Pisgah National Forest

Birthplace of American forestry and home to the Cradle of Forestry historic site, Pisgah National Forest was established in 1916 on lands that were part of George Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate, where Gifford Pinchot and Carl Schenck pioneered the science of sustainable forest management. The forest's 512,758 acres encompass some of the most rugged terrain in the Southern Appalachians, including Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet -- the highest peak east of the Mississippi River -- and the Black Mountain range, which contains six of the ten highest peaks in the eastern United States.\n\nThe forest's waterfalls are legendary, with Sliding Rock's 60-foot natural waterslide drawing summer crowds and Looking Glass Falls cascading 60 feet beside a highway. Linville Gorge, often called the "Grand Canyon of the East," plunges 2,000 feet deep in a federally designated wilderness area. The Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wilderness areas protect rare high-elevation grassy balds and relict spruce-fir forests.\n\nPisgah's diverse trail system includes portions of the Appalachian Trail, the Art Loeb Trail, and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The forest's streams support native brook trout and stocked trout fisheries, while the Davidson River is one of the most popular fly-fishing destinations in the Southeast. The Blue Ridge Parkway winds through the forest for dozens of miles, providing access to iconic overlooks and trailheads.