The mountain range in and around the wilderness are considered to be the oldest on the
North American continent. Evidence of early Native American settlement dates back over 12,000 years. The
Catawba Indians inhabited the area when the Europeans began exploring the region in the late 1600s. By 1760 settlement had begun in earnest, opened up by the explorers and traders along the
Ocaneechi Trail. A plantation once owned by John Watson Birkhead (b. 1858) forms the core of the wilderness. The Birkhead acquired over the years were made up of many small tenant farms. The mountain range was known locally as the Birkhead Mountains. Evidence of early Native American and other settlers can often be found. ==Recreation==