Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina

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These are the foothills of the Smokies. Some of the more spectacular and interesting sights are the Blue Ridge Parkway, Looking Glass Rock, Looking Glass Falls, Devil's Courthouse, and the Cradle of Forestry. Address is for the Pisgah Ranger District.

Originally the Biltmore Forest School, founded in 1898 by Dr. Carl Schenck, chief forester for George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate. Dr. Schenck pioneered modern techniques of sustainable forest management. Now managed by the Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association (CFIA), a non-profit group.

Visit Transylvania County and the surrounding areas. This is what they call 'waterfall country'. It is in the Pisgah National Forest and is the Cradle of Forestry in America. There are LOTS of campgrounds and the Blue Ridge Parkway runs right through the area. Nearby is Asheville, one of the best cities in NC!
There are so many waterfalls here! The area is the first place that forestry was studied and the science of forest management was started. There are waterfalls in this area that you can walk behind, drive behind, view from the road, and just admire. The waterfalls are HUGE and there is so much more that that! There are many spots that you can pull over on the side of the road and explore, most roads run next to water. THe campgrounds in this area are beautiful. The Appalachian Trail runs straight through this area and there are many free areas to camp but you have to park and hike to them. Most of the trails are interlinked and a person riding a bike and carrying their gear would be in heaven, as would everyone else!

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Here, mountain trout are raised, before being released into local streams. Once a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, it is now operated by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

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Located in the Pisgah National Forest, this huge rock formation is visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's a formidable hike to the top, but the view is worth it.