Rich Mountain Wilderness
At 4,050 feet, Rich Mountain anchors a diverse botanical area. A second-growth hardwood forest provides habitat for deer, squirrels, raccoons, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, black bears, quail, and woodcocks. Small- and big-game hunters are the predominant human users of this Wilderness (which lies within Rich Mountain Wildlife Management Area). A few hikers and horseback riders occasionally end up here, despite the lack of established trails. Instead, they follow what remains of old logging roads. Private land nearly surrounds the Wilderness.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Georgia |
| Size | 10,791 acres |
| Designated | 1986, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.73° N, 84.34° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 4 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
1 named Forest Service trail enters this wilderness, 1 mile in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Stanley Creek | 0.8 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx - Rymer Camp
27 mi from the center point · 381 acres
- PrescribedPinnacle Kv Rx
42 mi from the center point · 246 acres
- PrescribedTweedale Rx
42 mi from the center point · 244 acres
- PrescribedRx - Buck Branch
43 mi from the center point · 652 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 3.2 miCartecay Methodist Church and Cemetery ↗Ellijay, GA
- 4.7 miGilmer County Courthouse ↗Ellijay, GA
- 6.3 miFannin County Courthouse ↗Blue Ridge, GA
- 6.4 miBlue Ridge Depot ↗Blue Ridge, GA
- 6.5 miBaugh, James W., Homeplace ↗Blue Ridge, GA
- 9.9 miMineral Bluff Depot ↗Mineral Bluff, GA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Georgia
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Rich Mountain Wilderness?
10,791 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Rich Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Rich Mountain Wilderness in?
Georgia.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Rich Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1986.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Rich Mountain Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Rich Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.730° N, 84.343° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Rich Mountain Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx - Rymer Camp at 27 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Rich Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 6 listings within 15 miles, including Cartecay Methodist Church and Cemetery and Gilmer County Courthouse.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.