Hiking in the Pisgah National Forest
One of the greatest features of the Pisgah National Forest is the availability of great hiking and backpacking opportunities. We will be talking only about the Pisgah District here - but the Pisgah District has over 400 miles of trails, so there are plenty of hiking opportunities here.
One of our most frequently asked questions at the Ranger Station is "Where is a good hike to take? The answer is not so easy, and we almost always have to ask a few questions in return: How long a hike? How strenuous a hike? What would you like to see? We also take some clues from how people are dressed, shoes they are wearing, time of day, weather conditions, etc. We really try and get people out on a hike they will enjoy, and which will not wear them out. The hike will only be good if it suits the weakest member of the group. Bring along the Ten Essentials for hikers. See list at bottom of this page.
All that being said - here are some of our favorite hikes and hiking locations as well as some comments on some other hikes. We've put them in alphabetical order. Posted near the bottom of the page are some hiking essentials you should have before attempting a hike. We also highly recommend that you have a Trail Map. We never go out on a hike without ours, and we almost always end up referring to it. Pisgah maps can be purchased at the Ranger Station, online, and at the Cradle of Forestry and local outfitters.
Cat Gap Loop Trail including the John Rock Summit Trail. Our personal trail rating is a 5 out of 5 - one of our favorite hikes in the district. We recommend this one a lot, and it is a very popular Pisgah hike. We do the loop clockwise, leaving from the end of the parking lot at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. The hike is moderate. We like the hike for the diverse types of plants and trees encountered and the super view of Looking Glass Rock seen from the rock face of John Rock (see photo below). Maps show the Cat Gap Loop distance to be 4.4 miles, and the John Rock Trail to be 1.8 miles. Taking the Cat Gap Bypass knocks a little off the hike. It will end up being almost 6 miles total.
Coontree Loop Trail. Our personal trail rating is a 1 out of 5. Most people hike this trail in a counter-clockwise direction. We see little reason to do the trail. It's fairly strenuous (moderate on the maps) and offers few views - just a wooded trail hike. It weighs in at 3.7 miles.
Daniel Ridge Loop Trail. Our personal trail rating is a 4 out of 5. We like to do the loop in a clockwise direction. We like this hike because it starts out with a crossing of the Davidson River and then it parallels the river for a while where there are several nice cascades and the remains of an old hatchery. It then climbs to a ridgetop, turns right, and descends through woods until it emerges near the top of Daniel Ridge Falls (also called Jackson Falls and Tom Spring Falls). From the top of the falls a switchback leads to a Forest Service Road for the return to the parking lot. At the bottom of the switchback go to the left for a little ways to view the falls from below. Offering nice river views and a decent falls, this is one of our favorite hikes. We'd call it a moderate hike. The maps show it as 4 miles, but we think it is a little longer. We're not sure the measurement is from the start of the actual trail, or from the parking lot.
Pink Beds Loop Trail. Our personal trail rating is a 4 out of 5. This popular loop can be either a 3 or a 5 mile loop that is rated easy. There are few hills, and that also means no views. The shorter hike makes use of the Barnett Branch trail that bisects the pink beds loop. The Barnett Branch cut-off has a wonderful boardwalk across the creek. The biggest issue with the trail is the frequent activity from beavers which can cause wet spots or even flooding. As of July, 2011 the entire loop is open with some muddy spots on the south portion of the loop between Barnett Branch and the picnic area. Some log walking or hopping is required - bringing a walking stick for balance would be a good idea. The beavers do create some pretty ponds though, and it is usually a good flower hike. Update July 29th, 2011. Yesterday a visitor reported that the southern section of the Pink Beds Trail between the picnic area and the Barnet Branch is again flooded. Chalk another one up for the beavers.
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