This 6,500-acre site in the Blue Ridge is the first school of forestry in the U.S. The indoor center boasts more than a dozen hands-on exhibits and is simply a fun place to visit for the whole family to learn a thing or two about the enormous diversity of Blue Ridge flora and why we need to protect the natural world to the best of our abilities.
The Cradle of Forestry
In the late 1880s, when George W. Vanderbilt built his Biltmore Estate and purchased 125,000 acres of forest land around it, there were no sustainable forestry practices in America. Vanderbilt decided to invite professional foresters from Germany. By the end of the eighteenth century, forestry in Germany had already been established on a more scientific basis. German scientist Carl A. Schenck first began teaching proper forest management on the Biltmore property and later in 1879, founded The Biltmore Forest School, now known as The Cradle of Forestry in America.
Start your tour at the visitor center where
historic and modern sustainable forestry practices are displayed in an
interactive way along with many engaging activities for kids.
The Visitor Center
The visitor center and surrounding grounds are dedicated to the preservation and advancement of forestry education in America. The interactive learning experience about our amazing home will appeal to people of all ages. Interspersed throughout the center are interpretive displays, showcasing the importance of trees and all the inhabitants of the forest to our environment.
Kids can play tree detectives, discover decomposers in the soil, and
learn how a tree makes its food with energy from the sunlight, carbon
dioxide, and water. Clue –– it's all happening in the leaves. They aslo can explore a cave under a sprawling tree,
take a flight in a firefighting helicopter,
go on a scavenger hunt
and make some cool, unexpected discoveries along the trails. Few activities are as therapeutic as a walk in the woods.
Nature Trails
There are three nature trails full of historic structures, artifacts from the past, tree plantations, and interpretive signs. There's even the 1915 Climax logging locomotive on display, a testament to the passage of time it preserved within. Take a walk along the Forest Festival Trail to see it.
- Biltmore Campus Trail winds past historic buildings and tells the story of student life in the early twentieth century. Distance: 1 mile
- Forest Festival Trail takes you on a little adventure past the 1915 Climax logging locomotive and equipment from the past. Distance: 1.3 miles
- Forest Discovery Trail snakes above the Forest Festival Trail and offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains peeking through the trees. Distance: 1.3 miles
The trails are paved and stroller-friendly with plenty of benches along the way. And we loved how many trees and plants were identified along the route, like the Carolina hemlock and cucumber magnolia.
Plus, getting there is half the fun. On the way to or from The Cradle, you can visit another roadside gem - LOOKING GLASS FALLS, or take a short hike to MOORE COVE FALLS.
Good to know:
- It’s open seasonally, from mid-April to mid-November. Sunday, November 12 is the last day it's open for the 2023 season. For the 2024 season dates, visit Cradle of Forestry website.
- There are 3 paved, stroller-friendly trails with plenty of benches along the way.
- Dogs on a leash are welcome.
- There’s an entrance fee: Adults – $6 and kids – $3. A family pass for the season is $45.
- Enjoy nature and leave no trace behind.
The Cradle of Forestry is on US 276, 14 miles north of Brevard and 4 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The museum is not overly large but a fun and family-friendly place to visit. Have you been there before?
Where: 11250 Pisgah Hwy, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
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