Pink Beds Picnic Shelter

Closed — Currently closed for the winter season. Reservations reopen in early April, weather permitting. During winter months, the area operates first-come, first-served, but restrooms are closed from mid-November through late March or early April.

Notify on Availability Reserve

About

The Pink Beds Picnic Shelter is the larger of two available shelters in the Pink Beds Picnic Area within Pisgah National Forest. Named for the rhododendron, mountain laurel, and azalea that bloom in spring and summer, this scenic facility sits at 3,280 feet elevation in a relatively flat valley known for its rare mountain bogs, large pine trees, and a small stream nearby. The picnic area offers 21 picnic tables, grills, flush toilet restrooms, and an old Civilian Conservation Corps gazebo. The popular Pink Beds Loop Trail, an easy five-mile hiking trail, begins on the left side of the parking area and winds through this renowned mountain bog ecosystem. The surrounding Pisgah National Forest area provides opportunities for fishing, horseback riding, and swimming. The shelter is ideally located adjacent to the Cradle of Forestry in America Historic Site, a 6,500-acre site commemorating the beginning of forest conservation in the United States. The facility is also four miles from both the Blue Ridge Parkway and Sliding Rock Recreation Area, along the scenic Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway (US 276).

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 Highway 276 (Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway), 4 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway and 11 miles from the intersection of Highway 280 and US 64 in Pisgah Forest, NC.