Where is pisgah forest

One of the four districts, "Pisgah Ranger District," is a favorite area of ours for hiking and waterfalls, especially along the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway! It's an easy drive from Asheville, and it's near the town of Brevard with restaurants, gas, supplies.

Take a right onto Highway West and go 16 miles toward Brevard. Drive about 16 miles up the ridge to the Blue Ridge Parkway and go north 20 miles back to Asheville. Starting from the intersection of NC and US , here are our top places to see:. Skip to main content. Search form Search. The Pisgah Ranger District is dominated by Mt. Pisgah on the Blue Ridge Parkway and extends on both sides of the Parkway.

It is located roughly between the towns of Brevard , Waynesville and Asheville. This area is especially noted for easy access to many beautiful waterfalls, including Sliding Rock , as well as wonderful hiking and camping opportunities, the Cradle of Forestry and more.

Mountain bike at Bent Creek. Drive the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway. Among the highlights of this region are the Harmon Den mecca for horseback riders, Max Patch mountain pic offering stunning panoramic views, the French Broad River , Lover's Leap and the Appalachian Trail.

This area contains some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the east including important wildflower habitats at Craggy Gardens and Roan Mountain. Also included in this district are Mt. Mitchell and Grandfather Mountain. Waterfalls include Douglas Falls and Walker Falls. Linville Gorge pic is the predominant feature of the area, with its very rugged terrain to challenge even experienced hikers. There are also easier trails in this area. Other significant features include the Wilson Creek area, which is highly favored among kayakers, and the Brown Mountain Off-Road Vehicle area.

Pisgah National Forest is comprised of more than , acres of hardwood forest, mile-high mountain peaks, whitewater rivers, thundering waterfalls and hundreds of miles of top hiking trails.

It's no wonder, this area is considered one of the nation's best for outdoor recreation. The nearest access point to Pisgah National Forest is less than 10 minutes from downtown Asheville. Among its claims to fame, Pisgah National Forest is home to the United States' first forestry school, which you can see today at the Cradle of Forestry in America historic site.

Parts of Pisgah National Forest are considered a temperate rainforest because of its climate and annual rainfall. Nearly , acres of the forest near Asheville was once part of Biltmore Estate , the site of America's Largest Home. When you venture into the great outdoors in and around Asheville, chances are you'll be exploring a part of Pisgah National Forest. From hiking trails to scenic drives to main attractions, Pisgah National Forest has it all.

The forest is broken into three main Ranger Districts. In Asheville, there are four main entrances to the Parkway. See our guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway to learn more! Hiking: Pisgah National Forest offers some of the region's best hiking trails. Explore waterfalls, the highest peaks in the East , beautiful vistas and old-growth forests.

Hikes range from easy to strenuous. Tremendous recreational opportunities, including hundreds of miles of trails for hiking and backpacking, abound within its boundaries. Since this National Forest is so large, we divide the information up into pages for each of the official Ranger Districts on the forest.