Wilson Creek (North Carolina)
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The Wilson Creek area is located in the Grandfather district of the scenic Pisgah National Forest, northwestern section of Caldwell County, North Carolina. Wilson Creek itself is a water system that originates in Calloway Peak and stretches for 23 miles before dumping into John's River. It was added to the the Wild and Scenic River System on August 18, 2000. There are several designations in Wilson creek area which include: Wild - 4.6 miles; Scenic - 2.9 miles; Recreational - 15.8 miles.
[edit] History
The Wilson Creek Wilderness area was once used by the Cherokee Indians as a summer hunting grounds. It was settled in 1750, and logging began on the dense forest. Mortimer, once the largest community in the Wilson Creek area, was the site of the Ritter Lumber Company sawmill and a small textile mill. The mills provided jobs enough to sustain 800 residents. If still in existence, Mortimer would be the county seat of Caldwell County, North Carolina (which is now Lenoir, North Carolina) Mortimer flooded on August 13, 1940
[edit] Recreation
The Wilson Creek area is frequented by hikers and recreation enthusiasts. There are plenty of places to fish, hike, and camp. Camping is not allowed except in the designated areas and campgrounds. The Wilson Creek Gorge area is available for day use but there is limited parking.
Activities include:
- Camping
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Geocaching
