Hercules Glades Wilderness, Wilderness area in Missouri, United States.
Hercules Glades Wilderness is a protected landscape in Missouri featuring limestone formations, dense forests, and open grasslands across rolling terrain. The area is defined by steep hills and narrow valleys carved by flowing water over time.
Congress protected this landscape in 1976, designating it as a wilderness area to prevent development and preserve its natural character. This early conservation decision has kept the land in its original state ever since.
The wilderness represents a commitment to environmental preservation, where visitors practice Leave No Trace methods to maintain the natural conditions.
Multiple entry points provide access to 31 miles of maintained trails suitable for hiking and wildlife watching at various difficulty levels. Bring appropriate gear for primitive camping and expect to encounter steep sections that require good physical condition.
Two year-round streams, Long Creek and Cane Creek, flow through the wilderness and serve as natural landmarks for orientation. The two highest points, Coy Bald and Pilot Knob, rise roughly 600 feet (180 meters) above the surrounding landscape.
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