The crest of the range is known as the Pisgah Ridge, and for the majority of its length forms the border between Haywood County to the north, Jackson County to the southwest, and Transylvania County to the southeast. The far eastern part of the range forms the border between Buncombe and Henderson Counties. Several towns are located in the valleys surrounding the range, including Brevard, Cullowhee, Waynesville, Canton, and the southwest suburbs of Asheville.
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs along its length and at Richland Balsam (milepost 431), the Parkway is at its highest point (6053feet). Large portions of the range are part of Pisgah or Nantahala National Forest, making the area popular for recreation. The Middle Prong and Shining Rock Wildernesses are located in the center of the range and are both part of Pisgah National Forest. Several waterfalls are located in the range, such as Looking Glass Falls, Moore Cove Falls, and the waterfalls of Graveyard Fields.
The area consists of a transition forest between the southern Appalachian spruce–fir forest (which resembles forest types found at northern latitudes) and the mixed deciduous forests of temperate America.[4]
Trees
The following trees are at higher elevations:
Fraser fir[5] ("balsams" or "She balsams"). Forests of these trees appear black from a distance; however, these trees are declining due to the balsam woolly adelgid.[6]
Red spruce[7] ("He balsams"). The red spruce is distinguished from the Fraser fir by having bark whose rosin cannot be milked (hence, "He balsams") and by having hanging cones.
↑ Sutton, Myron; Sutton, Ann (1985). Eastern forests (Audubon Society Nature Guides). New York: Knopf. ISBN0-394-73126-3. p43
↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Abies fraseri (Fraser fir)". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
↑ Frankenberg, Dirk (2000). Exploring North Carolina's Natural Areas: Parks, Nature Preserves, and Hiking Trails. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN0-8078-4851-4. p343
↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Picea rubens (red spruce)". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
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