Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National ForestThe 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.

Pisgah National ForestThis 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.

Nantahala National Forest

Nantahala National ForestNantahala National Forest (NNF) is one of the four national forests in the state of North Carolina.  Administered by the United States Forest Service this is the largest of the four, containing more than 530,000 acres of land.  Named for the Nantahala River, this land used to be part of the hunting grounds and tribal lands of the Cherokee.  Now, the NNF is a hugely popular recreational area and if you are driving around on the North Carolina side of the Smokies you are bound to find yourself in the Nantahala National Forest at some point.

The term Nantahala means the Land of the Noonday Sun.  The reason that the Cherokee gave the land this name is due to the extreme valleys and physical features of this terrain.  At some places in the NNF the land does not see the sun until the sun reaches its highest point in the sky.  The word has also given its name to the famous river that runs through the national forest.  The Nantahala River is one of the best rafting rivers in the Smokies.  The Nantahala Outdoor Center has made its home in the valley of the river and provides thousands of people with experienced rafting guides to take them on an adventure down the river each year.

Nantahala National ForestThroughout the Nantahala National Forest, you will find recreational opportunities.  Unlike the Smokies there are designated areas that allow you to take an ATV into the mountains and enjoy a ride on a 4 wheeler.  There are rafting and other boating opportunities along the various rivers and streams.  Parts of the NNF also give you a chance to do some of the best bass and trout fishing that you will find in North Carolina.  The NNF never ceases to amaze those people that pass through it and find that they need to spend an extra day in the mountains just to see what the Nantahala National Forest has to offer.

If you are traveling through the Smokies in North Carolina, once you head south from Cherokee, you will be in the NNF until you reach the state line.  Many great mountain towns are contained in the national forest:  Dillsboro, Franklin, Cashiers, Highlands and Robbinsville – to name a few.  Explore the NNF.  Get out there and see what it has to offer.  Play and stay in the towns contained in this, one of the most beautiful national forest in the country.