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Big Muddy

Illinois

About

Big Muddy is a boat launch in the Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District of Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois, about 5 miles from the town of Grand Tower. Fall is the most comfortable time to get on the water. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Jackson, Missouri, show October highs around 70°F with lows near 46°F, and September and October see the fewest wet days of the year. Several other outings sit within a short drive. Inspiration Point and King Hollow are both hikes about 4 miles away, Pine Hills Campground is about 5 miles off, and the paddling on Indian Creek is roughly 8 miles away across the Missouri line.

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Location

Wolf Lake

Illinois

Data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). View or edit on OpenStreetMap.

Facts about this place

When to go

Best time to go: Apr–May. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 69–78°F and lows of 46–56°F.

Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Jackson, MO weather station, 16 mi away. High / low in °F, and days with snow.

  1. Jan41° high24° low1 days with snow
  2. Feb46° high27° low1 days with snow
  3. Mar57° high35° low
  4. Apr69° high46° low
  5. May78° high56° low
  6. Jun87° high65° low
  7. Jul90° high69° low
  8. Aug89° high67° low
  9. Sep82° high59° low
  10. Oct70° high46° low
  11. Nov55° high35° low
  12. Dec45° high28° low1 days with snow

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020

Where it is

Nearest town
Grand Tower, Illinois · 5.2 mi

Source: USFS EDW boundaries; USGS GNIS populated places

Conditions

Active alerts for Shawnee National Forest as of Oct 9, 2026:

Source: USFS forest alerts

Nearby

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors

    Big Muddy — Boat launch in Illinois | Roamze