Mount Pisgah Overlook — Local services in Canton

The Mt. Pisgah Trailhead is a great opportunity to take a look at the entire landscape of the Pisgah National Forest. It was awesome being able to be among the clouds and to see the beauty of the mountains! The trail was definitely worth the hard work and the reward was amazing. The parking is very accessible.

I will say—as someone who suffers with a heart condition, this was a pretty difficult hike for me. I read online that the trail was moderate difficulty and that it would take about an 1 hour & 30 minutes out and back. But it took us about 2 hours, which was due to my struggle with going on a constant incline and taking several breaks. The incline up to this mountain peak was pretty brutal, since the trail was all made of rocks and stones, basically in the form of “stairs,” and it was easy to feel unbalanced. Definitely come prepared. But the reward is so worth it and it’s a great hike :) Also — near the exit of our hike, we saw a mama bear and her cub! 🐻 They did not bother us and it was just a great moment to experience. So just be aware of your...

Traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway near Brevard, NC you'll find tucked away on the entrance road to the Mount Pisgah Trailhead parking area, the Buck Spring Gap Overlook.

As you get out of your car you'll see a breathtaking view from the overlook. But blink and you'll miss what I found to be the most interesting aspect of this overlook. To your right you'll see a trail which leads to the site of George Vanderbilt's (of Biltmore House game) old hunting lodge.

You start up stone steps which if you stay on them, leads you to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. But it’s also a quick walk to where George Vanderbilt built the magnificent Buck Spring Lodge in 1896. The buildings may be gone, but you can still walk around the site, stride through the large entryway where the stables once were, and even go down the steps into one of the old storage areas. You can even follow a trail down to the old spring house of the Vanderbilt property.

We had fun exploring this site and imagining what it once must have been like in...

Nice area with access to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) and Mount Pisgah. The MST trail to the right of the parking lot heads towards the Pisgah Inn/Buck Springs Overlook. The MST trail on the left will take you towards Bent Creek. Drive further down the road and you'll come to the Mt. Pisgah trail. Also, there's a really great view at the overlook but take the trail to the Buck Springs Overlook (similar name but different spots) just 500 feet away. Elevation...