The Slickrock basin wilderness consists of 10,193 acres of which 3,881 acres is located in the Cherokee National Forest of Tennessee. When combined with the Joyce Kilmer basin wilderness the total area reaches 17,013 acres.

These two basins are extremely steep and rugged, with elevations ranging from a low of 1,086 feet at the mouth of Slickrock Creek to 5,380 feet at Stratton Bald. Rock outcrops are common, and numerous drainages and cascading streams dissect the terrain. A dense hardwood forest, some of which is virgin, blankets these slopes. The forest is broken only by occasional grass or heath bards along the high ridges. Black bear and wild boar are common to these woods.

Severely threatened by logging until 1922, the wilderness today has regained much of what was lost. There are even small pockets of forest that apparently escaped logging, but the majority of the trees are classified as old-growth rather than virgin forest.

Slickrock Trail, some of the wettest 13 miles a hiker can experience, bisects the wilderness area from southwest to northeast. The first 8 miles of this trail are rated easy to moderate and feature ten fords, many cascades, Wildcat Falls, and crystal clear pools perfect for cooling-off in the heat of the summer. This is also the most easily accessable trail in Slickrock so expect to see other hikers. If you are looking for seclusion continue southward on Slickrock Trail toward Naked Ground in Joyce Kilmer.

There are other trails to explore in Slickrock. Be sure to get maps and a compass before venturing into these wilderness areas. An excellent book on the area is Hiking Trails of Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock and Citico Creek Wilderness Areas by Tim Homan.