Knob Lick Towersite looks over St. Francois County's glade country

Knob Lick Towersite gives southern St. Francois County a view story. MDC says the 80-acre towersite was purchased from the U.S. Forest Service for a fire-detection tower used to spot wildfires in southern St. Francois and northern Madison counties.

The tower is only part of the point. MDC also describes a small granite glade just south of the lookout tower, with a ground-level view for people who want the scenery without climbing. The glade adds habitat for species tied to open, rocky places.

That helps explain the county’s landscape. St. Francois County is not only mines and towns. It also has old fire-tower country, granite, glades, and open views from hard rock.

For visitors, use MDC for directions and rules. Fire towers and glades can have access limits, and glade habitats are easy to damage if people wander off where they should not.