| Bell Mountain Wilderness | |
|---|---|
| IUCN category Ib (wilderness area) | |
 View east to Lindsey Mountain from glade on Bell Mountain, November 2010 | |
  | |
| Location | Iron County, Missouri, United States |
| Nearest city | Potosi, Missouri |
| Coordinates | 37°37′53″N 90°52′37″W / 37.63139°N 90.87694°W / 37.63139; -90.87694 |
| Area | 9,027 acres (37 km) |
| Established | 1980 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The United States Congress designated the Bell Mountain Wilderness in 1980. The wilderness area now has a total of 9,027 acres (36.53 km). Bell Mountain is located within the Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest, south of Potosi, Missouri in the United States. The wilderness lies in the Saint Francois Mountains 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 12 miles (19 km) 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.
See also
- List of mountain peaks of Missouri
- Devils Backbone Wilderness
- Hercules-Glades Wilderness
- Irish Wilderness
- Mingo Wilderness
- Paddy Creek Wilderness
- Piney Creek Wilderness
- Rockpile Mountain Wilderness
References
- "Iron County Place Names, 1928–1945 (archived)". The State Historical Society of Missouri. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
External links
- "Bell Mountain Wilderness Brochure" (PDF). USDA Forest Service. Retrieved February 5, 2006.
