Exercise Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

To start this loop, park at either the Art Loeb Trail (Davidson River Campground) or the Pisgah Visitor Center and Ranger Station (1600 Pisgah Hwy, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768). I will describe directions from the Art Loeb Trail.

Park in the parking lot at the Art Loeb Trail. Go to the 2-lane road that heads into the campground and cross the Davidson River on the bridge. Immediately make a right onto the trail marked "Exercise Trail". Follow this singletrack trail upstream until you pass the English Chapel.

Make a right on the bridge to cross the river again and cross Highway 276. Across the highway, you'll see a sign that says "Exercise Trail". Follow the singletrack path back to the Visitor Center where you'll transfer briefly to a sidewalk before picking up the trail at the far end of the parking lot.

Follow the signs and cross Highway 276 once again. Look for the Exercise Trail sign on the other side! Follow this short section of trail along the left side of the Davidson River (between a dirt road and the Highway) until you reached the paved road that you started on. The parking lot will be straight ahead.

Rhododendrons, mountains laurels, wild ginger, galax , hemlocks and wisterias.