Oh Mount Pisgah...how I love thee and how I hate thee.  If there's any peak in the Southern Appalachians with which I have such a conflicted relationship it has to be this one.  Beautiful in form, easily accessible, and reaching to nearly 6,000-feet, Mount Pisgah boasts a grandstand view of the French Broad Valley and nearby Shining Rock Ridge.  So it is that this peak always offers an enjoyable quickie hike for me when I find myself with limited time to spend on the trail.  Unfortunately, there's always an elephant in the room when I visit...and it's a BIG elephant.  You see, back in 1954, it was decided to build a 339' communications tower atop the peak...a tower which unfortunately has not yet been taken out by a passing hurricane.  The tower is owned by a local news affiliate and remains a source of extreme controversy to this day.  It's not just big business to blame either, the Forest Service has repeatedly renewed the lease for the tower to be up there...which it is in no way obligated to do. 

Anyway, before I find myself atop a soapbox of sorts, I must still qualify that this is a wonderful hike...albeit a very busy one in the summer when I tend to stay away. The 1.5-mile trail ascends just about a thousand feet from trailhead to summit, making it a healthy but not overly long workout to reach the top. The trail winds through a beautiful oak forest which is typical of the Pisgah Ridge before climbing into a post-bald tree and shrub community near the summit.  If you can somehow phase out the 339' tower beside you, the views are about as good as they get in this area. So, for about the twentieth time, I'm off to visit Mount Pisgah...come on along...as always, I hope you ENJOY!!!

Trailhead GPS Coordinates:  35.418689, -82.747943

Route Type:  Out-and-back                Difficulty:  MODERATE  (Petzoldt Rating:  4.54 )

Mileage Hiked:  3.0 miles                    Hike Duration:  1:30

Trailhead Temp:  70'F                          Trail Traffic:  25-50 people

Min. Elevation:  4,980'                          Max. Elevation:  5,721'

Total Vertical Gain:  750'                     Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile:  500' 

Trails Used (Blaze Color):

Mount Pisgah Trail (unblazed)

5-16-2017