The core of the Southern Appalachians lies in the heart of western North Carolina. Here, the mountains reach their highest elevation and dramatic peaks loom against the sky.With habitats ranging from high, windy boreal forests, to lush moisture-loving groundcover, North Carolina wild lands are home to some of the greatest biodiversity in North America. Rare endangered plants thrive - such as mountain golden heather and Heller's blazing star - and more old-growth stands survive here than in any other Southern Appalachian state. In fact, the exceptional character of these North Carolina mountains inspired discussions by early conservationists that led to the formation of the National Forest system.
Popular Existing Wilderness Areas
The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests cover more than a million acres and are home to many of the state's existing and potential Wilderness areas. They also host millions of visitors each year. Shining Rock and Linville Gorge are among only three areas east of the Mississippi River that received protection under the Wilderness Act of 1964. Ellicott Rock and Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock were designated under the Eastern Wilderness Areas Act of 1975. Southern Nantahala and Middle Prong were designated inWilderness legislation in 1984.
Cherokee tradition holds that the first woman, Selu, and the first man, Kanati, came from lands now within the boundaries of Shining Rock Wilderness. The Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness is famous for its large tract of virgin forest, and it is among the most beloved Wilderness areas in the United States.
Selected Outstanding Wilderness Candidates
Also in 1984, Congress created five Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) - a special category of lands that the Forest Service must consider for future Wilderness designation. These WSAs are Craggy Mountain (2,380 acres), Snowbird (8,500 acres), Overflow (4,000 acres), Lost Cove (5,900 acres), and Harper Creek (7,350 acres). Unfortunately, no Wilderness has been designated in North Carolina since 1984.
Other excellent potential Wilderness areas are in the Black Mountains, northeast of Asheville. This stunning mountain range features six of the highest peaks in the eastern United States and is one of the last remaining large-scale wild lands in North Carolina. The topography is dramatic - it is among the only areas in the region with avalanche chutes. The dark spruce-fir forests that give the Black Mountains their name cloak the high ridges, and cove hardwoods thrive along many creeks and streams at lower elevations.
Adjacent to Mt. Mitchell State Park, the 16,600-acre Black Mountain area (including the 11,000-acre Balsam Cone roadless area) is one of the premier wild areas in North Carolina. It shelters a rare array of plants and animals, including a genetically unique population of sawwhet owls. Black Mountain is the second largest roadless area in the Pisgah and it forms the eastern flank of 6,700-foot Mt. Mitchell, the highest mountain east of the Mississippi. The 1,300-acre Middle Creek Research Area, a beautiful example of an uncut watershed supporting several native forest types, is located here.
A grouping of nearby wild lands, commonly referred to as the Black Mountain cluster, are also prime candidates for Wilderness protection.
The 14,700-acre Mackey Mountain area includes 6,000 acres of roadless forest, which have been called a national treasure. The Burke-McDowell Tract was the first land purchase made to create National Forest land in the eastern United States. High summits and steep slopes pitch down to cold, rushing creeks, accented by huge fallen hemlocks, moss-covered boulders, and ancient oaks more than 250 years old. Mackey Creek and Clear Creek provide clean drinking water for the town of Marion. Not surprisingly, this is also top quality black bear habitat.
The 23,000-acre Bald Mountains area straddles the North Carolina-Tennessee border (11,000 acres in North Carolina).This is the largest site along the Appalachian Trail between the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks that is eligible forWilderness protection. Maintaining the wild character of this large area - home to black bear and brook trout - is critical to the integrity of the entire Southern Appalachian ecosystem.
The 5,600-acre Wesser Bald area (which includes 4,100 acres of roadless lands) in the Nantahala National Forest sits in the northern section of a group of wild lands along the Appalachian Trail. Its steep slopes support ecologically significant forest communities, including high-elevation northern red oak, dry oak forests, and over 1,200 acres of old growth.
The 27,000-acre Tusquitee Bald area contains the largest roadless area (13,800 acres) in the Nantahala National Forest, as well as a striking 5,200-foothorseshoe-shaped rim of mountains. Here, the popular Rim Trail skirts high points and balds along the ridges, which afford numerous overlooks with commanding views of the countryside.
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