Searching for the perfect weekend away? You’ll want to book your trip to Pilot Cove in Pisgah National Forest after reading this review from KAG’s Kristina Hernandez. Learn what this unique spot near Brevard, NC, offers guests and discover all the things to do nearby.
We received complimentary nights at Pilot Cove for this review. All opinions are those of the author.
Reading the reviews of Pilot Cove as I was getting ready for my trip led me to believe I was in for a real treat. “Nicer than the Grove Park Inn,” wrote one person. Another shared that she felt like she was staying in a treehouse. A third said he could spend the rest of his life at Pilot Cove. None of these people were wrong. It’s hard to overstate how beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing the cabins are at Pilot Cove, about 90 minutes from Greenville in Brevard, NC. But I’ll try.
Pilot Cove at a Glance
- Where: 319 Gateway Junction Drive, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768. It’s right at the edge of Pisgah National Forest, about a 90-minute drive from Greenville and an eight-minute drive from downtown Brevard.
- Lodging: 20 cabins, including efficiencies that sleep two, one-bedrooms that sleep four, and two-bedrooms that sleep six. There’s also an ADA-accessible two-bedroom cabin.
- Rates: No fixed published rate card. Current nightly pricing and minimum-stay requirements appear on Pilot Cove’s live booking calendar.
- Season: Open year round.
- Best for: Families who hike and mountain bike. The property covers 64 acres at 2,200 feet, shares more than a mile of border with Pisgah National Forest, and has about two miles of its own trails.
- Pets: Dogs are welcome in 85% of the cabins with advance staff approval and a $100 pet fee per cabin. No cats.
- Contact: pilotcove.com | (866) PLT-COVE
“Breathtaking”
The location of the cabins is unbeatable, especially if you love the outdoors. You can walk to the entrance of Pisgah Forest or to a handful of restaurants nearby. It’s maybe 30 minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and less than 20 minutes to Dupont State Forest. Hiking trails, waterfalls, and fly fishing are all minutes away.
But the thing is, once you get into your cabin at Pilot Cove, you may not want to leave.
Breathtaking is perhaps the best word I can use to describe the modern yet rustic fully appointed cabins integrated into the forest landscape. The deck at our cabin was big and dreamy with hooks already set for the locally made hammock available to use during your stay (or purchase for $100 and take home with you). Don’t think this didn’t cross my mind. The kitchen is spacious for any meals you want to cook. The table is oh-so-gorgeous and also locally crafted from beautiful wood. The furnishings are comfortably classic, and you’re surrounded by huge photographs of the surrounding waterfalls and forest.
There’s also a mud room and a full washer and dryer so you can get as dirty as you like and still have clean clothes for the rest of your trip. And if it rains, like it did when we were there, the music the water makes on the tin roof is beautiful.
It wasn’t long after I walked into Pilot Cove that I was already dreaming of a return trip. The ability to make your own meals saves a lot of money, and there’s a Walmart within walking distance or a two-minute drive. There’s so much to do within an hour’s drive, so you don’t need to go far in search of making lasting memories.
Pilot Cove Trail
The cabin was spotless, the beds comfortable, and the property stunning. Pilot Cove’s trail system runs throughout the land and backs up to Pisgah National Forest and a bear sanctuary (we didn’t see any bears though!). The trails are open to both hiking and mountain biking and run about two miles. They have a ⅓ mile flow track for serious mountain bikers, which the company absolutely caters to since the owners are avid bikers. If you love that sport, this is the place to go. Each cabin also comes with a spot to wash off bikes.
We hiked part of the trail, and it’s a great workout with beautiful views that wind around the ridge. I loved this part of the property because even though Pisgah Forest is literally right next door, the owners were thoughtful enough to include a hiking trail within steps of the cabin doors.
More Cabins and Camping on the Way
Pilot Cove currently has 20 cabins that are either efficiencies, one-bedrooms, or two-bedrooms, including an ADA-accessible two-bedroom cabin. They all have the same basic layout that makes guests feel as if they’re in a treehouse, which is so peaceful and relaxing.
Pilot Cove plans to add campsites in the future, and a locally built SylvanSport “VAST” camper is coming soon as a lodging option. Pilot Cove also hosts events like concerts in its 250-seat amphitheater, available by reservation.
Booking All Year Round
Pilot Cove is open year-round, which is perfect for families looking for a quiet retreat for just a few days or a whole week. I really can’t imagine any other location that is more ideal for families who love the outdoors and want to explore the area. During the summer, you can go tubing on the Davidson River, which is basically across the street from the cabins. Fall brings the majestic colors of the leaves. Winter is wonderful for exploration during the off-season since the crowds are significantly thinned out. And spring brings wildflowers and the blooming rhododendrons along trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway and throughout Pisgah Forest.
Pilot Cove cabin rates vary by season and cabin size. The property no longer publishes a fixed rate card. Current nightly pricing and minimum-stay requirements appear on its live booking calendar. Check there for the dates you have in mind before you set your budget.
Dogs are allowed in 85% of Pilot Cove’s 20 cabins, but you need staff approval to ensure you get a pet-friendly option. There’s a $100 pet fee per cabin, and guests can have one dog in an efficiency, or two dogs in a one- or two-bedroom cabin. Additional dogs are $50 each, and guests can have up to three dogs in a one-bedroom cabin and four dogs in a two-bedroom cabin. Cats are not allowed.
Make the Most of Your Trip to Brevard, NC
Downtown Brevard and the bordering Pisgah Forest offer plenty of activities, restaurants, and festivities for families to stay busy and have fun. Here are a few of our favorite places to eat, shop, and enjoy the outdoors.
Eating in Brevard
Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop is a throwback to a 1950s diner with checkered floor and red vinyl booths. They serve sandwiches, Hershey’s ice cream, milkshakes, burgers, and all kinds of hot dogs.
For the best in European-style pastries and breads made fresh daily, try Bracken Mountain Bakery.
Discovered by my family on a rainy day, the Crystal Mountain Gem Mine at 31 S. Broad Street in Brevard is really cool and a fun activity for kids. They also sell all kinds of beautiful jewelry from local artists and are right on the main street.
Outdoor Fun in Brevard
One planning note before you go: Hurricane Helene hit this corner of Western North Carolina hard in September 2024, and recovery in Pisgah National Forest is still ongoing. Most of the Pisgah Ranger District has reopened, but a handful of roads and trails elsewhere in the district are still closed. Check the Forest Service’s Helene recovery page and its current alerts for the trails and waterfalls you plan to visit.
Waterfall Chasing
Transylvania County is home to 250 waterfalls, so checking them out is a must-do on a trip to the area. My favorites are the roadside Looking Glass Falls, right off Highway 276 in Pisgah Forest, and the nearby Moore Cove Falls, which you can reach after a short hike. Dupont Forest is close as well, and you can easily see three or four waterfalls in a single hike.
Hiking
If your family loves hiking, Brevard is the place to be. Swing through Dupont Forest for pretty easy hikes, or try the Daniel Ridge Loop for a more challenging four-mile or so hike. I loved the view from Frying Pan Tower, a two-mile round trip hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway, that offers 360-degree views of the mountains. The options are endless, but here are some recommendations for hiking in Pisgah National Forest.
Fly Fishing
I’m no fly fisherman, but every time I’ve been hiking in this area, I see people fly fishing, which has piqued my interest in the activity. There are more than 500 miles of prime fly-fishing waters within an hour of Brevard. Headwater Outfitters and Davidson River Outfitters are two local companies that offer intro classes and fly fishing trips.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is a big draw to Pisgah National Forest and a love of Pilot Cove’s owners, which is why they built their own flow track on the property for guests to use. Here’s great info on where to go if you mountain bike near Pilot Cove.
Tubing
During the summer, be sure to tube the Davidson River. Every time we visited the forest during warmer months, we saw people tubing and were a bit jealous.
River Snorkeling
I had no idea river snorkeling was a thing until I saw it on a brochure in the cabin at Pilot Cove. Oxbow River Snorkeling offers this cool water activity in Western North Carolina.
Indoor Family Activities
Don’t let rain stop your family from having fun on your trip. The Cradle of Forestry, open seasonally from spring through fall and daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., has an amazing indoor, interactive exhibit outfitted to look like a forest. There’s even a helicopter that plays a video that makes it appear you’re flying over a forest fire. Outdoor trails are a part of the Cradle of Forestry as well if you’d like to explore old trains and cabins and learn about the history of the area.
Unique Adventures
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a must-do if you visit during the fall when leaves turn brilliant shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. Seeing it in photos and seeing it in person are two separate experiences. Choose the latter if you can. The scenery is just stunning and from Pilot Cove, you can be at the entrance to the Parkway within 30 minutes.
The Blue Ghost firefly tour in late spring is another experience not to miss. The small fireflies light up along the pitch-black pathway of the trail, and it feels like you’re walking in a dream. I did it this year and was mesmerized! It’s a ticketed, self-guided evening walk capped at 150 people a night, so it sells out quickly. Dates are released each spring.
Sierra Nevada Brewery is a great place to spend a few hours with your family. It has a little kids’ play area, corn hole, a huge outdoor space, live music, and great food and beer. You can get there in 25 minutes from Pilot Cove.
Sometimes I feel like living in Greenville isn’t real, that I’ll wake up from the best dream ever and realize I don’t live here any longer. Not only is Greenville a wonderful place for families, but some of our country’s most astounding landmarks are within a 90-minute drive from the Upstate. How awesome is that?! If you’re considering exploring Brevard during any time of the year, certainly look at Pilot Cove. The memories you’ll make as a family are irreplaceable.
Pilot Cove FAQs
How many cabins does Pilot Cove have?
Twenty cabins in three sizes: efficiency, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom, including an ADA-accessible two-bedroom cabin. Efficiencies sleep two, one-bedrooms sleep four, and two-bedrooms sleep six.
How much does it cost to stay at Pilot Cove?
Pilot Cove doesn’t publish a fixed rate card. Nightly rates depend on season and cabin size. Current pricing, plus any minimum-stay requirements, appear on the live booking calendar at pilotcove.com.
Can I bring my dog to Pilot Cove?
Dogs are allowed in 85% of Pilot Cove’s 20 cabins, but you need staff approval to ensure you get a pet-friendly option. There’s a $100 pet fee per cabin, and guests can have one dog in an efficiency, or two dogs in a one- or two-bedroom cabin. Additional dogs are $50 each, and guests can have up to three dogs in a one-bedroom cabin and four dogs in a two-bedroom cabin. Cats are not allowed.
How far is Pilot Cove from Greenville?
About an hour and a half by car. Pilot Cove sits at 319 Gateway Junction Drive, right at the edge of Pisgah National Forest and about eight minutes from downtown Brevard.
