Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway

Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway in North Carolina. Within North Carolina it covers roughly 75 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
This loop of about 79 miles runs through the Pisgah National Forest around Brevard, in a part of western North Carolina known as the "Land of Waterfalls." It passes roadside Looking Glass Falls, the natural waterslide at Sliding Rock, and the Cradle of Forestry, where the first forestry school in the country was founded on the old Vanderbilt estate. The forest of the Davidson and Pigeon river valleys is dense and green.
- Looking Glass Falls
- Sliding Rock
- Cradle of Forestry
- Pisgah National Forest
- Land of Waterfalls
Designated for its historic qualities
Plan a drive on Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway → Drive this route in Road SortiesTurn-by-turn on iPhone · App Store
Places to stop along Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway
Pisgah Ranger Station
The national forest's visitor center near Brevard, with maps, trail advice, and exhibits.
Looking Glass Falls
A 60-foot waterfall right beside US 276, one of the most visited in the state, with stairs to its base.
Cradle of Forestry in America
The site of the country's first school of forestry, founded in 1898 on the Biltmore estate lands, with trails and an old logging locomotive.
Website
Where to Stay along Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway
11 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway.
Campsite, lodging, RV rental and membership links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.
Photos of Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway




What is a National Scenic Byway?
National Scenic Byways are roads recognized at the federal level for at least one outstanding quality — scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational — that gives travelers a reason to seek them out rather than just pass through.