Mount Pisgah Campground is close to well-known hiking trails, sunrise and sunset spots, waterfalls, and more.
The Mount Pisgah area of the Blue Ridge Parkway has so much to see and do. Popular hiking trails such as Frying Pan Tower and the peak of Mount Pisgah, as well as nearby waterfalls and sunrise, sunset spots. Continue reading to learn more about Mount Pisgah Campground and everything it has to offer.
Mount Pisgah
About a 40 minute drive between Waynesville, Brevard, and Asheville stands Mount Pisgah along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Atop the mountain there’s the Pisgah Inn, Mount Pisgah Campground, numerous hiking trails, and even history. Have you heard of or even visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC? It was the home of the Vanderbilt family and still remains in the descendents’ possesion today. Well, Mount Pisgah is also where George Vanderbilt’s hunting getaway property was located. In fact, we have his family to thank for the beauty we get to enjoy on Mount Pisgah and the Blue Ridge Parkway today. They offered the land to the government to preserve the natural beauty found here. From this, part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, many hiking trails, and the Pisgah National Forest (first in North Carolina) were created.
Mount Pisgah Campground
Sitting at 4,980 feet above sea level is the Mount Pisgah Campground. This seasonal campground is open from May through October and has over 100 campsites for both RV-only and tent-only camping. There’s no electricity and cell service is limited, but each site is equipped with a bear-safe food locker, fire ring, 10’X10’ tent pad (tent-only sites), and a picnic table. Additional amenities include drinking water stations, fully plumbed restrooms with showers, and a bear-safe dumpster for disposing of trash at the front of the campground.
In addition to all of this, the campground is literally across the street (the Blue Ridge Parkway that is) from the Pisgah Inn. From here you can eat at the Pisgah Inn Restaurant (we didn’t get to try this) or stop by the Pisgah Inn Country Store. This is also where you can purchase firewood, snacks, and souvenirs. And there’s public restrooms and a picnic area here too.
Our Camping Experience at Mount Pisgah
My friend and I recently planned a little getaway to Mount Pisgah. With only a 4 hour drive from Chattanooga, this is the perfect outdoor camping destination. We stayed three nights at the tent-only site C01. In fact, I didn’t even get to choose the site because they were all booked! I made the reservation two months in advance and C01 was the only site left. We were worried it would be a bad site since I didn’t get to pick it out, but it was surprisingly nice. It’s less than a quarter of a mile walk to the restroom, but it’s a scenic walk amongst the early summer blooms. The real advantage however, is both its proximity to the entrance/exit and the fact it butts right up to the trail.
Hiking from Mount Pisgah Campground
With so many popular trails in the area, the main perk of Mount Pisgah Campground is the trail access. There’s a main trail that runs right between the campground and the Blue Ridge Parkway. From this trail you can easily do short day hikes to Frying Pan Tower or the peak of Mount Pisgah. And if you want more of a challenge you can hike long-distance on the Mountains to Sea Trail or the Shut-In Trail. Whichever distance you prefer, Mount Pisgah Campground is the perfect camping spot for hiking lovers. Check availability and make a reservation for your next camping trip.
Sunrise and Sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway
If you’re an early morning riser, the Pisgah Inn is conveniently close by and faces east, making it perfect for sunrises. It doesn’t get much more efficient than this! Most campgrounds require a long hike or drive to watch the sunrise. But from our campsite, it was just a third of a mile walk over to the Pisgah Inn where we could enjoy the amazing view. (Except our sunrise didn’t turn out for us, but hopefully the weather will be kinder to you.)
Caney Fork Overlook is a 30 minute drive from Mount Pisgah Campground but it’s also the perfect sunset spot. There’s a few excellent sunset spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway so I’m always on the lookout for one nearby where we’re camping. You definitely need to add catching the sunset at Caney Fork Overlook to your list because, as you can tell by the photos, it’s well worth it.
Frying Pan Tower
I will cover more of the nearby hikes in the next two blog posts. But for now I want to share more about Frying Pan Tower. We did this on our last day right after we packed up and left the campground. If you’re camping at the Mount Pisgah Campground, you have a couple of options here. One, you can hike to Frying Pan Tower directly from your campsite. The trail from the campground is just one mile long, however it climbs the mountain that sits between the tower and campground so it’s a strenuous mile. Or two, you can drive. We chose to drive. The drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway is super short as you wind around the mountain that stands between instead of going over it.
There’s a small pull-off area of gravel where you can park and begin your hike. Be sure to pinpoint Frying Pan Tower in your maps if you’re not sure where it is because there’s no signs for this one. But, you can see the tower sitting atop the mountain to the left of the parking area.
The hike itself is straight up, but not too steep until the end. The trail is made entirely of gravel and is quite wide, making the hike not too difficult despite its uphill nature. Once you reach the peak, you can climb the Frying Pan Tower if you dare. The tower has 6 flights of stairs leading to the top which is closed to public access. It’s apparent that some people crawl through to the top level despite the obvious metal door that makes it clear you’re not supposed to be up there. Please don’t do anything you’re not supposed to so that we can continue to have the freedom to enjoy places like this.
You don’t need to go to the very top level to appreciate the views from here anyway. The photos below were taken from the landing at the top of the fifth flight of stairs and it’s breathtaking. If you’re scared of heights, this might be a hike you want to skip. The views from the base of the tower aren’t the greatest due to trees blocking the view. But if you can brave even just two, wobbly flights of stairs up the tower, the view is much more worth it.
In Closing
Camping at Mount Pisgah Campground is the perfect place for hiking lovers who want to stay on the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy some spectacular views. I cannot recommend these places enough. Be sure to catch the sunset at Caney Fork Overlook, the sunrise at the Pisgah Inn, and climb to the (almost) top of Frying Pan Tower.
Want to watch the video version of this trip? Check out this first video of three now, before next week when part 2 releases. This 3 part video series will cover everything we did on this Mount Pisgah Camping adventure so stay tuned.
Let me know in the comments below if you’ve visited Mount Pisgah or anywhere else on the Blue Ridge Parkway. What are your thoughts? I’d love to know! Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt!
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