Wilderness is a wilderness area in the U.S. state of Missouri, United States. The United States Congress designated it wilderness in 1983. Paddy Creek Wilderness is located within the Houston-Rolla Ranger District, of the Mark Twa ...
*
Piney Creek Wilderness
The Piney Creek Wilderness is an wilderness area in Missouri. The United States Congress designated it wilderness in 1980. The Piney Creek Wilderness is located within the Ava-Cassville-Willow Springs Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Fo ...
*
Rockpile Mountain Wilderness
The Rockpile Mountain Wilderness is a wilderness area in the U.S. state of Missouri in Mark Twain National Forest. It takes its name from an ancient circle of granite rock, piled by some earlier man on top of the mountain. The namesake rock pile m ...
References
External links
*
{{Protected Areas of Missouri
Wilderness areas of Missouri
Protected areas of Iron County, Missouri
IUCN Category Ib
Mountains of Missouri
St. Francois Mountains
Protected areas established in 1980
Mark Twain National Forest