Pisgah Ranger District
Area Status: Temporarily Closed
The Pisgah Ranger District is home to many waterfalls, scenic views, and miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Bordering Transylvania, Buncombe, and Haywood Counties, Pisgah Ranger District is a short drive from Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, and Waynesville. Lake Powhatan Recreation area and Bent Creek Experimental Forest are also included in the Pisgah District, providing visitors with more recreation opportunities.
At a Glance
Current Conditions: | In response to the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene, all recreation sites on the Pisgah and Nantahala remain closed until hazardous conditions improve and assessments can be completed. |
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General Information
Directions:From the Asheville Supervisor's Office:
Take I 26 East to Exit 40 (Airport Rd.) Turn right on Airport Road (Hwy. 280) and continue on it until reaching Pisgah Forest. Turn right on US Hwy. 276 North. The ranger district office is approximately 2 miles on US 276.
Activities
Mountain Biking
Recreation areas with activity Mountain Biking:- Avery Creek Trail #327
- Bear Branch Trail #328
- Bennett Gap Trail #138
- Bent Creek Experimental Forest
- Boyd Branch Trail #665
- Campground Connnector Trail #329
- Cold Knob Connector Trail #337A
- Deer Lake Lodge Trail #664
- Deerfield Loop Trail #335
- Explorer Loop Connector #337B
- Greenslick Trail #139
- Hardtimes Connector Trail #661
- Homestead Trail #333
- Ingles Field Connector #150A
- Ingles Field Gap Trail #150
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Lake Powhatan Picnic Area
- Lake Powhatan Swim Area
- Ledford Trail #660
- Little Hickory Top Trail #136
- Lower Sidehill Trail #137A
- North Boundary Trail #135
- Pine Tree Connector Trail #336A
- Pine Tree Loop Trail #336
- Sidehill Connector Trail #145A
- Sidehill Trail #145
- Sleepy Gap Trail #339
- Small Creek Trail #334
- Wolf Branch Trail #666
- Big Creek Trail #102
- Black Mountain Trail #127
- Bradley Creek Trail #351
- Buckhorn Gap Trail #103
- Buckwheat Knob Trail #122
- Butter Gap Trail #123
- Caney Bottom Trail #361
- Cantrell Creek Trail #148
- Cat Gap Bypass Trail #120A
- Cat Gap Loop Trail #120
- Cedar Rock Trail #124
- Cemetery Loop Trail #341
- Club Gap Trail #343
- Coontree Loop Trail #144
- Cove Creek Group Campground
- Cove Creek Trail #340
- Cradle of Forestry
- Forest Discovery Center
- Pink Beds Connector Trail #118A
- Pink Beds Loop Trail #118
- Daniel Ridge Loop Trail #105
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- Davidson River Trail #650
- Farlow Gap Trail #106
- Flat Laurel Creek Trail #346
- Fletcher Creek Trail #350
- Foster Creek Trail #610
- Grassy Road Trail #364
- Graveyard Ridge Trail #356
- Horse Cove Gap Trail #325
- Ivestor Gap Trail #101
- Laurel Creek Trail #348
- Laurel Mountain Connector Trail #110
- Laurel Mountain Trail #121
- Long Branch Trail #116
- Middle Fork Trail #352
- Mullinax Trail #326
- North Boundary Trail #135
- North Mills River Trail #353
- North Slope Trail #359
- Pilot Cove Loop Trail #320A
- Pilot Cove-Slate Rock Trail #320
- Pilot Rock Trail #321
- Pink Beds Picnic Area
- Pisgah Ranger Station/Visitor Center
- Riverside Trail #115
- South Mills River Trail #133
- Spencer Gap Trail #600
- Squirrel Gap Trail #147
- Sycamore Cove Loop Trail #143
- Thrift Cove Loop Trail #603
- Trace Ridge Trail #354
- Turkeypen Gap Trail #322
- Vineyard Gap Trail #324
- Wash Creek Trail #606
- Yellow Gap Trail #611
Campground Camping
Recreation areas with activity Campground Camping:- Bent Creek Experimental Forest
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- North Mills River Campground
- Sunburst Campground
- Wolf Ford Horse Camp
Group Camping
Recreation areas with activity Group Camping:- Cove Creek Group Campground
- Kuykendall Group Campground
- Wash Creek Horse Camp
- White Pines Group Campground
Dispersed Camping
Recreation areas with activity Dispersed Camping:Lake and Pond Fishing
Recreation areas with activity Lake and Pond Fishing:- Bent Creek Experimental Forest
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Lake Powhatan Picnic Area
- Lake Powhatan Swim Area
River and Stream Fishing
Recreation areas with activity River and Stream Fishing:- Coontree Picnic Area
- Cove Creek Group Campground
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- Kuykendall Group Campground
- North Mills River Campground
- North Mills River Picnic Area
- Pisgah Ranger Station/Visitor Center
- Sunburst Campground
- Sunburst Picnic Area
- Sycamore Flats Picnic Area
- White Pines Group Campground
Day Hiking
Recreation areas with activity Day Hiking:- Andy Cove Nature Trail #288
- Andy Cove Trailhead
- Art Loeb Spur Trail #108
- Art Loeb Trail #1 (NRT) #146
- Art Loeb Trail #2 (NRT) #146
- Art Loeb Trail #3 (NRT) #146
- Art Loeb Trail #4 (NRT) #146
- Art Loeb Trailhead, Camp Daniel Boone
- Art Loeb Trailhead, Davidson River
- Avery Creek Trail #327
- Bad Fork Trail #323
- Bear Branch Trail #328
- Bennett Gap Trail #138
- Bent Creek Experimental Forest
- Boyd Branch Trail #665
- Campground Connnector Trail #329
- Chestnut Cove Trail #662
- Cold Knob Connector Trail #337A
- Deer Lake Lodge Trail #664
- Deerfield Connector Trail #335A
- Deerfield Loop Trail #335
- Explorer Loop Connector #337B
- Explorer Loop Trail #337
- Greenslick Trail #139
- Hardtimes Connector Trail #661
- Homestead Trail #333
- Ingles Field Connector #150A
- Ingles Field Gap Trail #150
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Lake Powhatan Picnic Area
- Lake Powhatan Swim Area
- Ledford Trail #660
- Little Hickory Top Trail #136
- Lower Sidehill Trail #137A
- North Boundary Trail #135
- Pine Tree Connector Trail #336A
- Pine Tree Loop Trail #336
- Sidehill Connector Trail #145A
- Sidehill Trail #145
- Sleepy Gap Trail #339
- Small Creek Trail #334
- Wolf Branch Trail #666
- Big Creek Trail #102
- Black Balsam Trailhead
- Black Mountain Trail #127
- Bradley Creek Trail #351
- Bridges Camp Gap Trail #607
- Buckhorn Gap Trail #103
- Buckwheat Knob Trail #122
- Butter Gap Trail #123
- Caney Bottom Trail #361
- Cantrell Creek Trail #148
- Case Camp Ridge Trail #119
- Cat Gap Bypass Trail #120A
- Cat Gap Loop Trail #120
- Cedar Rock Trail #124
- Cemetery Loop Trail #341
- Clawhammer Cove Trail #342
- Club Gap Trail #343
- Coontree Loop Trail #144
- Coontree Picnic Area
- Courthouse Falls Trail #130
- Cove Creek Trail #340
- Cradle of Forestry
- Barnett Branch Trail #618
- Biltmore Campus Trail #006
- Buck Spring Trail #104
- Forest Discovery Center
- Forest Festival Trail #319
- Pink Beds Connector Trail #118A
- Pink Beds Loop Trail #118
- Thompson Creek Trail #602
- Daniel Ridge Loop Trail #105
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- Davidson River Trail #650
- Dew Falls Trail #281
- Exercise Trail #344
- Farlow Gap Trail #106
- Flat Laurel Creek Trail #346
- Fletcher Creek Trail #350
- Foster Creek Trail #610
- Grassy Road Trail #364
- Graveyard Fields Loop Trail #358
- Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail #356A
- Graveyard Ridge Trail #356
- Horse Cove Gap Trail #325
- Ivestor Gap Trail #101
- John Rock Trail #365
- Kuykendall Group Campground
- Laurel Creek Trail #348
- Laurel Mountain Connector Trail #110
- Laurel Mountain Trail #121
- Ledford Branch Trailhead
- Little Sam Trail #347
- Long Branch Trail #116
- Looking Glass Rock Trailhead
- Looking Glass RockTrail #114
- Middle Fork Trail #352
- Middle Prong Wilderness
- Buckeye Gap Trail #126
- Green Mountain Trail #113
- Haywood Gap Trail #142
- Mountains to Sea National Recreation Trail #440
- Moore Cove Trail #318
- Mount Pisgah Trail #355
- Mountains to Sea Access Trail #358B
- Mullinax Trail #326
- North Boundary Trail #135
- North Face Trail #132
- North Face Trailhead
- North Mills River Trail #353
- North Slope Connector Trail #359A
- North Slope Trail #359
- Perry Cove Trail #151
- Pilot Cove Loop Trail #320A
- Pilot Cove-Slate Rock Trail #320
- Pilot Rock Extension Trail #321A
- Pilot Rock Trail #321
- Pink Beds Picnic Area
- Pisgah Ranger Station/Visitor Center
- Poundingmill Trail #349
- Pressley Cove Trail #112
- Rainbow Falls Trail #499
- Riverside Trail #115
- Sam Knob Summit #617A
- Sam Knob Trail #617
- Seniard Ridge Trail #609
- Shining Rock Wilderness
- Big East Fork 357 Shining Rock Wilderness
- Big East Fork Trail #357
- Bridges Camp Gap Trail #607
- Cold Mountain Trail #141
- Fork Mountain Trail #109
- Greasy Cove Trail #362
- Little East Fork Trail #107
- Old Butt Knob Trail #332
- Shining Creek Trail #363
- Shut-In Trail (NRT) #345
- Slick Rock Falls Trail #117
- South Mills River Trail #133
- South Mills River Trailhead
- Spencer Gap Trail #600
- Squirrel Gap Trail #147
- Sunwall Trail #601
- Sycamore Cove Loop Trail #143
- Thompson Creek Trail #602
- Thrift Cove Loop Trail #603
- Trace Ridge Trail #354
- Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead
- Turkeypen Gap Trail #322
- Twin Falls Trail #604
- Upper Falls Trail #358A
- Vineyard Gap Trail #324
- Wagon Road Gap Trail #134
- Wash Creek Trail #606
- White Pines Group Campground
- Wolf Ford Horse Camp
- Yellow Gap Trail #611
Backpacking
Recreation areas with activity Backpacking:Horse Camping
Recreation areas with activity Horse Camping:Horse Riding
Recreation areas with activity Horse Riding:- Bear Branch Trail #328
- Bent Creek Experimental Forest
- Deer Lake Lodge Trail #664
- Hardtimes Connector Trail #661
- Ingles Field Connector #150A
- Little Hickory Top Trail #136
- Lower Sidehill Trail #137A
- North Boundary Trail #135
- Sidehill Connector Trail #145A
- Sidehill Trail #145
- Buckhorn Gap Trail #103
- Flat Laurel Creek Trail #346
- Fletcher Creek Trail #350
- Graveyard Ridge Trail #356
- Horse Cove Gap Trail #325
- Laurel Creek Trail #348
- Mullinax Trail #326
- North Boundary Trail #135
- Riverside Trail #115
- Shining Rock Wilderness
- Little East Fork Trail #107
- South Mills River Trail #133
- Trace Ridge Trail #354
- Wash Creek Horse Camp
- Wash Creek Trail #606
- Wolf Ford Horse Camp
- Yellow Gap Trail #611
Visitor Programs
Recreation areas with activity Visitor Programs:Interpretive Areas
Recreation areas with activity Interpretive Areas:- Andy Cove Trailhead
- Art Loeb Trailhead, Davidson River
- Bent Creek Experimental Forest
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Cove Creek Group Campground
- Cradle of Forestry
- Forest Discovery Center
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- Pisgah Ranger Station/Visitor Center
Visitor Centers
Recreation areas with activity Visitor Centers:Picnicking
Recreation areas with activity Picnicking:- Bent Creek Experimental Forest
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Lake Powhatan Picnic Area
- Lake Powhatan Swim Area
- Coontree Picnic Area
- Cradle of Forestry
- Forest Discovery Center
- Looking Glass Falls Scenic Area
- North Mills River Picnic Area
- Pink Beds Picnic Area
- Pisgah Ranger Station/Visitor Center
- Sunburst Picnic Area
- Sycamore Flats Picnic Area
Scenic Driving
Recreation areas with activity Scenic Driving:- Bent Creek Experimental Forest
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway
- Looking Glass Falls Scenic Area
Swimming
Recreation areas with activity Swimming:- Bent Creek Experimental Forest
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Lake Powhatan Swim Area
- Coontree Picnic Area
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- Looking Glass Falls Scenic Area
- North Mills River Campground
- North Mills River Picnic Area
- Sliding Rock Recreation Area
- Sycamore Flats Picnic Area
Tubing
Recreation areas with activity Tubing:- Coontree Picnic Area
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- North Mills River Campground
- North Mills River Picnic Area
- Sycamore Flats Picnic Area
Alerts & Warnings
- Hurricane Helene: Nantahala National Forest Closures
- Hurricane Helene: Pisgah National Forest Closures
- Uwharrie Ranger District- Kings Mountain Point Fishing Pier Closure
- Pisgah Ranger District- Catheys Creek Road Closure
- Dogs Must be Leashed in Bent Creek
- Roan Mountain Recreation Area CLOSED For 2024 Season
- Avery Creek Rd closed due to storm damages