Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness
Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness is a 19,246-acre wilderness area in Graham County, North Carolina. It rises from about 1,106 to 5,323 ft. The nearest town is Lake Santeetlah, 2.9 miles away in a straight line.
Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness map
Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock 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 Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness is limited to 14 days.
- The maximum group size at Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness is 10.
- Lake Santeetlah, NC is the nearest town, 2.9 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness is about 5,323 ft, and its lowest about 1,106 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Stratton Bald, about 5,323 ft.
Who manages Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 19,246 | Not on record | 10 | 14 days | Cheoah Ranger District, 828-479-6431 |
Getting to Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness
- Lake Santeetlah, NC is the nearest town, 2.9 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness
- Big Fat Gap Trailhead (inside the boundary, 3,069 ft), at 35.4174, -83.9728
- Joyce Kilmer (inside the boundary, 2,180 ft), at 35.3586, -83.9289
- Jenkins Meadow Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 2,103 ft), at 35.3623, -83.9217
- Wolf Laurel Trailhead (0.14 mi outside the boundary, 4,562 ft), at 35.3641, -83.9784
- Haoe Lead (0.75 mi outside the boundary, 3,420 ft), at 35.3965, -83.9092
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness
- Stratton Bald summit
- Chestnut Knob 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.
Campgrounds in and around Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness
- Horse Cove Campground (0.1 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Rattler Ford Group Camp (0.1 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Bear Creek Hunt Camp (0.4 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Swan Cabin Group Camp (0.8 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Public lands next to Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness
- National forestJoyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness lies inside National Forests in North Carolina.
- National Park Service unitGreat Smoky Mountains National Park is 2.3 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
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)
- 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.