Scenic Driving Areas

• Croatan National Forest

  Welcome to the Croatan National Forest, one of four National Forests in North Carolina and the only true coastal forest in the East.  The Croatan National Forest's 160,000 acres have pine forests, saltwater estuaries, bogs and raised swamps called pocosins.  Bordered on three sides by tidal rivers and the Bogue Sound, the forest is defined by water.

  All this water provides a variety of recreation and diversity of wildlife- from deer, black bears and turkeys to wading birds, ospreys and alligators.  Canoeing and fishing are popular on blackwater creeks and saltwater marshes.  The Croatan is also home to the carnivorous Venus fly-trap, sunder and pitcherplant. 

  The Croatan National Forest has one Ranger District, the Croatan Ranger District.  Please contact the District for more information.

  Camping and Day-use Information

  Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and day-use areas in the Croatan National Forest can be found here.

  Recreation Maps

  Croatan National Forest Maps

  Be Safe

  The national forests in North Carolina offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. From the mountains to the sea, there are many exciting adventures awaiting your visit to these national forests. Please keep in mind that all outdoor recreational activities on the Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests, including activities at recreation sites, have inherent risks due to the natural setting in which they occur. Always remember, your safety is your responsibility.

• Catfish Area

  Catfish Lake Boat Launch and Waterfowl Impoundment

• Catfish Lake Boat Launch
• Long Point Boat Launch
• Nantahala National Forest

  Welcome to the Nantahala National Forest! The Nantahala National Forest lies in the mountain and valleys of southwestern North Carolina. The largest of North Carolina's four National Forests, the Nantahala encompasses 531,148 acres with elevations ranging from 5,800 feet at Lone Bald in Jackson County to 1,200 feet in Cherokee County along Hiwassee River. The Forest is divided into three Districts, Cheoah in Robbinsville, NC, Tusquitee in Murphy, NC, and the Nantahala in Franklin, NC. All district names come from the Cherokee language. "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "land of the noon day sun," a fitting name for the Nantahala Gorge, where the sun only reaches to the valley floor at midday.The Nantahala National Forest was established in 1920 under authority of the 1911 Weeks Act. This act provided authority to acquire lands for national forests to protect watersheds, to provide timber, and to regulate the flow of navigable streams. In the Nantahala National Forest, visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities from whitewater rafting to camping. With over 600 miles of trails, opportunities exist for hikers, mountain bikers, horse-back riders and off-highway vehicle riders.

  Camping and Day-use Information

  Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and day-use areas in the Nantahala National Forest can be found here.

  Recreation Maps

  Nantahala & Pisgah National Forest Maps

  Be Safe

  The national forests in North Carolina offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. From the mountains to the sea, there are many exciting adventures awaiting your visit to these national forests. Please keep in mind that all outdoor recreational activities on the Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests, including activities at recreation sites, have inherent risks due to the natural setting in which they occur. Always remember, your safety is your responsibility.

  Waterfall Safety for the Summer.

• Nantahala Ranger District

  The Nantahala Ranger District stretches 250,000 acres across Macon, Jackson and Swain counties offering a variety of recreational opportunities from camping to off-highway vehicle riding. This District is a diverse, rugged, and mountainous area with raging rivers, granite walls, and waterfalls. Visitors can enjoy the remoteness of the Southern Nantahala Wilderness, a scenic drive along the Mountain Waters Byway or a view Whitewater Falls, the highest falls east of the Rocky Mountains. The Nantahala is also home to four long distance trails, the Appalachian, Bartram, Foothills, and Mountains-to-Sea Trails. Come experience the outdoors and explore the Nantahala! Nantahala Ranger District, 90 Sloan Road, Franklin, NC 28734, (828) 524-6441

• Cullasaja Gorge
• Dry Falls
• Mountain Waters Scenic Byway
• Nantahala River Gorge
• Van Hook Glade Campground
• Pisgah National Forest

  The Pisgah National Forest is a land of mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and heavily forested slopes. Comprised of over 500,000 acres, the Pisgah is primarily a hardwood forest with whitewater rivers, waterfalls and hundreds of miles of trails. This national forest is home of the first tract of land purchased under the Weeks Act of 1911 which led to the creation of the national forests in the eastern United States. It is also home of the first school of forestry in the United States, now preserved at the Cradle of Forestry in America historic site, and boasts two of the first designated wilderness areas in the east. The Pisgah, Grandfather and Appalachian Ranger Districts are scattered along the eastern edge of the mountains of western North Carolina and offer visitors a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoying the natural beauty of the mountains.

  Camping and Day-use Information

  Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and day-use areas in the Pisgah National Forest can be found here 

  Recreation Maps

  Nantahala & Pisgah National Forest Maps

  Directions to Frequently Requested Places

  NC Arobretum and Bent Creek Area

  Blue Ridge Parkway South

  Blue Ridge Parkway North

  Pisgah Ranger District

  Cradle of Forestry

  Cradle of Forestry (Scenic Route)

  The Biltmore House

  Mt. Mitchell

  Be Safe

  The national forests in North Carolina offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. From the mountains to the sea, there are many exciting adventures awaiting your visit to these national forests. Please keep in mind that all outdoor recreational activities on the Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests, including activities at recreation sites, have inherent risks due to the natural setting in which they occur. Always remember, your safety is your responsibility.

  Waterfall Safety for the Summer.

• Curtis Creek Area
• Pisgah Ranger District

  The Pisgah Ranger District is home to many waterfalls, scenic views, and miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Bordering Transylvania, Buncombe, and Haywood Counties, Pisgah Ranger District is a short drive from Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, and Waynesville. Lake Powhatan Recreation area and Bent Creek Experimental Forest are also included in the Pisgah District, providing visitors with more recreation opportunities.

• Bent Creek Experimental Forest

  Established in 1927 to study rehabilitation of cutover, degraded forests, Bent Creek is the oldest experimental forest in the East. The area is now used to research current issues that threaten or enhance the health and productivity of forests.

• Lake Powhatan Campground
• Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway
• Looking Glass Falls Scenic Area