Pisgah National Forest

Offering more than 500,000 acres of land about 30 miles southwest of downtown Asheville, Pisgah National Forest is jampacked with activities and breathtaking vistas for your day trip. With hundreds of miles of trails and numerous waterfalls and swimming holes, the forest provides ample opportunities to appreciate the great outdoors.

One of the first national forests in the country, created partially with land that once belonged to the Biltmore Estate, the park is home to the first forestry school in the United States as well as the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute and Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.

The park is divided into three ranger districts: the Pisgah Ranger District, the Appalachian Ranger District, and the Grandfather Ranger District. The Pisgah Ranger District has the best access to the park's many waterfalls, while the Grandfather Ranger District has more difficult trails. The Appalachian District, which is the furthest away from Asheville, is home to the Appalachian Trail, as the name implies. There are also horseback riding, biking, and rock climbing trails, as well as fishing holes, picnic areas, and campgrounds in the forest. Many of the best whitewater rafting tours in North Carolina take you through the forest.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Admission: Free
  
• Opening Hours: Daily
• Best Places to Stay: Mount Mitchell Eco Retreat, Pilot Cove, Smithmore Castle
  
• Location: Asheville, North Carolina