Mount Pisgah Area

Enjoy the view, have a picnic, take a hike

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Milepost 407-410

Significance:

High Elevation Scenic Area

Amenities

31 listed

Accessible Rooms, Accessible Sites, Amphitheater, Animal-Safe Food Storage, Baby Changing Station, Benches/Seating, Cellular Signal, Firewood For Sale/Available, First Aid Kit Available, Food/Drink - Bar/Alcohol For Sale, Food/Drink - Coffee, Food/Drink - Restaurant/Table Service, Food/Drink - Snacks, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Information, Information - Maps Available, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Laundry, Parking - Auto, Parking - Bus/RV, Picnic Table, Restroom - Accessible, Restroom - Family, Restroom - Seasonal, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Sewage Dump Station - Boat/RV, Supplies - General, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water - Drinking/Potable, Wheelchair Accessible

The scenic beauty, natural resources, and recreational opportunities of Mount Pisgah have attracted people for generations. Native Americans, explorers, pioneers, and even wealthy socialites have spent time here. At over 5,000 feet, the area offers a most welcome respite to the summer heat of the surrounding valleys.

Blanketed by a high elevation deciduous forest, Mount Pisgah’s prominent peak is a distinct landmark that is recognizable from miles away. Its unusual name is a biblical reference—in Deuteronomy, the Lord ordered Moses to the top of Mount Pisgah to reveal the “Promised Land” to the tribes of Israel.  Legend credits the naming to Rev. James Hall, a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian minister who was part of Rutherford's 1776 expedition into the Cherokee Nation.

This special place continues to inspire visitors today, many who return year after year. The area is often bathed in clouds and fog and produces beautiful displays of wildflowers throughout the summer season. Come fall, the vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges of the changing leaves can make Mount Pisgah a vivid kaleidoscopic of color. Mount Pisgah is more developed than many places along the Parkway and includes hiking trails, a picnic area, a campground, a country store, and the Pisgah Inn and Restaurant.