Ellicott Rock Wilderness
Ellicott Rock Wilderness is an 8,300-acre wilderness area in Jackson County, North Carolina. It rises from about 2,148 to 3,715 ft. The nearest town is Highlands, 4.1 miles away in a straight line.
Ellicott Rock Wilderness map
Ellicott Rock Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Agency fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- Camping in Ellicott Rock Wilderness is limited to 14 days.
- The maximum group size at Ellicott Rock Wilderness is 6.
- Highlands, NC is the nearest town, 4.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Ellicott Rock Wilderness is about 3,715 ft, and its lowest about 2,148 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Ellicott Mountain, about 3,715 ft.
Who manages Ellicott Rock Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 8,300 | Not on record | 6 | 14 days | Andrew Pickens Ranger District, 864-638-9568 |
Getting to Ellicott Rock Wilderness
- Highlands, NC is the nearest town, 4.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Ellicott Rock Wilderness
- Chattooga Trailhead - Bull Pen (inside the boundary, 2,416 ft), at 35.0160, -83.1266
- Chattooga Trailhead - County Line Trail (inside the boundary, 2,416 ft), at 35.0160, -83.1266
- Chattooga Trailhead - Norton Mill (inside the boundary, 2,406 ft), at 35.0158, -83.1266
- Ellicott Rock Wilderness East (inside the boundary, 2,678 ft), at 35.0234, -83.0950
- Ellicott Rock Wilderness West (inside the boundary, 2,833 ft), at 35.0169, -83.1415
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Ellicott Rock Wilderness
- Ellicott Mountain summit
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Public lands next to Ellicott Rock Wilderness
- National forestEllicott Rock Wilderness lies inside National Forests in North Carolina.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in North Carolina
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- apps.fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.