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Location: Missing locator and old growth info for this entry
USGS Topographic Maps: Sam Knob
The Middle Prong Wilderness is separated from Shining Rock Wilderness on the east only by a state road, NC 215. It is basically the north-running valley of the Middle Prong (of the Pigeon River) together with its dividing ridges, Fork Ridge on the east, and Lickstone Ridge on the west, all running north from the Blue Ridge Parkway on the south down to the Sunburst Campground.
It would be logical to extend the Wilderness farther north along Lickstone Ridge to the vicinity of Lake Logan, which the Forest Service acquired in the past several years after considerable citizen effort.
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Approximate size:
6,689 acres
Roadless acreage:
1,852 acres
Old growth acreage:
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Since the Waynesville watershed lies just west of Lickstone Ridge, and Shining Rock Wilderness lies just east across NC 215 it makes sense to carry protection of the Middle Prong Wilderness farther north to improve wildlife habitat protection. The Lickstone Ridge region is a bear sanctuary. The area has a good trail system, including a portion of the Mountains-To-Sea Trail.
To the south of Middle Prong Wilderness, separated only by the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor, is the Roy Taylor Forest, also an essentially unroaded area. Seen in context, Middle Prong is important as one corner of a very large wild area separated only by the north-south running NC 215 and the east-west running Blue Ridge Parkway. On the northwest is Middle Prong. Shining Rock lies to the northeast, Daniel Ridge to the southeast, the Roy Taylor Forest to the southwest. Protection of the contiguous parts of these four areas has major benefits for wildlife and biodiversity and recreation.
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