Pisgah National Forest Guide Profile

Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — Pisgah National Forest

The Pisgah National Forest is a land of mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and heavily forested slopes. Comprised of over 500,000 acres, the Pisgah is primarily a hardwood forest with whitewater rivers, waterfalls and hundreds of miles of trails. This national forest is home of the first tract of land purchased under the Weeks Act of 1911 which led to the creation of the national forests in the eastern United States. It is also home of the first school of forestry in the United States, now preserved at the Cradle of Forestry in America historic site, and boasts two of the first designated wilderness areas in the east. The Pisgah, Grandfather and Appalachian Ranger Districts are scattered along the eastern edge of the mountains of western North Carolina and offer visitors a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoying the natural beauty of the mountains. Camping and Day-use Information Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and…

Camping & reservations

Reserve Davidson River Campground through the official Recreation.gov page. Other Pisgah campgrounds, including Lake Powhatan, have separate reservations and site types. Check current campground alerts and reopening information.

Davidson River Recreation Area ↗

Davidson River Recreation Area offers camping and outdoor activities for the whole family. The campground boasts several loops of shaded campsites, as well as access to hiking trails, fishing spots, waterfalls and several nearby attractions within Pisgah National Forest. It lies just four miles west of the town of Brevard and less than an hour from the city of Asheville. The facility is open year-round. Natural Features: The campground is located in Pisgah National Forest at an elevation of 2,150 feet. The surrounding land boasts mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls and slopes thickly forested with hardwoods and conifers. Recreation : The forest is known for its hiking trails, several of which are near the campground. Hikers can challenge themselves with the 12.3-mile Art Loeb Trail, the 3.7-mile North Slope Trail or a 1.5-mile walking trail. The Davidson River offers excellent trout fishing, plus tubing and swimming, which are kid-friendly favorite activities. Facilities : Campsites are organized into eight loops and some are adjacent to the water. Sites are mostly shaded and equipped with picnic tables, tent pads, lantern posts and campfire rings with grills. The facility also…

Reservations: Reservations required March 23- November 15. Same day walk up permitted November 15-March 23 for 1 night at a time. Reservations can be made by visiting Recreation.gov. or by phone at (877) 444-6777.

Reservations / current camping instructions ↗

Lake Powhatan Campground ↗

Located in the Pisgah National Forest, Lake Powhatan Campground is a wooded site on the banks of Lake Powhatan with a swimming lake and beach. No boats are allowed on the lake. The campground borders the 6,000 acre Bent Creek Experimental Forest, a haven for bicyclists. This site is open year round with limited services from November-March. Sites have picnic tables, tent pads, and lantern hooks. Flush toilets and showers in bath house, ice and firewood available for purchase. This facility offers a Day Use Fee or Seasons Passes to a beautiful picnic area and parking. Glamping sites available in addition to regular sites. Visit glamping sites.

Reservations: Reservation required March 23 through November 15. Same day walk up permitted November 15-March 23 for 1 night at a time. Campsite reservations are available through www.recreation.gov or (877) 444-6777.

Reservations / current camping instructions ↗

North Mills River Campground ↗

Located just outside of Asheville, NC in the Pisgah National Forest, North Mills River is a shady, secluded campground. Scenic North Mills River runs through the campground, offering fishing and water-play. The site is open year-round with limited services from November-March. Sites have picnic tables, tent pads, and lantern hooks. Flush toilets and showers in bath house, and firewood available for purchase. This facility offers a Day Use Fee or Seasons Passes to a beautiful picnic area and parking.

Reservations: Reservation available March 23 through November 15. Same day walk up permitted year-round for 1 night at a time. Reservations made at Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777.

Truck-camping & permitted overnight use

RV and tent camping, campground host on site.

The official recreation inventory lists Davidson River Recreation Area, Linville Gorge Wilderness area, Shining Rock Wilderness for dispersed camping. Read each site’s current rules; this does not authorize camping on every forest road.

Davidson River Recreation Area ↗ — Davidson River Recreation Area offers camping and outdoor activities for the whole family. The campground boasts several loops of shaded campsites, as well as access to hiking trails, fishing spots, waterfalls and several nearby attractions within Pisgah National Forest. It lies just four miles west of the town of Brevard and less than an hour from the city of Asheville. The facility is open year-round. Natural Features: The campground is located in Pisgah National Forest at an elevation of 2,150 feet. The surrounding land boasts mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls and slopes thickly forested with hardwoods and conifers. Recreation : The…

Linville Gorge Wilderness area ↗ — The Linville Gorge Wilderness, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, is part of the Pisgah National Forest. The gorge is formed by the Jonas Ridge on the east and Linville Mountain on the west and is bisected by the Linville River which drops 2,000 feet into the valleys below. The terrain is steep and rugged with numerous rock formations. It is covered by dense hardwood/pine forest and a wide variety of smaller trees and other plants. Recreation opportunities include hiking backpacking, rock climbing, fishing and hunting. A camping permit is needed on weekends and holidays May through October. Group size is limited to 10 persons. Each…

Shining Rock Wilderness ↗ — Designated as a Wilderness Area in September of 1964, Shining Rock encompasses over 18,000 acres. This area has elevations varying from 3300 to over 6,000 feet, lies on the north slope of the Pisgah Ledge, a northeasterly extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and gets its name from the white quartz outcropping near the crest of the Shining Rock Mountain.

Activities, hiking & trails

Davidson River Recreation Area ↗
Davidson River Recreation Area offers camping and outdoor activities for the whole family. The campground boasts several loops of shaded campsites, as well as access to hiking trails, fishing spots, waterfalls and several nearby attractions within Pisgah National Forest. It lies just four miles west of the town of Brevard and less than an hour from the city of Asheville. The facility is open year-round. Natural Features: The campground is located in Pisgah National Forest at an elevation of 2,150 feet. The surrounding land boasts mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls and slopes thickly forested with hardwoods and conifers. Recreation : The forest is known for its hiking trails, several of which are near the campground. Hikers can challenge themselves with the 12.3-mile Art Loeb Trail, the 3.7-mile North Slope Trail or a 1.5-mile walking trail. The Davidson River offers excellent trout fishing, plus tubing and swimming, which are kid-friendly favorite activities. Facilities : Campsites…

Lake Powhatan Campground ↗
Located in the Pisgah National Forest, Lake Powhatan Campground is a wooded site on the banks of Lake Powhatan with a swimming lake and beach. No boats are allowed on the lake. The campground borders the 6,000 acre Bent Creek Experimental Forest, a haven for bicyclists. This site is open year round with limited services from November-March. Sites have picnic tables, tent pads, and lantern hooks. Flush toilets and showers in bath house, ice and firewood available for purchase. This facility offers a Day Use Fee or Seasons Passes to a beautiful picnic area and parking. Glamping sites available in addition to regular sites. Visit glamping sites.

Lake Powhatan Picnic Area ↗
Day Use offers parking, bathrooms, large picnic area, water source and trash. Trails nearby for hikers and bikers. Fishing and accessible fishing pier. Day Use is adjacent to campground.

Maps & road access

Consult the current Motor Vehicle Use Map for permitted motor routes, vehicle classes and seasonal designations. A route on an MVUM is not a guarantee that it is maintained or passable. Check current road closures and conditions with the district; carry an offline map.

Use the official directions for the exact named campground or trailhead; forest boundaries and administrative offices are not campsite entrances. Official directions / site access ↗

Before you travel

Check the forest’s current alerts, seasonal services, fire orders and campground rules. Download the relevant official maps before entering areas with limited reception.

Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. USDA Forest Service official information ↗

Photograph sources & licensing

Banner: Looking Glass Rock from the Blue Ridge Parkway
Pisgah National Forest Blue Ridge Parkway - Looking Glass Rock
Credit: Jeff Gunn. Original source ↗ · CC BY 2.0 ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.

Second large photograph: Graveyard Fields, Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest Graveyard Fields
Credit: Jeff Gunn. Original source ↗ · CC BY 2.0 ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.

Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.