Pisgah National Forest Active and Adventure Travel Guide

Pisgah National Forest Active and Adventure Travel Guide

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Travel Guides Near Pisgah National Forest

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Fog on a trail in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina
Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina (Robert Cable/Photographer's Choice/Getty)

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Pisgah National Forest Active and Adventure Travel Tips

  • With 12,000 acres of steep terrain and soaring cliffs that have kept farmers and lumberjacks at bay over the centuries, the rugged Linville Gorge Wilderness, dubbed "the Grand Canyon of North Carolina," is prime territory for backpacking, rock climbing, and solitary fly-fishing. From Babel Rock you can watch hawks soar over granite walls and towers. The Linville River that carved the gorge over millennia offers great fly-fishing when you reach the bottom.
  • Nestled in a spectacular gorge along the Tennessee border, the Nolichucky River gets less traffic than other rivers in the region. But don't let that fool you. Unlike many of its southeastern cousins, where controlled-release schedules make river levels predictable, Nolichucky whitewater is all natural. You'll find the prime runs on the upper sections, starting in Poplar, North Carolina. Stretches of Class III-IV water extend some 30 miles into Tennessee, with enough drops, holes, and chutes to satisfy the most discriminating masochist. Farther down, the river quiets to some Class II that's great for canoeing.
  • There's a good reason North Carolina Outward Bound leads its mountain-biking courses in the Pisgah: The terrain offers enough variation and technical challenge to suit all abilities. And you'll need to hone your navigational skills to avoid getting lost on a seemingly endless network of trails. North of Asheville, the rugged, remote Staire Creek route climbs and descends past waterfalls, streams, and a cave. To the southwest, the Black Mountain (a.k.a. Clawhammer) route attracts hardcore enthusiasts with a four-mile, 1,900-foot technical downhill.
  • Drive the winding two-lane highway that climbs steadily through the forest, part of the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway that extends from Pisgah north to Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. There are innumerable places to stop and hike here, where the vivid scarlets and flaming oranges of autumn and the blue of blooming spring wildflowers blend with dramatic mountain views.

Pisgah National Forest Overview

Located in the heart of North Carolina's Blue Ridge mountains, the Pisgah National Forest gives East Coasters plenty of reasons to stay put. As the Blue Ridge Parkway winds its way through the forest's hazy peaks, it passes Mount Mitchell, the highest summit east of the Mississippi River. Further south you'll find Craggy Gardens, one of the best places in the world to see rhododendron in bloom. In the Pisgah you can hike through virgin forest, mountain-bike over endless single-path tracks, paddle world-class whitewater rapis, fly-fish, and climb. There's even skiing, though the forest's southerly location means summer lasts a looooong time. Read More

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Hotels

Inn on Biltmore Estate

1 Antler Hill Rd.
Asheville, NC 28803 Map

Distance: 24.8 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Lake Powhatan

375 Wesley Branch Rd.
Asheville, NC 28806 Map

Distance: 19.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0

Mountain Springs Cabin

P.O. Box 6922
Asheville, NC 28816 Map

Distance: 27.2 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0

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Attractions

Linville Gorge Wilderness Area

expert favorite attraction
Pisgah National Forest
c/o Grandfather Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest, 109 East Lawling Drive
Nebo, North Carolina 28761

Distance: 54.4 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

Walking the trails in North Carolina's Linville Gorge is like clambering around in a giant... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Blue Ridge Parkway

expert favorite attraction
Blueridge Parkway
Asheville, North Carolina 28802

Distance: 32.6 mi. (from destination center)
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
3_0

Biltmore Estate

On U.S. 25, 2 blocks north of I-40
1 Approach Road
Asheville, North Carolina

Distance: 25.4 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

The French Renaissance château, built by George W.... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
5_0
4_0

Airports

Major Airports near Pisgah National Forest

Distance (mi.)
Charlotte Douglas Airport 101.8 map
Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 146.2 map
Greensboro Piedmont Triad International Airport 168.2 map

Other Smaller Airports near Pisgah National Forest

Distance (mi.)
Asheville Regional/Hendersonville Airport 17.9 map
Greer Greenville/Spartanburg Airport 33.2 map
Knoxville Mc Ghee Tyson Airport 80.8 map

Flight Deals to Pisgah National Forest

Originating From
Baltimore (BWI) to Charlotte (CLT) $104
Orlando (ORL) to Charlotte (CLT) $143
New York City (NYC) to Charlotte (CLT) $144
Philadelphia (PHL) to Charlotte (CLT) $157
Buffalo (BUF) to Charlotte (CLT) $158

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