Burden Falls Wilderness

Burden Falls Wilderness is a 3,740-acre federally protected wilderness area in southern Illinois, managed by the Forest Service. It offers backcountry hiking and backpacking in a primitive setting where motorized travel, mechanized equipment, and maintained roads are prohibited. Visitors come here to experience solitude and quiet in a non-motorized landscape.

As a designated wilderness, the area is subject to Leave No Trace principles and strict management rules. There are no facilities, no trail maintenance beyond wilderness standards, and no shortcuts—you navigate using map and compass, pack out what you pack in, and camp with minimal impact. Access is on foot only. The wilderness is best visited during warmer months when conditions are stable, though the area is generally accessible spring through fall. Winter travel is possible but requires preparedness for cold and wet conditions typical of southern Illinois.