The Pisgah Conservancy

06/03/2026

Call for volunteers! Our Trail Crew is in need of volunteers to help this Saturday, June 6th from 8:30- 3:00 PM. Join us and celebrate by giving back to the forest we know and love. We’ll be lopping, hauling brush, and repairing trail tread on the far side of the stream crossing at Big Creek Trail. Difficulty for this workday is rated a 6/10, and we ask that participants be a minimum age of 12 to volunteer.

Register here to attend: https://bit.ly/pisgahconservancyevents

06/02/2026

Say hello to our Summer 2026 Pisgah River Rangers... Meet Emma!

06/02/2026

Sometimes the best rewards for restoration work are the ones you don't expect!

For nearly three years, our Ecosystems Crew has been working in the Kuykendall area to remove invasive, non-native plants. As our longest-running invasive species removal project to date, the work requires patience, persistence, and a long-term commitment to restoring native habitat.

Recently, that dedication paid off in a beautiful way.

While monitoring the area, our crew discovered several native plant species thriving where invasive plants once dominated, including spiderwort, poke milkweed, and two different species of trillium. These native plants are important parts of Pisgah's ecosystem, providing habitat and food sources for pollinators and other wildlife.

Their appearance is just another beautiful reminder that when invasive species are removed, native landscapes have an opportunity to recover. It may take years, but the forest knows how to heal when given the chance.

05/29/2026

Heads up, we've got FOUR upcoming volunteer opportunities to help make a lasting impact on the trails and forests we all love:

📅 Sunday, May 31
📅 Monday, June 1
📅 Saturday, June 6
Let's celebrate National Trails Day!
This is a great opportunity for individuals, families, clubs, or smaller groups looking to volunteer together. We have space for up to 20 volunteers, so gather your crew and join us for a meaningful day on the trail!
📅 Wednesday, June 10

Whether you're a seasoned trail steward or joining us for the first time, your time and effort help keep Pisgah's trails sustainable, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.

Grab your gloves, bring your enthusiasm, and help us care for the places that make Pisgah so special. Visit the link in our bio to learn more and sign up. Register and learn more at www.pisgahconservany.org/events

05/26/2026

In case you missed it, our popular Davidson River Campground will now open at the end of Summer 2026.

The Davidson River Campground is now anticipated to reopen late summer 2026. We appreciate everyone’s patience while we work toward making the Davidson River Campground a great camping experience for visitors.

Our original six‑month timeline was extremely ambitious, but the project has faced a series of challenges, including last fall’s partial government shutdown, unsuitable soils that required foundation changes, cold weather that delayed concrete work, and design modifications to improve future storm resiliency. These challenges have pushed the reopening later than planned.

We apologize for this inconvenience. For information on refunds, rebookings, alternative camping options in the area, and closure updates please visit www.naventure.com/closures.

05/26/2026

Looking Glass Falls is looking mighty full after the last few days of rain!
Remember to take caution when visiting waterfalls in Pisgah during and after strong weather.
Be !

05/23/2026

The 2025 Annual Report from the Pisgah Conservancy is here!

Take a look to learn more about the impactful work happening across the Pisgah Ranger District, including trail management initiatives, volunteer projects, fundraising growth, invasive plant removal efforts, ecological restoration, updates from our Pisgah River Rangers and more.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this work possible. Together, we’re continuing to protect and improve Pisgah for generations to come. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/4wKUAwt

05/19/2026

Meet Brendan!

Brendan joined The Pisgah Conservancy team in April 2026, bringing with him years of experience in trail construction, wildland fire response, prescribed burns, and conservation work across the country.

After graduating from Appalachian State University in 2019, Brendan spent two seasons with the conservation department at Philmont Scout Ranch, where he learned trail and trail feature construction and later instructed scouts and leaders in those skills. He also developed chainsaw operation skills, including bucking and felling.

He later served four seasons on the Teakean Handcrew, a Type 2 Initial Attack Wildland Fire Handcrew in Idaho, gaining extensive experience in saw work and incident response while exploring much of the western U.S. Brendan also worked as a crew lead with Conservation Corps North Carolina, leading prescribed burns throughout the Sandhills region.

When he’s not working in the forest, Brendan enjoys macro insect photography, fly fishing, hiking, and exploring the biodiversity of every place he visits.

Favorite thing about Pisgah:
“One of my favorite things about Pisgah is the unique biodiversity present here. The pristine waters, rare ecosystems, and extensive trail systems provide an incredible opportunity to experience the beauty and diversity of the southern Appalachian Mountains.”

We’re excited to have Brendan on the team!

05/15/2026

Water always wins… unless the trail is built to guide it elsewhere!
Some of our frequent flyers may have noticed work happening along Grassy Road, the access path to Sycamore Cove Trail. Once the climb leveled out, seeps, wet spots, and deep ruts were encouraging visitors to skirt around the trail, slowly widening its impact over time.

This week our Trail Crew worked with our mini-excavator to tackle long-needed drainage improvements uphill from the new pedestrian bridge. Using the excavator allows the crew to carefully re-shape drains that have been maintained for years by hand or with less nimble equipment.
It may look dramatic at first, but these rolling grade dips are built to last, smooth, gradual changes in slope are one of the best ways to keep water off the trail.

Fun fact: the “Rolling Grade Dip” is also known as the “Coweeta Dip,” is named after the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in the Nantahala National Forest, where the technique was developed, just over an hour from Pisgah!