The Pisgah National Forest is a 500,000 acres of land in Western North Carolina. This national forest, composed mostly of hardwood trees, is also full of action. Whitewater rivers, waterfalls, and trails aplenty, there is always something going on in the Pisgah National Forest. Pisgah also has a lot of history that you can explore while you learn about not only this national forest and the national forest system as well. Between the outdoor activities and educational opportunities the Pisgah National Forest is always ready to entertain.
The Pisgah National Forest borders the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. The lands contained in the Pisgah National Forest were once a haven for the logging industry. Now those former logging trails are roads and bike paths that allow visitors to experience all that the Pisgah has to offer. Pisgah National Forest contains the Pisgah, Grandfather and Appalachian Ranger districts so the number of mountain peaks in the Pisgah National Forest is astounding. As you drive through Western North Carolina you will pop in and out of national forests and state parks all the time. You will at some point find yourself in Pisgah.
This area was worked over by the lumber industry before the creation of the National Park and the National Forests. The hardwood forest were dollar signs for the logging industry. It is hard to imagine today as you walk among the huge trees in the Pisgah National Forest that at one point this area was almost deforested. Contained in the Pisgah National Forest was one of the first forestry schools in the United States. Now it is the site of the Cradle of Forestry in America Historic site.
When you find yourself in the Pisgah National Forest you are in store for as many activities as you can stand. Biking, camping, fishing, hiking, water activities and much more are around every turn in this national forest. Whether you are just looking to have a picnic in the outdoors or if you are looking for that adventure that involves boating, kayaking, ATV riding or anything else, the Pisgah National Forest might be the best place to spend a long weekend while you are visiting the Smoky Mountains and the southern Appalachians.