The Southern Nantahala Wilderness is managed as part of the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina and the Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia. The 24,515 acres are found at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The elevations range from 2,400 fee to 5,499 feet on Standing Indian Mountain. The area includes numerous peeks over 4,000 fee and is characterized by steep, rugged terrain dissected by numerous streams and drainages. These streams fee the Nantahala, Tallulah, and Hiawassee Rivers.

The Southern Nantahala Wilderness is a Class II air quality according tothe Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977.

Air Quality Related Values (AQRV)

Visibility

Water

Flora

The forest cover is dense and varies from spruce-fir and grass heath balds along the high ridges to mixed hardwoods.