Southern Nantahala Wilderness
Southern Nantahala Wilderness is a 23,364-acre wilderness area in Macon County, North Carolina. It rises from about 2,512 to 5,489 ft. The nearest town is Tate City, 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
Southern Nantahala Wilderness map
Southern Nantahala 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 Southern Nantahala Wilderness is limited to 14 days.
- The maximum group size at Southern Nantahala Wilderness is 10.
- Campfires are prohibited.
- Tate City, GA is the nearest town, 1.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Southern Nantahala Wilderness is about 5,489 ft, and its lowest about 2,512 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Big Scaly, about 5,082 ft.
Who manages Southern Nantahala Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 23,364 | Not on record | 10 | 14 days | Tusquitee Ranger District, 828-837-5152 |
Getting to Southern Nantahala Wilderness
- Tate City, GA is the nearest town, 1.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Southern Nantahala Wilderness
- Deep Gap Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 4,364 ft), at 35.0396, -83.5534
- Deep Gap/Beech Creek Trailhead (0.02 mi outside the boundary, 2,907 ft), at 35.0172, -83.5554
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Southern Nantahala Wilderness
- Big Scaly summit
- Little Bald summit
- Ridgepole 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.
Campgrounds in and around Southern Nantahala Wilderness
Standing Indian Campground (0.6 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Public lands next to Southern Nantahala Wilderness
- National forestSouthern Nantahala 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)
- 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.