Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, is a top destination for outdoor activities and attractions. Visitors can enjoy scenic hikes, challenging mountain biking trails, and whitewater rafting. For those looking for a more relaxed experience, there are plenty of must-visit sites, including waterfalls, scenic overlooks, and historic sites. There are also a number of activities to be had, such as fishing, horseback riding, and camping. No matter what you're looking for, Pisgah Forest has something for everyone. So come explore the best trails and activities that this area has to offer.
Top Spots in and near Pisgah Forest
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Haywood County, North Carolina
Black Balsam Knob via Art Loeb Trail
5.01.56 mi / 305 ft gainThe parking area for Black Balsam Knob is at mile marker 420.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's free to hike here. Take the Art Loeb Trail a half mile until you reach the knob. Along the way you will be walking almost entirely on the bald which is a very pleasant experience. You feel like you're ...Read more -
Canton, North Carolina
Tennent Mountain
5.03 mi / 285 ft gainPark at the Lot at the end of Black Balsam road, and start your morning in the dark, down the old dirt road at the end of the lot. Take this road until you get to Ivestor Gap and make a right onto the Art Loeb, try and time it so the sun is just about to rise here. Hike or trail run The Art Loeb ...Read more -
Canton, North Carolina
Sam Knob and Flat Laurel Creek Loop
4.93.84 mi / 807 ft gainThis is one of my favorite quick "getaway" loops in the Pisgah Ranger District. Turn onto Black Balsam Knob Road (Mile Marker 420 on the Blue Ridge Parkway) go until you reach a dead end and park at the parking lot. You'll see the Sam Knob trail to the right of the public bathrooms. From there, i...Read more -
Balsam Grove, North Carolina
Devil's Courthouse
4.70.85 mi / 246 ft gainThe Devil's Courthouse Overlook and Trail can be one of the best places to see the entire Blue Ridge countryside. Even though it is a short hike, there is a fairly steep incline halfway through, so be prepared to huff and puff a little. It takes anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes depending upon your ...Read more -
Canton, North Carolina
Hike to Bubling Spring Falls
0.1 mi / 50 ft gainThe road to get to this waterfall is right off of NC 215 which comes right off of the Blue Ridge Parkway and is only about 3 miles away from parkway. The parking area is very small and does not offer many parking spots but since it is not that popular of an area parking is usually not a problem. ...Read more -
Canton, North Carolina
Photograph Sunburst Falls
This waterfall is right off the side of the road on NC 215. NC 215 is straight off of the blue ridge parkway and is just north of Brevard. The waterfall has to main parts one that is above the road and one that is below. The part below the road is the most scenic and the easiest to walk too. The ...Read more -
Sunset, South Carolina
Virginia Hawkins Falls (Double Falls)
4.02.6 mi / 456 ft gainA moderate to advanced 2.6 mile hike has many stairs and a lot of ascents and descents along the way. The hike may not be the easiest but the payoff is worth it. The trail is easily marked so no need to worry about getting lost.Read more -
Tuckasegee, North Carolina
Hike to Dill Falls
0.4 mi / 400 ft gainThe drive to this waterfall can be a little muddy when there is a lot of rain and can need an AWD or 4WD in the rain. The road has some new gravel laid in parts so it could be improved in a few months. In the summer there is also a chance of seeing large dump trucks and logging trucks, but the ro...Read more -
Flat Rock, North Carolina
Watch the Green Race
5.01.8 mi / 500 ft gainOn the first Saturday of November the best creek boaters in the world gather at the Green River in North Carolina to see who can storm the Narrows and claim the top title (at least for the next year!). For paddlers, creek boating is a pursuit along tight and narrow steeps that most of us have ne...Read more -
Sunset, South Carolina
Hike to Twin Falls, SC
5.01 mi / 0 ft gainOnce you get to the destination there should be a small parking area. At the end of this parking area you will see the start of the Twin Falls trail that will be mostly a flat walk. Follow this trail approximately 0.5 miles to the falls. You will know you are in the right place if the creek is r...Read more -
Asheville, North Carolina
Explore Lake Powhatan
Lake Powhatan is located just minutes away from Asheville, NC and offers a number of fun activities for you, your friends, and your family. In the warm summer months, the Lake is a popular spot for swimming. The small stretch of beach along the lake is a nice place to lay out and soak in the sun....Read more -
Asheville, North Carolina
Mountain Biking Bent Creek
4.0Bent Creek is my favorite Mountain Biking spot in the Southeast, and epitomizes the fun and beauty to be found biking in the North Carolina mountains. Riding is open year round, but spring and fall are ideal when temperatures are still cool and colors are exploding. You can easily spend hours ...Read more -
Arden, North Carolina
Photograph the French Broad Overlook
5.0The French Broad Overlook is one of several overlook spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's not known to be the most breathtakingly scenic spot of the batch, but it's still a nice viewpoint that will offer you sights of the French Broad River, one of the few north flowing rivers in the US. Yo...Read more -
Brevard, North Carolina
Hike the Toxaway River Trail
5.01.25 miThis easy 1.25 mile hike is located within the Lake Toxaway community. The trail itself follows a small creek as it winds through the valley. Be warned - there are numerous stream crossings. Most of the crossings are fairly easy at normal water levels, but can be difficult if the water is high. S...Read more -
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Hike to Raven Rock Falls
0.5 miIf you want to see a great waterfall without hiking all day, this is the perfect trail for you. Getting there - The trailhead is about 2 miles from the intersection of Cold Mountain and Panther Ridge Road (exact coordinates: 35.1594, -82.9801). There is a small grassy pull out where you can park...Read more -
Sunset, South Carolina
Kayak to Laurel Fork Falls
4.0This stunning waterfall tumbles down 80 feet before spilling into Lake Jocassee between a slot of shear rock cliffs. However, the catch is not many people see this beautiful location unless you have a boat or are willing to hike a streneous 8-mile hike one-way along the Foothills Trail.But I am s...Read more
