Pisgah National Forest Active and Adventure Travel Guide

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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Pisgah National Forest Active and Adventure Travel Guide