Pisgah Forest Area

The Pisgah Forest/Brevard area offers something for everyone.

There are miles of trails for bikers and hikers as well as walking trails for the less adventurous. The rivers offer waterfall vistas as well as swimming, tubing, kayaking, and fishing all within a few miles.

The area is also home to many cultural activities with music, theatre, galleries, Transylvania County Library, and museums. Brevard College, Blue Ridge Community College, and PARI offer a variety of activities.

In Brevard, you'll discover breweries, wine shops, and restaurants and quaint, unique shops, and so much more.

A first stop is the Brevard Chamber of Commerce on Main Street for all the information and guidance you need. The Heart of Brevard and Explore Brevard are excellent resources.

The White Squirrel Festival "Where Music Meets the Mountains" This May festival features three days of free concerts on Main Street in downtown Brevard, plus several blocks of food vendors, artists, craftsmen and kid's activities. a 5k & 10k Fun Run, Photo Contest and Memorial Day Parade.

Assault on the Carolinas Bike Ride This April event is an annual fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Pisgah Forest where all proceeds are donated to local charities. There are three thrilling route options - 100K, 60K, and 40K. All races start and end in downtown Brevard. In addition, the event includes live music and street vendors.

"Where Music Meets the Mountains"

Pisgah Mountain Bike Stage Race is the annual five-day single-track endurance event in September through Pisgah National Forest that covers 195 miles and includes the most rugged trails in the East.

Forest Festival Days is held each October in the Cradle of Forestry, this day-long festival celebrates forest life and the history of forestry with exhibitions and arts and crafts demonstrations.

Blues an’ BBQ Festival is a 2-day event sponsored by the Brevard Music Center and 185 Productions. The festival combines live music, craft and food vendors as well as the annual “BBQ Cook-Off” contest.

ARTS & CULTURE

Porter Center, Morrison Playhouse at Brevard College features theatrical events including everything from student performances to national touring acts.

Brevard Little Theatre founded in 1935, the theatre produces a variety of shows throughout the year, as well as youth camps, performance training and fundraisers that showcase local talent.

Pisgah Film Project is a non-profit organization bringing bi-monthly screenings of independent first run films. It runs an assortment of narrative, documentary and foreign films.

Transylvania Heritage Museum in Brevard is open Wednesday – Sunday from March through December. The museum lives up to its name with interesting exhibits, artifacts, art and history on region.

"So much art and music, and local talent"

Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a fun and entertaining learning experience. PARI is actually an astronomical observatory located at an elevation of 3,000 feet in the Pisgah National Forest. It's open to the public for tours and special program events.

Transylvania Historical Society is housed in the Allison-Deaver house built in 1815. The society is dedicated to preserving the cultural and architectural heritage of Transylvania County. Speakers and other events take place from May through October.

4th Friday Gallery Walk is a great relaxing, fun evening visiting downtown art galleries, sampling the restaurants and tasting new wines.

Visit local museums and local art galleries

Cradle of Forestry commemorates the beginning of forest conservation in America. The Discovery Center features interactive exhibits as well as a film about the Biltmore Forest School that premiered on PBS. There are several trails and historic buildings on the site.

Transylvania Community Arts Council is a vibrant arts destination and resource center for area artists and arts organizations. It hosts 12 exhibitions throughout the year as well as classes, summer camps and other programs.

Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas contains an amazing collection of unique military artifacts, uniforms and more from al service branches.

MUSIC

There is also a vibrant local music scene in Brevard with excellent musicians and bands performing in restaurants and club venues.

185 King Street dedicated to showcasing live music in a relaxed and inviting listening room environment.

Oskar Blues is major craft brewery with a great calendar featuring everything from nightly music to weekend festivals.

The Tavern, The Outpost, DFR Room, and Wine Down on Main also feature local musicians

Brevard Music Center Every summer from June through August the Music Center hosts its world-renowned music festival over 80 concerts - mostly classical but also some big-name pop performers.

Mountain Song Festival is s two-day bluegrass music festival is held at the renowned Brevard Music Center. Enjoy the music of the Steep Canyon Rangers and other great folks.

OUTDOORS

Dupont State Forest is about 25 minutes from Glen Cannon. It features waterfalls including the popular Triple and Hooker Falls, a large mountain lake, rivers and streams, and numerous hiking and biking trails.

Pisgah National Forest is located in Transylvania County. Pisgah features many natural wonders including waterfalls, lakes and trails. There are opportunities for camping, horseback riding and much more in this expansive national forest.

Breathtaking views and numerous hiking and biking trails

Gorges State Park is home to plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges and sheer rock walls. The visitor center is west of Brevard near the town of Sapphire.

Holmes Educational State Forest is one of seven educational forests in the state. It features miles of trails that are accented by exhibits and displays depicting the ecology of the managed forest.

Caesars Head State Park is south on Hwy 276 and straddles the state/county line just over the border in South Carolina. The park’s showpiece is the beautiful Raven Cliff Falls.