Directions
From Pisgah Ranger Station/ Visitor Center parking lot, turn right onto US 276. Drive north approximately 10 miles to Pink Beds Picnic Area. The facility is located along Hwy 276 (Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway) 4 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway and 11 miles from the intersection of Hwy 280 and US 64 in Pisgah Forest, NC.
Phone
828 877-3265
Activities
HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITE, CAMPING
Keywords
Related Link(s)
North Carolina State Road Conditions
Overview
The Pink Beds Picnic Shelter is the larger of two available shelters. It is adjacent to the Cradle of Forestry in America, a 6,500 acre historic site commemorating the beginning of forest conservation in the United States.
Recreation
As part of the Pisgah National Forest, the Pink Beds area offers excellent hiking trails. An easy, five mile loop trail begins on the left side of the parking area. The surrounding area is ideal for other types of recreation including fishing, horseback riding, and swimming.
Facilities
The area has a flush toilet restroom, 21 picnic tables, grills, an old Civilian Conservation Corps gazebo, and this larger shelter.
Natural Features
Named for the rhododendron, mountain laurel and azalea that bloom in spring and summer, the Pink Beds Picnic Shelter is renowned for its scenic forest setting and small stream nearby. At an elevation of 3,280 feet, it is appealing to visitors for its relatively flat valley which sustains some very large pine trees and rare mountain bogs.
Nearby Attractions
The area is next door to the Cradle of Forestry in America Historic Site, and four miles from both the Blue Ridge Parkway and Sliding Rock Recreation Area.
