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Pisgah National Forest

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Gems in Pisgah National Forest - 10

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gem Favorite Enjoy expansive views across the valley to Looking Glass Rock.

John Rock

(24) Brevard, NC
gem Favorite The breathtaking sight of Linville Gorge from Shortoff Mountain.

Shortoff Mountain View

(12) Glen Al…, NC
gem Favorite Linville Gorge Wilderness Area as seen from the peak of Table Rock Mountain.

Table Rock Summit

(15) Spruce…, NC
gem Favorite Watching a mixture of fog and clouds dissipate as the sun rises above Linville Gorge. Those rolling clouds get misty - bring a rain jacket!

Big Flat Rock Overlook / Campsite

(9) Spruce…, NC
gem Favorite Tubers coming down the longer natural waterslide near Upper Creek Falls.

Upper Creek Falls/Jonas Hole/Natural Waterslide

(11) Linville, NC
gem Favorite Profile of Linville Falls from Plunge Basin

Linville Falls

(1) Newland, NC
gem Favorite Overlooking the valley below at Rocky Knob!

Rocky Knob Overlook

(4) Black M…, NC
gem Favorite Rhododendron Gardens atop Roan Ridge!

Rhododendron Gardens

(5) Bakersv…, NC
gem Favorite Sun rising over the cloud encased South Toe River Valley as the wind begins to whip up the just moments before still clouds as seen from Sunrise Point along the Woody Ridge Trail

Sunrise Point Overlook

(6) Burnsville, NC
gem Favorite This is the meadow at the top. And this is Bodhi. He is not our dog; he was a dog from the neighborhood who led us up the trail. At one point he surprised us at the other end of a crawl through space.

Horse Rock Bald

(6) Burnsville, NC

Recommended Routes in Pisgah National Forest - 42

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RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Tablerock Mountain (to the right) from Shortoff Mountain.
Difficult Difficult

Linville Gorge Wilderness Loop

21.9 mi 35.2 km • 4,723' Up 1439.6 m Up • 4,722' Down 1439.31 m Down

Glen Al…, NC
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Afternoon sun streaming through the trees on the Crest Trail.
Difficult Difficult

Mount Mitchell - Black Mountain Crest Trail #179

12.1 mi 19.5 km • 5,010' Up 1526.98 m Up • 1,498' Down 456.71 m Down

Burnsville, NC
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Pilot Mountain on the Art Loeb Trail
Difficult Difficult

Art Loeb Trail

31.1 mi 50.0 km • 7,652' Up 2332.23 m Up • 6,485' Down 1976.51 m Down

Brevard, NC
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite View from the Mt. Mitchell summit.
Difficult Difficult

Mount Mitchell

11.7 mi 18.8 km • 3,651' Up 1112.72 m Up • 3,650' Down 1112.62 m Down

Black M…, NC
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Near Sam's Knob
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Sam Knob Loop

9.8 mi 15.7 km • 1,393' Up 424.63 m Up • 1,402' Down 427.37 m Down

Brevard, NC
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite The Peoples Trail - A photo shot of a couple along the Appalachian Trail from atop Max Patch Mountain in Pisgah National Forest. There are many stunning views along the 2,200-mile east coast trail, but nothing quite like the panoramic scene of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Intermediate Intermediate

Max Patch Short Loop

1.5 mi 2.4 km • 242' Up 73.7 m Up • 249' Down 75.89 m Down

Marshall, NC
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Near Sam's Knob
Difficult Difficult

Fork and Green Mountain Extravaganza

21.8 mi 35.1 km • 4,379' Up 1334.76 m Up • 4,375' Down 1333.41 m Down

Hazelwood, NC
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite “Cave” along Conley Cove Trail.
Difficult Difficult

Conley Cove

2.5 mi 4.0 km • 1,025' Up 312.29 m Up • 1,025' Down 312.37 m Down

Spruce…, NC
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite View from the Mt. Mitchell summit.
Difficult Difficult

Mount Mitchell Vert Marathon

26.6 mi 42.8 km • 9,022' Up 2749.86 m Up • 9,022' Down 2749.76 m Down

Marion, NC
Explore in 3D

Pisgah National Forest Hiking

  • 808 Miles 1,300 Kilometers of Trail
  • 42 Recommended Routes
  • 10 Gems Gems
  • 47 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 184 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 130 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Share what you know about this area!
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Areas Within Pisgah National Forest

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Trails in Pisgah National Forest - 319

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Trails

2.4 mi 3.9 km #1Woody Ridge Trail (177)
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Burnsville, NC
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Burnsville, NC 31 
7.7 mi 12.4 km #2Shortoff Mountain Trail
Difficult Difficult
Glen Alpine, NC
Difficult Difficult
Glen Alpine, NC 22 
1.0 mi 1.6 km #3Hawksbill Mountain Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Spruce Pine, NC
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Spruce Pine, NC 25 
1.2 mi 1.9 km #4Catawba Falls Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Black Mountain, NC
Intermediate Intermediate
Black Mountain, NC 23 
0.7 mi 1.1 km #5Table Rock Summit Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Spruce Pine, NC
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Spruce Pine, NC 14 
4.6 mi 7.4 km #6Graybeard Trail
Difficult Difficult
Black Mountain, NC
Difficult Difficult
Black Mountain, NC 19 
1.1 mi 1.8 km #7Pinch-In Trail
Difficult Difficult
Spruce Pine, NC
Difficult Difficult
Spruce Pine, NC 18 
3.7 mi 6.0 km #8Colbert Ridge Trail
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Burnsville, NC
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Burnsville, NC 12 
0.7 mi 1.2 km #9Lookout Trail
Difficult Difficult
Black Mountain, NC
Difficult Difficult
Black Mountain, NC 12 
0.9 mi 1.5 km #10Blue Ridge Pinnacle Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Black Mountain, NC
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Black Mountain, NC 8 

Photos of Pisgah National Forest - 494

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Photos

Tablerock Mountain (to the right) from Shortoff Mountain.
Dec 2, 2015 near Glen Al…, NC
Morning glory on the Black Mountain Crest Trail.
Jan 17, 2016 near Burnsville, NC
Rhododendron Gardens atop Roan Ridge!
Jan 22, 2016 near Bakersv…, NC
The Peoples Trail - A photo shot of a couple along the Appalachian Trail from atop Max Patch Mountain in Pisgah National Forest. There are many stunning views along the 2,200-mile east coast trail, but nothing quite like the panoramic scene of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Apr 7, 2016 near Marshall, NC
Enjoy a beautiful view of where the gorge carves through the mountains by sitting on one of the cliff edges along the Shortoff Mountain Trail.
Feb 4, 2017 near Spruce…, NC
Sun rising over the cloud encased South Toe River Valley as the wind begins to whip up the just moments before still clouds as seen from Sunrise Point along the Woody Ridge Trail
Oct 17, 2017 near Burnsville, NC
Crabtree Falls in winter
Jan 1, 2021 near Spruce…, NC
Just past sunrise on the top of the Laurel Creek Trail as it begins a steep descent to its namesake creek.
Dec 12, 2024 near Etowah, NC
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