Hiking Guide: Pisgah National Forest North Carolina
Catawba Falls, Pisgah National Forest.
Have you hiked in Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina?
The state of North Carolina gets a lot of hype for the city of Charlotte, the beaches of the Outer Banks, and the trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
While these are all wonderful spots depending on what you are seeking for an experience or adventure I have fallen in love with the trails and terrain of the Pisgah National Forest and I believe it’s deserving of the Tar Heel hype just as much as these other aforementioned places above!
I have made two visits to this National Forest in 2021 and I’m excited to share a mini hiking guide (that was my main activity done there) to share a little for you to begin planning a trip to Pisgah!
Pisgah is over 500,000 acres with hundreds of miles of trails so I have obviously barely scratched the surface but hopefully this can get the trail taste buds salivating!
A few highlights of the Pisgah National Forest:
The top of Mount Mitchell (the highest point in the state of NC).
The Appalachian Trail miles that connect to trail towns like Hot Springs, NC.
Close proximity to the epic (and high end at times) restaurants and atmosphere of the half hippie/half bougie town of Asheville, North Carolina!
Here are some of my favorite hikes that I have done in Pisgah National Forest this year.
Mount Mitchell.
This peak is the highest point in the USA East of the Mississippi River and you can work your butt off to get to this sign or take it super easy!
We took the work your butt off route by hiking a 10 plus mile 3,700 feet in elevation gain trail that was a steady incline, but not punishing, route to the top.
The top of Mount Mitchell also includes a parking lot and a paved road that will take you there, no matter how you arrive you’ll be at the top of North Carolina and the Eastern portion of the United States of America!
Catawba Falls.
This trailhead doesn’t have many other hiking options from this trailhead in the Pisgah National Forest but its close proximity to downtown Asheville and the gorgeous walk through the forest leading you to a stunning waterfall is worth the trip!
Hiking along the rivers and streams that cascade down from this gorgeous waterfall is a quick and easy jaunt that will leave you feeling refreshed from nature, or perhaps stressed from the crowds of the summer. A weekday in the winter though? Hardly another human around!
A milkshake at Mustard’s Last Stand after hiking is highly recommended by me!
Rattlesnake Lodge.
Located right off of the Blue Ridge Parkway this is an excellent day hike that will give you the chance to stretch your legs while not venturing to deep off your road trip itinerary.
Twisting through the woods, giving you a little bit of elevation, and providing some interesting remnants of the old Rattlesnake Lodge offers almost four miles and 800 plus feet in gain from the Bull Gap Trailhead.
That’s where we left from and it was a perfect stop off the Blue Ridge en route to Asheville!
Looking Glass Rock.
Nestled just outside of Asheville this is a more strenuous day hike for those looking for some beautiful payoff views and a workout!
This one has somewhat extreme pieces of gain, clambering on the trail, and gorgeous views as you can see in the picture above.
About a 10k in length with a shade under 2k in elevation gain this qualifies as a more than moderate day hike and should be aptly rewarded to yourself as such in completion with whatever proper vice you prefer (massage, beer, sauna, pizza, second hike for the gluttons for punishment, etc!)
I adored this trail and will do it time and time again when in the region moving forward!
Maple Camp Loop.
We did some tent camping at the Carolina Hemlocks Campground (we highly recommend a tent stay here!) Nearby is the Maple Camp Bald Loop which can extend up to 35 miles. There was an ultra marathon race there that day and I opted for the loop via Buncombe Horse Trail.
This was rugged, somewhat tough to follow, muddy, and an absolute BLAST! I was drenched and would honestly rate it harder than the Mount Mitchell summit depending on the conditions of the horse trail.
If you are up a for a big-time challenge look no further!
The Appalachian Trail
The Queen of the Pisgah National Forest! As the AT stretches over 200 plus miles along the Tennessee/North Carolina Border you’ll encounter a massive amount of miles in Pisgah. We left the town of Hot Springs, NC and followed roads and the AT for a few miles to get another one of the “trail experiences” that only the AT can offer. This portion of the AT offers some super popular day hikes as well including, but not limited to, Lover’s Leap Bridge, Max Patch Mountain, and Big Bald.
We opted for brews at Big Pillow Brewing, several miles of hiking the AT out and back from town, and some time in the local hot springs! It made for a wonderful afternoon in Pisgah that also had a bit more relaxed feel to it.
Mural on Chicken Alley in Asheville.
This just barely scratches the surface and depth of the Pisgah National Forest! And it doesn’t even include all the fun you can find in Asheville, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and GSMNP.
But if you are looking for a beautiful place to have some epic hiking on the eastern portion of the United States then Pisgah National Forest is one that should definitely be considered for your next jaunt into the woods!
As always leave it better than you found out and be kind and welcoming to all beings you encounter in the woods. See you in Pisgah!
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Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike R
