When hikers talk about Pisgah, they are usually referring to the Pisgah District of Pisgah National Forest.

George Vanderbilt came to Asheville in 1885 for a short vacation. He came back the following year and started buying land so he and his mother could visit each winter. He ended up with 146,000 acres, stretching from the Biltmore House to beyond what is now US 276. He hired Dr. Carl Schenck (picture on the left, courtesy of the Cradle of Forestry) who started the first school of forestry in the United States. That history can now be seen at the Cradle of Forestry.

The Pisgah District now boasts 400 miles of trails, from strolls along the river to challenging mountain climbs. The Art Loeb Trail is the backbone of the area. The picture of Art Loeb, courtesy of the Loeb Family, is on the right.