Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 408.6: Mount Pisgah and Pisgah Inn & Restaurant
Mount Pisgah’s spectacular views, hiking trails, picnic area, campground, lodge, restaurant, and country store make this area a popular destination along the Blue Ridge Parkway. For generations, Pisgah has been a popular mountain retreat for travelers. Pisgah Inn & Restaurant attracts many visitors who want to experience the resources of the Parkway from a somewhat comfortable environment. Other visitors use the campground and trails to experience the resources from a different perspective.
The mountain and thousands of surrounding acres were originally purchased by industrialist George Washington Vanderbilt in the late 1800s while building the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. Vanderbilt used the property as a private hunting retreat for family and friends. The birthplace of forestry in America is also interpreted nearby in the Pisgah National Forest at the Cradle of Forestry.
The Pisgah Inn is a modern facility which includes a balcony and private porches offering an incredible mountain-view of Pisgah National Forest. The dining room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Pisgah Inn and all its facilities usually open in late March and operate through October. For information call (828) 235-8228.
Photo courtesy of Pisgah Inn by USA Today
What to Do
Explore the nearby 16-mile Shut-In Trail (a National Recreation Trail), which is part of a longer route that Vanderbilt originally created for his hunting parties
- Hike to the summit of Mount Pisgah for breathtaking views. See area map below.
- Enjoy bird and wildlife watching
- Picnic amid natural beauty – restrooms open seasonally
- Stretch your legs and grab a snack or Parkway keepsake at a seasonal country store
- Enjoy a meal at the Pisgah Inn Restaurant – open seasonally
- Camp under the stars or respite at the Pisgah Inn – open seasonally
ADA Accessibility
- restrooms are accessible with assistance
- interpretive programs are accessible with assistance
- campground is accessible with assistance
- picnic area is accessible with assistance
Camping
Mount Pisgah Campground has 70 tent sites and 70 RV sites, with shower facilities available. The campground is the highest, coolest, and most secluded on the Parkway. The campground is located in Flat Laurel Gap. A granite rock base forms a bowl in this gap, so there is little run-off and the area remains wet creating the 85-acre Flat Laurel Gap Bog.
Reservations can be made for portions of this campground online at www.RECREATION.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Area hikes include: Buck Spring, Mount Pisgah, Picnic Area Loop and Frying Pan Mountain Trails. see map below for details.
Highlights
- Pisgah Inn
- Campground
- Nearby trails
- Restaurant
- Gift shop
- Camp store
- Laundry facilities at Country Store
