Rockpile Mountain Wilderness

Rockpile Mountain Wilderness, the smallest in Missouri, is located in a heavily forested part of the Saint Francois Mountains and nearly surrounded by private land. It is named for a human-made circular granite pile atop Rockpile Mountain. The southwestern boundary is the Saint Francis River, lined with limestone bluffs and caves. Other than the river, no year-round water sources exist, except in five ponds built before wilderness designation to trap intermittent springwater and provide watering holes for wildlife. Heavy rains can create temporary streams cascading through narrow gorges. Notable features include a rare virgin forest with basswood, butternut, Kentucky coffee tree, walnut, sugar maple, and oaks. Wildlife sightings may include white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, squirrels, hawks, and pileated woodpeckers, as well as timber rattlers and copperheads. Visitors can explore two miles of maintained trail starting at Little Grass Mountain, branching into unmarked, abandoned roads for those seeking a deeper backcountry adventure. It is a great place to explore for hikers seeking solitude.