Trail Guide · Pisgah National Forest

Hiking in Pisgah National Forest: A Trail Guide for Every Skill Level

Valley Bear Farms · Balsam Grove, NC · 7 min read · Updated June 2026

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Explore

500,000+ Acres of Forest

7 Trails Featured

3 Skill Levels

0.3 to 30 mi Trail Range

In This Guide

Easy Hikes
Moderate Hikes
Strenuous Hikes
Where to Stay

Pisgah National Forest covers more than 500,000 acres of the Southern Appalachians, with hundreds of miles of trail running through it. That scale alone sets it apart from most hiking destinations on the East Coast, but what makes Pisgah distinct isn't just the size. It's the range within it: waterfalls you can reach in under a mile, summit hikes with elevation gain that will test experienced hikers, and a variety of terrain that shifts from creek-side forest to exposed rock balds within a short drive.

This guide breaks down the best hikes in Pisgah by difficulty, with distances, elevation details, and what you'll actually see once you're on the trail. It isn't an exhaustive list of every trail in the forest. It's a curated set of options that cover the range of what Pisgah offers, from short family-friendly walks to full-day strenuous routes.

Easy

Easy hikes in Pisgah National Forest

Easy Roadside + steps to the base

Looking Glass Falls

Looking Glass Falls is less a hike than a roadside stop, and one of the most accessible waterfalls in Pisgah. You can see the 60-foot falls right from Highway 276 and from the parking area, so you get the view even if you never leave the overlook. If you want a closer look, a staircase leads from the parking area down to the base, and most people are down and back in just a few minutes.

The payoff is a 60-foot waterfall dropping into a wide pool, with a massive rock face behind it that gives the falls its name. It's one of the most photographed spots in the forest, and for good reason: you get a dramatic waterfall view with almost no effort.

This is a great first stop if you're new to Pisgah, traveling with young kids, or just want a quick, reliable payoff without committing to a longer trail. On busy summer weekends the lot fills up fast, so you may have to park farther down and walk back, but the rest of the year you can usually pull right in.

Easy ~5 mi loop Mostly flat

Pink Beds Loop

The Pink Beds Loop is one of the easiest and most scenic walks close to Balsam Grove, tucked into a high mountain valley just off Highway 276 near the Cradle of Forestry. The trail runs about 5 miles, but it stays mostly flat the whole way, which makes it a comfortable option for families or anyone who wants distance without much climbing.

The route winds through open meadows, wetlands, and thick stands of mountain laurel and rhododendron. In late spring and early summer, the blooms are what give the Pink Beds their name, and it's common to spot beaver activity and small streams along the way.

Because it's flat and easy underfoot, it's a good pick for an arrival-day walk or a slower afternoon in between more demanding hikes.

Moore Cove Falls in Pisgah National Forest, where the trail leads behind the curtain of water

Easy 1.3 mi out & back 180 ft gain

Moore Cove Falls Trail

This is an easy and family-friendly route that travels along the Moore Cove Trail (#318). The main feature is the magnificent Moore Cove Falls, which is about 50 ft high and cascades over a rock overhang.

A couple of sections tend to be muddy, but it's easy to bypass the mud. This is a must-see for hikers in the area.

Moderate

Moderate hikes in Pisgah National Forest

Moderate 6.8 mi out & back or 3.8 mi via Summey Cove · 1,003 ft gain

Courthouse Falls

Courthouse Falls is a cascading waterfall set in a rocky, shaded gorge, dropping about 45 feet into a deep, narrow pool. There are two main ways to reach it: a straightforward 6.8-mile out-and-back, or a more primitive 3.8-mile forest route with roughly 1,003 feet of elevation gain via the Summey Cove Trail.

The Summey Cove route follows a narrow dirt tread from the Blue Ridge Parkway area, climbing gradually through hardwoods, rhododendron, and damp cove forest. The trail crosses several small creeks and has roots, leaf litter, muddy patches, and uneven footing as it climbs over the ridge and descends toward Courthouse Creek. Expect slick crossings, wet rock near the falls, and limited signage in places.

In warmer months, Courthouse Falls is also one of the better swimming spots in Pisgah, and the mist from the falls keeps the immediate area cool even in summer.

Moderate to Strenuous ~6 mi round trip

Black Balsam Knob

Black Balsam Knob is part of the Art Loeb Trail system and runs about 6 miles round trip, depending on the exact route you take. The elevation gain puts this solidly in moderate to strenuous territory, but the payoff is a grassy, wildflower-covered summit with sweeping views in every direction.

Strenuous

Strenuous hikes in Pisgah National Forest

Strenuous ~6 mi round trip

Looking Glass Rock

Looking Glass Rock is one of the more demanding day hikes in Pisgah, and also one of the most rewarding. The trail runs roughly 6 miles round trip with significant elevation gain, climbing steadily through forest before opening up to exposed rock near the summit.

The reward at the top is a sweeping, panoramic view of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, including a clear look at the granite dome that gives the mountain its name from a distance. This is a popular hike among serious hikers and trail runners looking for a good workout, and it typically takes a half day or more depending on your pace and how long you linger at the summit.

Sturdy footwear is needed here. The final approach involves some rock scrambling, and the trail can be slick if it's recently rained.

Strenuous ~30 mi end to end

Art Loeb Trail

The Art Loeb Trail is the backbone of Pisgah's longer trail system, running about 30 miles from end to end through some of the forest's most dramatic terrain, including sections that pass near Black Balsam Knob. While day hikers often tackle individual sections, like the stretch covered earlier, the full trail is typically approached as a multi-day backpacking trip.

This one is for experienced hikers who want sustained elevation change, exposed ridgeline walking, and the kind of mileage that requires planning around water sources and camp spots. If you're not looking to backpack the entire route, sampling a section, particularly near Black Balsam, is a great way to still experience what the trail offers without the multi-day commitment.

Where to Stay

Where to stay for a Pisgah hiking trip

Valley Bear Farms is a 200-acre resort bordering Pisgah National Forest, positioned close to the trailheads in this guide. The property also has its own 6 miles of trails, which makes for a reasonable way to ease into a trip on arrival day, or a lower-commitment option on a day when conditions or fatigue make something like Looking Glass Rock feel like too much.

Onsite, we have amenities like a wood-fired sauna and hot showers in the luxe bathhouse that make for great recovery tools after a day on the trails.

None of this changes what the trails themselves offer. But staying somewhere positioned to reach this range of hikes, without the trip becoming mostly about driving, tends to shape the weekend differently than lodging chosen without that in mind. We look forward to welcoming you to this beautiful paradise here in the land of the waterfalls. Check out our availability and start planning your trip today!

Mirror Cabin glamping accommodation at Valley Bear Farms near Pisgah National Forest — Mirror Cabins →

Couples glamping cabin in the forest canopy at Valley Bear Farms — Couples Glamping Cabins →

Creekside yurt beside a flowing creek at Valley Bear Farms near Pisgah National Forest — Creekside Yurts →

A-Frame cabin with soaring windows at Valley Bear Farms near Pisgah National Forest — The A-Frame Collection →

The Overlook luxury home with panoramic views of the Pisgah wilderness at Valley Bear Farms — The Overlook →

The Haven accommodation at Valley Bear Farms near Pisgah National Forest — The Haven →

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From the short staircase down to Looking Glass Falls to the long climb up Looking Glass Rock, Pisgah National Forest offers a hike for every skill level, and Valley Bear Farms puts you right at the trailheads. Stay close, hike more, and let the recovery amenities take care of the rest.

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