Local History: Bent Creek Experimental Forest

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of going on a hiking trip to the Bent Creek Experimental Forest located near Asheville, NC. Established in 1925, it is the oldest federal experimental forest east of the Mississippi River, and was initially established to research environmentally friendly forest management practices. Today, the forest continues to be a research center, but also includes 44 miles of hiking trails, the North Carolina Arboretum, the Lake Powhatan Recreation Center, and it is bordered by the Blue Ridge Parkway. While there are certainly more difficult and rugged trails in Western North Carolina, the Bent Creek Experimental Forest is an excellent place to get away from the city if you live in Asheville, and I highly recommend it.

Bent Creek Experimental Forest (Image by Adam Sabin)

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