Hike To Impressive Views And Waterfalls At This Underrated US Forest

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited park in the United States. It covers over a half million acres, split between the states of Tennessee and North Carolina, and has over 14 million visits per year. Ironically, just about an hour's drive to the east sits the country's most popular national forest, Pisgah National Forest. The two public areas are not just located close to one another — they are similar in size, as Pisgah also covers over 500,000 acres, and are both well-known for their scenic views. 

Both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Pisgah each offer similar activities. The biggest differences seem to be that Pisgah is located entirely within the state of North Carolina and draws about four million fewer visitors than does the GSMNP each year. This means visitors have plenty of open space to hike to impressive views and waterfalls, as well as enjoy a myriad of other outdoor activities at this U.S. forest.

It is safe to say that the majority of visitors to Pisgah National Forest spend at least a portion of their time there engaged in hiking. The US Forest Service lists over 100 trails within the park for hikers and dozens more for backpackers. A good many of these trails lead to some of the dozens of waterfalls also located within Pisgah National Forest. Some of the more popular hikes that take you to cascading water include Looking Glass Falls, Skinny Dip Falls, Graveyard Fields, and Linville Falls Plunge Basin Trail. 

While there are plenty of other trails to bring visitors to the various falls within the national forest, there are others that stand out for different reasons. Both Max Patch and Black Balsam Knob afford visitors 360-degree views. Hiking up Shining Rock Mountain gives visitors an up close look at dazzling quartz, while the top of the 6,030-foot-tall Cold Mountain gives hikers a view from peak elevation. Regardless of which trails you take, be sure to pack the 10 hiking essentials, know your route ahead of time, and alert others to your hiking plan. It is also a good idea to download the AllTrails app, which can help you navigate the labyrinth of trails found within Pisgah National Forest. Also, this is bear territory, so be sure to make noise to avoid bears as you move down the trail.

There are a number of other outdoor activities available in Pisgah National Forest that may or may not be combined with hiking. For one, the forest is widely known for its mountain biking opportunities, as there are nearly as many biking as hiking trails. Rock climbing is another popular activity that is available in portions of the forest. There are also designated horse riding areas and trails, as well as a number of campsites, including some RV sites, located throughout the forest for those who wish to overnight. There are a handful of areas where dispersed camping is allowed in the Pisgah National Forest, too, for those who do not want to be in a designated campsite.

For those who wish to spend a bit more time in or around the water, swimming and tubing are possibilities. The famous Slide Rock Waterfall is a favorite spot to cool off. Paddle sports are also allowed, including canoeing, kayaking, paddleboard, and rafting. Pond, lake, river, and stream fishing is also available for those looking to wet a line.