Mount Pisgah Trail at sunrise

Mount Pisgah Trail

Mount Pisgah Trail
Length2.6 mi
Route TypeOut And Back
DifficultyModerate
Get Directions
  • Mount Pisgah can be seen from many places throughout the Asheville area. In fact, many of Biltmore's windows perfectly frame this iconic peak. Once you reach the summit, you'll have a great view of another of the area's most iconic peaks: Cold Mountain.

  • Length: 2.6 miles round-trip
    Region: Pisgah Forest
    Duration of Hike: 1-2 hours
    Elevation Gain: 750 feet
    Blazes: No
    Facilities & Parking: Parking area
    Features: Views, Pet Friendly, Wild Flowers

Hike to the top of Asheville's most recognizable mountain peak

What to Expect

On a clear day, Mount Pisgah's 5,721-foot summit can easily be seen from downtown Asheville. Likewise, after a steep climb through hardwood forest, Asheville is clearly visible 16 miles away.  

The trail starts flat behind the large Mt. Pisgah information board. First, you're walking through rosebay and Catawba rhododendron and mountain laurel. Then the trail veers left, narrows, and goes up on log steps. At 0.8 mile, a short side trail on the right allows for your first good views to the north - layers upon layers of ridges.

Mount Pisgah Trail

The trail climbs on good rock steps through countless varieties of spring and summer flowers. Before the trail turns right at 1.1 miles, you have a good southwestern view of the prominent tower on Frying Pan Mountain.

The trail turns right to continue more steeply. Closer to the top, the trail switchbacks on log steps and you can see the tower in front of you.

Reach the observation platform. On a clear day, you can see Cold Mountain to the west, and Pisgah Inn, Looking Glass Rock and Frying Pan Mountain and Tower to the southwest. Behind you,to the north, the most prominent thing is the TV transmission tower for the local ABC affiliate. Return the same way.

Directions

From downtown Asheville, take the Blue Ridge Parkway south to MP 407.6.  Turn into the Mount Pisgah parking area.

GPS Coordinates

N35.41563, W82.74869

Top photo by Jared Kay. View photo by Danny Bernstein.