Mt. Pisgah has been on my list for quite some time now, so having the opportunity to hit the trail to the summit of this iconic mountain back in mid-March was an adventure in the making. I was excited, y'all! Length: 1.4 miles one-way Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous Why it's cool: The giant radio tower and beautiful views of Asheville! It's difficult to miss Mt. Pisgah if you find yourself driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway or wandering through Asheville. That distinct peak and colossal radio tower stand uniquely apart from the mountains that surround this Western North Carolina icon. If you are using AllTrails to find the trailhead to Mt. Pisgah, keep in mind that it will not take you to the closest parking area to the trail. Instead, it will take you to the Pisgah Inn, which adds roughly 1.4 miles each way to the hike.
The trail itself on this hike is well marked and heavily traveled. If you want some alone time on this trail, you would be well advised to get there early! Or, if you were *cough cough* "sick" *cough cough* on a random Wednesday, you may find considerably fewer hikers than you would on a sunny weekend. I'm not a doctor, y'all, but I'm pretty sure that a good hike can cure almost any disease... broken hearts, runny nose, itchy scalp... you name it.
From the observation deck at the top of Mt. Pisgah, the views are nearly 360 degrees. To the Southwest, the Fryingpan Lookout Tower, another great little hike on the Parkway, is clearly visible. The bold, rocky face of Looking Glass Mountain is also clear in this direction. Take a look at the photo down below to see both of them! Legend has it, if you smile three times at Looking Glass Mountain from the top of Mt. Pisgah, it will smile back at you. ..... Okay.... I lied about the smiling thing. But wouldn't that be such a wholesome legend? We can all dream, y'all. To the South, you can see all the way into South Carolina. Table Rock Mountain, Pinnacle Mountain, and Sassafras Mountain look absolutely captivating as always from this incredible perch.
For swoon-worthy views of Asheville, you'll need to duck under the massive radio tower to the opposite side of the summit from the observation deck. Once you've made it there, The Land of the Sky really lives up to its name the way it sits against the perfect backdrop of blue. Well, the sky was clear and blue that day, but I think you know what I mean.
Appalachia is filled with trails, waterfalls, towns, and hidden gems to discover, y'all, so get out there and start exploring! For more photos and explorations, be sure to follow The Wandering Appalachian on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Be sure that when you're discovering new places to practice Leave No Trace principles. Take only pictures, and leave only footprints. Happy wandering, y'all!
SHOP MOUNTAIN INSPIRED GOODS HERE: