Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Midas Tümülüsü (Tumulus MM)
The Devil's Column
Weightlifting Hall of Fame
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Customize your bowl with sliced pork, pork balls, fish cake, and offal.
Rung Rueang
Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.
Lehto’s Pasties
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
3 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
4 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
5 days ago
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Illinois Scales Mound Charles Mound

Charles Mound

This family driveway also serves as the highest point in Illinois.

Scales Mound, Illinois

Added By
Thomas Harper
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Charles Mound   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
Charles Mound   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
Looking to Illinois Farm Country.   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

While the highest natural points of many US states are in parks or other protected areas, the highest point in Illinois is at the top of a family's driveway.

At 1,235 feet above sea level, Charles Mound is the highest elevation one can reach in the state of Illinois. The northwest corner of the state is in a unique geological region called the "Driftless Area," in which the land was not covered by glaciers during the last Ice Age. The resulting area is a uniquely eroded plateau cut with deep river valleys.

The owners of Charles Mound, Wayne and Jean Wuebbels, graciously allow access to interested visitors on the first full weekends of the summer months and Labor Day weekend, only (not including Labor Day itself). All other requests will be denied. These dates are posted at the Highpointers' Club website. The Wuebbels ask that visitors follow these three rules while on their property: 1. Come during daylight hours on the specified dates; 2. No parking up the driveway - please leave vehicles near the gate and walk the 1.2 miles on the driveway to the marker area, and please do not crowd the road as farm equipment may need to pass; and 3. They can't accommodate pets.

At the summit, the Wuebbels have a marker for the benchmark and chairs so visitors can take in the views of Illinois farm country. They have welcomed guests from all over the world at the top of their humble, if long, driveway.

Related Tags

Geographic Markers State High Points

Know Before You Go

From Route 4 in Scales Mound, IL, turn east on W Charles Mound Avenue, then turn north on Charles Mound Road. Drive to the sign that says "688", park at the gate, and walk 1.2 miles up the driveway to the highpoint marker. Once there, please follow the owner's requests:1. Visit during the daylight hours only on the specified dates.2. Keep your vehicles near the gate, not in the driveway. Also, please leave room for farm equipment to pass.3. And please leave pets at home.

Community Contributors

Added By

thomasharper

Edited By

Rachel

  • Rachel

Published

April 30, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • Apex to Zenith, Highpointers Club Newsletter, 1st Quarter 2014
  • http://www.summitpost.org/charles-mound/152963
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driftless_Area
Charles Mound
688 West Charles Mound Road
Scales Mound, Illinois, 61075
United States
42.492281, -90.238291
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Gravity Hill in Wisconsin

Shullsburg, Wisconsin

miles away

The Dowling House

Galena, Illinois

miles away

DeSoto House Hotel

Galena, Illinois

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Illinois

Illinois

United States

Places 368
Stories 18

Nearby Places

Gravity Hill in Wisconsin

Shullsburg, Wisconsin

miles away

The Dowling House

Galena, Illinois

miles away

DeSoto House Hotel

Galena, Illinois

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Illinois

Illinois

United States

Places 368
Stories 18

Related Stories and Lists

The Highest Places in America

List

By Meg Neal

The Summit Scaling Subculture of Highpointing

geographic markers

By Thomas Harper

Related Places

  • Mount Denali

    Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

    Denali

    The king of U.S. high points towers over every other peak on the continent.

  • Mount Rainier

    Ashford, Washington

    Mount Rainier

    The highest point in Washington state is a volcano covered in glaciers.

  • Gannett Peak

    Cora, Wyoming

    Gannett Peak

    The easiest way to the highest point in Wyoming is only accessible via one hefty fee.

  • Mount Hood

    Government Camp, Oregon

    Mount Hood

    Despite a legend that says this highest peak in Oregon was climbed in high heels, scores of people have died on its slopes.

  • Granite Peak

    Granite Peak

    The highest point in Montana is as rugged and singular as the state itself.

  • Borah Peak

    Mackay, Idaho

    Borah Peak

    This highest peak in Idaho can only be reached by traversing a formation known as "Chicken-Out Ridge."

  • Kings Peak

    Duchesne County, Utah

    Kings Peak

    The highest peak in Utah is the hardest to reach, but only if explorers choose the hard way.

  • The left peak is Boundary Peak

    Dyer, Nevada

    Boundary Peak

    The highest point in Nevada had to be decided by court order after California tried to claim it as their own.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.