Mingo Wilderness is an 8,000 acre (32 km
2)
U.S. Wilderness Area located in southeastern
Missouri
Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...
in the
Mingo National Wildlife Refuge. It was established and governed under the
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 () is a federal land management statute meant to protect U.S. Wilderness Area, federal wilderness and to create a formal mechanism for designating wilderness. It was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Socie ...
of 1964. While the public is invited to engage in recreational opportunities such as fishing, hiking, canoeing, and wildlife observation, all uses are primitive and nondestructive and all access is by either foot traffic or nonmotorized boat.
A special auto tour that runs around the perimeter of the Wilderness Area is open on Saturdays and Sundays in April, October, and November.
The following specific activities are permitted in the Wilderness Area:
* Hiking and backpacking: Most hiking is associated with and used as the means to accomplish other activities such as wildlife observation, berry picking, or fishing. There are no established hiking trails in the Wilderness Area.
* Fishing: Most fishing is done from small boats and canoes or from the bank. Fishing pressure is usually heaviest during the spring and summer months, especially on week-ends. Boat motors are prohibited in the Wilderness Area.
* Wildlife Observation: Wildlife and wild lands observation is a popular activity in the Wilderness Area. Deer, wild turkey, raccoon, migratory birds and other wildlife are readily seen in this area.
* Environmental Education and Interpretation: groups such as school and college classes are allowed to use the Wilderness area for educational purposes.
See also
*
Bell Mountain Wilderness
*
Devils Backbone Wilderness
*
Hercules-Glades Wilderness
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Irish Wilderness
The Irish Wilderness is a wilderness area in the U.S. State of Missouri. The U.S. Congress designated it a wilderness in 1984. The Irish Wilderness is located within the Eleven Point Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest, northeast ...
*
Paddy Creek Wilderness
*
Piney Creek Wilderness
The Piney Creek Wilderness is an wilderness area in Missouri. The United States Congress designated it wilderness in 1980. The Piney Creek Wilderness is located within the Ava-Cassville-Willow Springs Ranger District of the Mark Twain National ...
*
Rockpile Mountain Wilderness
*
Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
External links
Mingo Wilderness Area
{{Protected Areas of Missouri
IUCN Category Ib
Protected areas of Stoddard County, Missouri
Protected areas of Wayne County, Missouri
Wilderness areas of Missouri