Scenic highways abound in the Tar Heel State. From the mountains to the coast, there is a lot to see, admire, and love about what’s on the other side of your windshield while you’re driving through North Carolina. One of our most scenic drives flies mostly under the radar. Afterall, we are home to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Cherohala Skyway, which get a lot of attention from visitors and locals alike. But after reading this, you’ll likely want to hit the road to drive the 76-mile loop known as the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway.
Here's a map and a link to the map to help you find the best spot to enter the loop from your origination point.
A hundred years ago, Lake Logan (before being turned into a lake when a dam was built) was a logging town known as Sunburst. Sunburst caught on fire in 1925 and burned to the ground. Eight years later, in 1933, the whole area was submerged by Lake Logan.
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If you are driving counterclockwise on this scenic loop, you'll next want to stop at Sunburst Campground near Canton.
Sunburst Campground, 8820 Lake Logan Rd, Canton, NC 28716, USA
Sure, you might not want to camp overnight on this short trip, but it never hurts to scope out a fantastic campground for future adventures. We think you'll love Sunburst. It's small, clean, and managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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Further along the highway, you'll encounter the Sycamore Flats Picnic Area.
No adventure on this scenic byway would be complete with a stop at the Pisgah Ranger Station Visitor Center at 1600 Pisgah Hwy, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768.
Pisgah Ranger Station/Visitor Center, 1600 Pisgah Hwy, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768, USA
It's a great resource for forest and park information. Purchase souvenirs and vending machine drinks and snacks, if you're so inclined. (Personally, we'd bring a cooler instead...)
In warm weather bring some extra clothes so you can take a few runs down the most famous natural water slide in North Carolina.
Sliding Rock is a 60-foot rock on Looking Glass Creek in Pisgah Forest. It's open year-round, but only has lifeguards and open restrooms between Memorial Day and Labor Day. What a fun place to spend an hour or two on this scenic drive! Learn more about it here.
Road trips in North Carolina are great family adventures.
