Middle Prong Wilderness
Middle Prong Wilderness is a 7,482-acre wilderness area in Haywood County, North Carolina. It rises from about 3,154 to 6,356 ft. The nearest town is Waynesville, 8 miles away in a straight line.
Middle Prong Wilderness map
Middle Prong 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 Middle Prong Wilderness is limited to 14 days.
- The maximum group size at Middle Prong Wilderness is 10.
- Campfires are prohibited.
- Waynesville, NC is the nearest town, 8 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Middle Prong Wilderness is about 6,356 ft, and its lowest about 3,154 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Green Knob, about 5,902 ft.
Who manages Middle Prong Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 7,482 | Not on record | 10 | 14 days | Pisgah Ranger District, 828-877-3265 |
Getting to Middle Prong Wilderness
- Waynesville, NC is the nearest town, 8 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Middle Prong Wilderness
- Mtst Trailhead - Hwy 215 (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 5,110 ft), at 35.3038, -82.9093
- Fork Mtn Trail Head (0.02 mi outside the boundary, 3,133 ft), at 35.3736, -82.9363
- Haywood Gap Trail Head (0.25 mi outside the boundary, 3,170 ft), at 35.3696, -82.9396
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Middle Prong Wilderness
- Green Knob summit
- Spot Knob summit
- Black Mountain summit
- Sweetwater Spring spring
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 Middle Prong Wilderness
Sunburst Campground (0.3 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Public lands next to Middle Prong Wilderness
- National forestMiddle Prong Wilderness lies inside National Forests in North Carolina.
- National Park Service unitMiddle Prong Wilderness borders Blue Ridge Parkway, a National Park Service unit.
- Wilderness areaMiddle Prong Wilderness borders Shining Rock Wilderness.
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.