| Nantahala National Forest | |
|---|---|
 Cullasaja Falls, Nantahala National Forest, inMacon County, North Carolina | |
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| Location | North Carolina, United States |
| Nearest city | Franklin, NC |
| Coordinates | 35°14′02″N83°33′33″W / 35.233842°N 83.559265°W /35.233842; -83.559265 |
| Area | 531,270 acres (2,150.0 km2)[1] |
| Established | February 6, 1907[2] |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Nantahala National Forest |
TheNantahala National Forest (/ˌnæntəˈheɪlə/) is the largest of the four national forests inNorth Carolina, lying in the mountains and valleys of western North Carolina. The Nantahala is the second wettest region in theContinental US, after thePacific Northwest and it is part of theAppalachian temperate rainforest. Due to its environmental importance and historical ties with the Cherokee, the forest was officially established on January 29, 1920, by PresidentWoodrow Wilson.[3][4] The word"Nantahala" is aCherokee derived word, meaning "Land of the Noonday Sun." In some spots, the sun reaches the floors of the deep gorges of the forest only when it is high overhead at midday. This was part of the homeland of the historic Cherokee and their indigenous ancestors, who have occupied the region for thousands of years. TheNantahala River runs through it.
Colonists from South Carolina established a trade of deer hides with Cherokees from the Nantahala region, their homeland. This eventually led to several signed treaties that left the Cherokee to give up their lands in present-day South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina, occurring between 1721 and 1777. After the establishment of the new American government, the Cherokee were forced to give up further territory in other parts of North Carolina and lands in Kentucky and Tennessee with theTreaty of Hopewell in 1785. Despite their 30-year efforts, their land was offered to Revolutionary War veterans of the colonists. The Cherokee were forced westward, which brings up the historical events of theTrail of Tears. This removal route was used between 1830 and 1850 and headed from Fort Butler in Murphy, North Carolina, to Oklahoma. However, present North Carolina still has a strong, pronounced population of Cherokee.[3][5]
The SpanishconquistadorHernando de Soto explored the area in 1540, as did English colonistWilliam Bartram (1739-1823) in the 18th century. TheNantahala River flows through the Nantahala National Forest.
William Bartram, son toJohn Bartram, is considered to be "America's first native-born naturalist-illustrator". He journeyed through eight colonies to document the botanical, geographical, and cultural discoveries he made throughout the four years of exploration. At the age of 21, Bartram left home in Philadelphia to live with his uncle at Cape Fear River in North Carolina. His uncle, after being kidnapped as a child, welcomed his nephew to manage the trading post. Shortly after, John Bartram was appointed by King George III to be the royal botanist of the New World in 1765. Both John and William journeyed together to collect plants in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.[3]
Following this expedition, Bartram was sponsored byJohn Fothergill to make a 2,400 miles journey across southeastern America, this being his most memorialized trip. Bartram's work promoted an interest in the region's greenery and significantly contributed to natural history literature. Within the most recent century, Bartram's work has contributed to increased public awareness of environmental preservation.
Bartram Trail was created in his memory in the Nantahala Ranger District, where most of his travels occurred. The trail is not true to his exact path as a result of human development, but the trail spans from North Carolina's Cheoah River to Georgia's Russel Bridge at the Chattooga River. It is said that the most scenic portion of the trail is along Trimont Ridge in the Nantahala Mountains, where it crosses Fishhawk Mountains.[3]
During this time, Dr. Chase P. Ambler made a vow to protect the western mountains of North Carolina. He created the Appalachian National Park Association and fought to protect the land. His work led him to write to Congress about land preservation in 1901. Congress responded with a $5,000 find to survey the forest.[3]
Between that time, the Forest Reserve Act was passed by Congress in 1891. Today, it may be known as the U.S. Forest Service, its name originating from President Benjamin Harrison. This act went on to protect national forests in the southeast by having the government purchase land to make them into national forests.[3][6]
Following the Forest Reserve Act, the Weeks Act was presented to Congress in hopes to continue preserving forests with government funds being used to purchase both public and private lands. The Weeks Act, named after John Weeks, was signed by President William Taft to protect forests and has been named to be the most successful piece of conservation legislation by protecting over 20 million acres of land.[7]
In previous years, the lands were occupied and abandoned by logging companies. These companies had often stripped the land of its resources before selling to maximize profits and evade taxation. To the government's surprise, they were able to purchase over 850 acres from 359 private owners. However, with many unwilling to sell, private land remains scattered throughout the Nantahala.[3]
January 29, 1920, President Woodrow Wilson made the purchase of combined lands in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to form the Nantahala National Forest, which was much of the original territories of the Cherokee. This purchase, though, had initially excluded Cherokee, Graham, and Swain countries that President Warren Harding's formed into the Pisgah National Forest in 1921.[3]
Later in 1929, President Herbert Hoover "transferred" lands to expand its boundaries by combining both the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. The forest then faced major remapping in 1936.[3]
The terrain varies in elevation from 5,800 feet (1,767.8 m) at Lone Bald inJackson County, to 1,200 feet (365.8 m) inCherokee County along theHiwassee River below theAppalachia Dam. It is the home of many western NC waterfalls. The last part of theMountain Waters Scenic Byway travels through this forest. The total area under management is 531,270 acres (830.11 sq. mi.; 2,149.97 km2). In descending order of land area it is located in parts ofMacon,Graham,Cherokee,Jackson,Clay,Swain andTransylvania counties.
The forest had initially spanned over Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. However, in 1936, the forest was reorganized to follow the state boundaries of North Carolina.
Several areas ofold-growth forest have been identified in the Nantahala National Forest, totaling some 30,800 acres (125 km2).[8] TheJoyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness in particular contains nearly 6,000 acres (24 km2) of old-growth forest.
The Nantahala National Forest is administered by theUnited States Forest Service, part of theUnited States Department of Agriculture. The forest is managed together with the other three North Carolina National Forests (Croatan,Pisgah, andUwharrie) from common headquarters inAsheville, North Carolina.
The Cheoah Ranger District[9] has 120,110 acres (187.7 sq. mi.; 486.1 km2) inGraham andSwain Counties, and it is headquartered inRobbinsville, North Carolina. The district's name, Cheoah, is the Cherokee word for "otter" because the lands adjoin four large mountain reservoirs and contain numerous streams.
TheAppalachian Trail winds through the Cheoah Ranger District after leaving the Nantahala Ranger District on its way to theGreat Smoky Mountains National Park. The district also contains theJoyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and part of theJoyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness. TheJoyce Kilmer Memorial Forest within the national forest was dedicated on July 30, 1936, to the American poetJoyce Kilmer with trees that are over 450 years old.[3]
Source:[10]
The Nantahala Ranger District is the largest of the forest's districts, covering an area of about 250,000 acres (390.6 sq. mi.; 1,011.7 km2) inMacon,Jackson andSwain counties. It was formed in 2007 by consolidating the former Highlands Ranger District and Wayah Ranger[11] District. The headquarters are inFranklin, North Carolina. Part of the district is adjacent to theCherokee Indian Reservation.
This district's features include the 5,499-foot (1,676.10 m)Standing Indian Mountain, theNantahala Gorge andWayah Bald.
Fourlong distance trails pass through the district: theAppalachian,Bartram,Foothills, andMountains-to-Sea Trails.
The district contains the 40,000-acre (62.5 sq. mi.; 161.9 km2) Roy Taylor Forest located in Jackson County, southwest of and adjacent to theBlue Ridge Parkway, that it acquired in 1981. The rugged and scenic Tuckasegee Gorge is within the Roy Taylor Forest.
During the consolidation, all the lands of the former Highlands Ranger District withinTransylvania County, were transferred to thePisgah Ranger District.
Source:[12]
The 158,348-acre (247.4 sq. mi.; 640.8 km2) Tusquitee Ranger District is the forest's second-largest district, and it is located in the far southwestern tip of North Carolina, withinCherokee andClay Counties. Tusquitee is Cherokee for "where thewaterdogs laughed," and the district is headquartered inMurphy, North Carolina.
The district's features include theHiwassee River,Jackrabbit Mountain as well asLake Chatuge,Hiwassee Lake,Lake Appalachia. All the lakes on or bordering the Tusquitee Ranger District are managed byTVA. The highest point in the district isTusquitee Bald (5,280 feet (1,609 m)) located in Clay County.
Threewilderness areas are located within the Nantahala National Forest:
These wilderness areas provide an opportunity for solitude in a rugged, natural setting. The Forest manages two Off-Highway Vehicle areas. The most famous being Tellico OHV area located in the Tusquitee Ranger District an additional OHV area is located in the Nantahala Ranger District. Many miles of trout water exist in the forest.
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