Southern Nantahala Wilderness

The Southern Nantahala Wilderness spans 23,473 acres across two states, featuring steep mountain slopes, dense forests, and numerous flowing streams.

The wilderness area received federal protection in 1984, following decades of extensive logging operations that transported timber via railway along the Nantahala River.

The Cherokee people named this region Nantahala, meaning Land of the Noonday Sun, as part of their ancestral territory in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Appalachian Trail extends for thirty-two miles through the wilderness, offering multiple access points for hikers and backpackers throughout the year.

The area contains specialized bog environments that support endangered species and plant combinations found nowhere else in North America.

Location: North Carolina

Location: Georgia

Inception: 1984

GPS coordinates: 34.99640,-83.56390

Latest update: March 11, 2025 12:11