Hike or Backpack Missouri's Irish Wilderness | Mark Twain National Forest

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The 16,277-acre Irish Wilderness is a dense forest of oaks and hickory that was designated in 1984. Here you'll find sinkholes, disappearing streams that reappear downstream, and Whites Creek Cave, (please note that Whites Creek Cave is closed to the public).

Wilderness Area History

In the mid 1800’s a Catholic priest dreamed of a place where Irish immigrants could escape the oppression of urban life in St. Louis. In this wild area of the Ozarks, Father Hogan established a settlement that would forever bear their name, Irish Wilderness. The Irish Wilderness, caught in the middle of the Civil War, became a “no man’s land” and was raided by both Union and Confederate troops as well as bushwhackers (highwaymen). It is not certain what happened to Father Hogan’s Irish immigrants, but after the war they were gone.

After the Civil War the area was logged, farmed and grazed until it couldn’t support vegetation before being abandoned. The land was purchased by the USDA Forest Service when the Mark Twain was created. During the 1930’s it was replanted by the CCC.

Terrain and Topography

This area has karst topography, with many sinkholes, caves, sinks and seeps. Located within the wilderness are Fiddler and Bliss Springs, off the Whites Creek Trail. There are short spur trails that lead to each of them.

The area is generally rolling hills with steeper bluffs located near the Eleven Point Wild and Scenic River. Whites Creek flows through the wilderness and flows year-round and flows into the Eleven Point River.

Trails

The major way of travel within the Irish Wilderness is the 18.6 mile Whites Creek Trail.

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Hike or Backpack Missouri's Irish Wilderness | Mark Twain National Forest