the great outdoors
The great outdoors
Pisgah National Forest is practically out our back door. Most people flock to this area for the awesome natural beauty; it's what drew us here. They don't call it the "land of waterfalls" for nothing! We've listed a few of our favorite outdoor activities for you (there's a also a good book on trails in Pisgah National Forest in the house).
This is the biggest and closest outdoor offering. Just go back out to Hwy 64, turn right, go about 2 miles, go straight across the intersection, and you'll almost immediately be in the forest. There are some brochures and a guide book in the house, but here are a few of our favorite offerings:
Sycamore Flats - the first place you'll come to. A great swimming spot on the Davidson River with a fun rock for jumping off.
Looking Glass Falls: a roadside waterfall with steps down to the falls.
Moore Cove Falls: an easy (just over 2 miles roundtrip) hike to lovely falls where you can walk and climb around behind the falls.
Sliding Rock: who doesn't love a natural waterslide? Sliding rock is manned by lifeguards and has a small fee. It can get pretty crowded on a hot summer day and sometimes closes if it's at capacity. The water is COLD.
Looking Glass Rock: off to the left at the first fork of the road. A solid 5 miles round trip with 1600 foot elevation gain to an awesome view at the top.
Mount Pisgah: a little ways up the Blue Ridge Parkway (30-40 minutes), about 3 miles roundtrip with a little bit of scrambling to an amazing panoramic view on a clear day.
Graveyard Fields: near Mount Pisgah, a moderate, high elevation hike to waterfalls, about 4 miles round trip.
Please note that you will likely lose your cell signal shortly after entering the forest. There is a ranger station on the right shortly after entering, if you'd like to get more detailed information.
National Forest Road
National Forest RoadThis is the biggest and closest outdoor offering. Just go back out to Hwy 64, turn right, go about 2 miles, go straight across the intersection, and you'll almost immediately be in the forest. There are some brochures and a guide book in the house, but here are a few of our favorite offerings:
Sycamore Flats - the first place you'll come to. A great swimming spot on the Davidson River with a fun rock for jumping off.
Looking Glass Falls: a roadside waterfall with steps down to the falls.
Moore Cove Falls: an easy (just over 2 miles roundtrip) hike to lovely falls where you can walk and climb around behind the falls.
Sliding Rock: who doesn't love a natural waterslide? Sliding rock is manned by lifeguards and has a small fee. It can get pretty crowded on a hot summer day and sometimes closes if it's at capacity. The water is COLD.
Looking Glass Rock: off to the left at the first fork of the road. A solid 5 miles round trip with 1600 foot elevation gain to an awesome view at the top.
Mount Pisgah: a little ways up the Blue Ridge Parkway (30-40 minutes), about 3 miles roundtrip with a little bit of scrambling to an amazing panoramic view on a clear day.
Graveyard Fields: near Mount Pisgah, a moderate, high elevation hike to waterfalls, about 4 miles round trip.
Please note that you will likely lose your cell signal shortly after entering the forest. There is a ranger station on the right shortly after entering, if you'd like to get more detailed information.
A mountain biker's mecca, Hunger Games enthusiasts will be interested to note that the scenes in the arena were filmed in this forest. There are a number of hiking and biking options, the most popular being the hike to Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls. You can swim in the lake just below Hooker Falls. To get to this part of the forest, turn left onto Hwy 64, go about 4 miles, then right on Crab Creek Rd. Go about 4 miles to Dupont Rd. and turn right. You'll find the Hooker Falls parking area about 3 miles down. There are a number of lesser-traveled trails in the park. For more info, check out www.romanticasheville.com/hiking.html.
624 yerel halk öneriyor
Dupont Eyalet Ormanı
Staton RoadA mountain biker's mecca, Hunger Games enthusiasts will be interested to note that the scenes in the arena were filmed in this forest. There are a number of hiking and biking options, the most popular being the hike to Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls. You can swim in the lake just below Hooker Falls. To get to this part of the forest, turn left onto Hwy 64, go about 4 miles, then right on Crab Creek Rd. Go about 4 miles to Dupont Rd. and turn right. You'll find the Hooker Falls parking area about 3 miles down. There are a number of lesser-traveled trails in the park. For more info, check out www.romanticasheville.com/hiking.html.
Although it's a little farther away (about 30 minutes or so), this park is one of our favorites. Take 64 west and stay on it (this will require a left at the first traffic light and a second one in Brevard, follow signs to 64 west) a little over 20 miles to NC 281 and turn left. Go about a mile to Grassy Ridge Rd. There's a great visitor center and just one trail, 3 miles round trip to Rainbow Falls and another 1/2 mile each way to Turtleback Falls. A nice, moderate hike with a swimming hole at the top (and the option to slide down the falls for the daring).
107 yerel halk öneriyor
Gorges Devlet Parkı
976 Grassy Ridge RdAlthough it's a little farther away (about 30 minutes or so), this park is one of our favorites. Take 64 west and stay on it (this will require a left at the first traffic light and a second one in Brevard, follow signs to 64 west) a little over 20 miles to NC 281 and turn left. Go about a mile to Grassy Ridge Rd. There's a great visitor center and just one trail, 3 miles round trip to Rainbow Falls and another 1/2 mile each way to Turtleback Falls. A nice, moderate hike with a swimming hole at the top (and the option to slide down the falls for the daring).
Two great rivers flow through this area, the French Broad and the Davidson. You can book tubing, paddling, or fly fishing excursions with Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman. www.headwatersoutfitters.com.
We've done the French Broad tubing with our family and it's enjoyable, mellow, fine for children.
62 yerel halk öneriyor
Headwaters Outfitters
25 Parkway RdTwo great rivers flow through this area, the French Broad and the Davidson. You can book tubing, paddling, or fly fishing excursions with Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman. www.headwatersoutfitters.com.
We've done the French Broad tubing with our family and it's enjoyable, mellow, fine for children.
Pisgah Riding Stables operates a variety of trail rides April through October. www.pisgahstables.com.
11 yerel halk öneriyor
Pisgah Forest Riding Stables
National Forest RoadPisgah Riding Stables operates a variety of trail rides April through October. www.pisgahstables.com.