Pisgah National Forest

A waterfall cascades over rocks in the Pisgah National Forest.

An explosion of fall color in Pisgah National Forest.

The 495,000-acre Pisgah National Forest covers the mountains of western North Carolina and is named for the mountain from which Moses saw the promised land.

Highlights include the Cradle of Foresty in America, a 6,500-acre outdoor museum that commemorates the beginning of forestry conservation in the United States. It was formerly part of the George Washington Vanderbilt estate and housed the Biltmore Forest School.

Two one-mile trails lead to reconstructed campus buildings and to outdoor exhibits that feature a logging locomotive and portable sawmill.

The Wisemans View scenic observation area affords outstanding views of Linville Gorge, Table Rock, Hawksbill Mountain and Shortoff Mountain.

The Appalachian Trail crosses the mountains of the Pisgah forest.

The Roan Mountain Gardens, Looking Glass Falls, Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway and stocked trout streams are other outstanding features of the Pisgah National Forest.

Some attractions charge a fee, but entry into the Pisgah National Forest is free.