Haven't been there is a VERY long while but I loved Pisgah National Forest. Best backpacking trip I ever took except maybe for Kings Canyon in California. In both places caught and ate trout in the outback. In both places my hiking partner walking behind me got scared to death. Pisgah she said she held her breath as I intercepted a cottonmouth with my ankle high booted feet. Never felt or saw a thing but she was out of her wits as she explained to me what happened. Kings Canyon, I was sitting right next to a carol snake unaware until I turned to take a picture of a nearby mountain waterfall, bracing myself with my right hand to scoot to a better sitting spot and noticed what was next to that hand. The camera? I have no idea which way it went but I think (honest) I took a 15-20 foot sideways leap from a sitting position. Hiking partner backs this up that she watched the flight then did a Spider-man climb up the rock face when I pointed to why I had suddenly acquired the gift of flight.
Despite this, I loved Pisgah, beautiful, wild place, always wanted to return, things never worked out. But this coming spring or summer, I'm going back. Besides, it's a good excuse to revisit the Smokey Mountains so NC is really nice in my book.