Pisgah National Forest

Linville Gorge, Pisgah National Forest

On West Prong Hickey Fork Creek

Pisgah National Forest is a 512,758-acre property in northwestern North Carolina. The Forest was established in 1916, one of the very first National Forests east of the Mississippi. The Forest included about 86,700 acres of the Biltmore Estate, sold to the Federal government by Edith Vanderbilt in 1914. On that property is the site now known as "The Cradle of Forestry." The Cradle of Forestry and the Biltmore Estate were pivotal in the birthing of the US Forest Service. The forest today surrounds Asheille on three sides.

To the west and southwest is Nantahala National Forest. To the north and northwest is Cherokee National Forest. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is to the west. Pisgah National Forest is also traversed by the Blue Ridge Parkway and by the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

A fall view at Wilson Creek

Upper Creek Falls