Linville Gorge
Called the "Grand Canyon of North Carolina". Check out the our in-depth guide to the Gorge. Also check out the Official NFS Linville Gorge brochure (in PDF Format).

Wilson Creek Area
Wilson Creek is a National Wild & Scenic River. This narrow, deep stream valley has a total of 75 miles of trails - mostly signed at the trailhead, but otherwise unmarked, backcountry trails - but it includes 10 miles of marked streamside trails. Many of the trails follow streams and some have cascading waterfalls. This is also a popular trout fishing and kayaking area. There are pockets of old growth trees scattered throughout. Check out the Official NFS Wilson Creek Wild & Scenic River brochure (In PDF Format).

Brown Mountain Area
ORV area has 33.5 miles of trails for ATV's and Dirt Bikes, open 3/16 - 1/1. Check out the Official NFS Brown Mountain ORV brochure (in PDF format).

Brown Mountain is perhaps better known for an unexplained phenemenon called the "Brown Mountain Lights". These mysterious lights have been seen for hundreds of years and by quite a lot of people. Local indians knew of them before the whitemen came. The lights are sometimes very bright and move about the side of the mountain. They are more often seen during dry weather. You can look for the lights from Wiseman's View on the west side of Linville Gorge, or from Grandfather Mountain, but the best viewing is from the parking turnout near MP 20 on NC Hwy 181 (Brown Mountain is the long, low ridge, directly across from the overlook).

Tablerock Area
Short trails travel the east rim of Linville Gorge to the summit of Table Rock and the chimneys. The area also has a picnic area and is handicap accessible, with vault toilets. From Morganton, take NC 181-N. Turn left at sign onto Gingercake Acres Rd. (SR 1265), which becomes FR 210 (gravel). Turn right on FR 99.

Mackay Mountain Backcountry
The most primitive and remote of all the NC National Forests backcountry areas, has 17 miles of mostly ridgeline trails. the trails are unsigned and unblazed. This area, about 15 miles west of Marion, is bordered by Curtis Creek and includes part of a black bear sanctuary.

Group Campgrounds
Boone Fork Group Camp has 19 sites for up to 100 people. Call 828-652-2144 for more info or reservations.

• Grandfather Ranger District
  Route 1, Box 110-A
  Nebo, NC 28761
  (828) 652-2144
  Directions:
  Exit 90 off I-40 at Nebo/Lake James exit. About 9 miles east of Marion.
  
  
• Mountain Camping Information
  (in PDF format from NFS). The Pisgah National Forest offers full-featured campgrounds as well as primitive and group campgrounds. Get the official NFS info for mountain camping and info about reserving sites. We do not make reservations for camping, nor do we have anything else to do with the campgrounds.

• Fishing Spots
  • Curtis Creek –
    • Newberry Creek
      
  • Wilson Creek –
    
    • Andrews Creek –
      
    • Lost Cove Creek –
      
    • North Harper Creek-
      
    • South Harper Creek
      

• North Carolina Weather Information

Maps

• To order maps of the National Forests, visit http://www.cradleofforestry.com/store//c2.html or call (800) 660-0671
  
  
• The National Forest Service has prepared several large maps of the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests; one series shows virtually every road and the other series shows various info about the hydrology of the area. These maps are all in PDF format, designed to be viewed on-screen, printed on a plotter, or tiled onto 11"x17" sheets. View the maps from http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/roads/roads_report.htm
  
  
• Topographic maps are available online from topozone.com. To get you to the general neighborhood, use these links (maps open in a new browser window)...
  • Grandfather Dist. HQ - Nebo, NC
  • Wilson Creek / Mortimer area
  • Linville Gorge area

   

Trail Guides

• NC Hiking Trails (General)
• Appalachian Trail