Moreover, a young nation woke up to the fact that its rich resources required thoughtful stewardship to keep them bountiful. At Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 412, turn south on US 276. Travel 4 miles to the Cradle of Forestry entrance on left. Adjacent to the Cradle of Forestry, the Pink Beds are a network of upland bogs supporting habitats more like those found on the Coastal Plain than the mountains. In the shadow of looming formations such as Looking Glass Rock and Mount Pisgah, the Pink Beds are remarkably level, making them a popular destination for hiking and mountain biking.
Trails pass through lush stands of rhododendron and mountain laurel.
One legend has it that their pink and white blooms give the area its name. At South Fork Mills River's junction with its tributary, Bearwallow Brook, a grove of huge white pines dominates in a beautiful and peaceful setting. These trees grow extremely straight and, because they drop their lower limbs under the shaded canopy, are easily harvested for telephone poles. The Pink Beds Loop Trail was once a 5-mile walk. At Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 412, turn south on US 276.