The Southern Nantahala Wilderness was designated in 1984 and currently consists of 23,473 acres (94.99 km²). Approximately 11,770 acres (47.6 km²) are located in Georgia in the Chattahoochee National Forest and approximately 11,703 acres (47.36 km²) are located in North Carolina in the Nantahala National Forest. The Wilderness is managed by the United States Forest Service and is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The highest elevation in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness is the 5,499-foot (1676 m) peak of Standing Indian Mountain in North Carolina and the lowest elevation is approximately 2,400 feet (730 m).