(Keywords: Hiking, Fishing - North Carolina)
Linville Falls
Featuring,Linville Gorge Wilderness
Linville
Falls Recreations Area is the gateway to the Linville Gorge Wildness.
Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, at mile post 316, the Rec Area
is a good place to get oriented for greater adventure in the Wilderness.
Download this GPS Map for trailheads and points of interest in and around
the gorge.
Linville is one big gorge. The plunge is around 1600 feet over the distance of 1/2 mile, more or less depending on whether you're hiking near the top of the gorge or down around the mouth. There are a few good vistas that you can drive to, the better ones require a hike. If you decide to drop on down, the canopy is very thick, and even though the sides of the gorge are steep, you won't see much again until you get down to the river.
Click on the binoculars to see a demonstration of ExpertGPS displaying the Babel Tower area of the gorge, where it easy to see why Linville Gorge is called "The Grand Canyon of the East." (linville_expert.jpg [Approx. 92 KB] opens in a new window).
GPS MAP
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Download the free GPS Map in GPS eXchange (.gpx) file format, which can be read and transferred to your GPS using free GPS software. (The .gpx file will appear in a new window where you can File > Save as... on your computer)
GPS Map File Details
File Name: linville2.gpx
File Size: 34 KB
Revised: 29 September 2005
Class B1 Data
Waypoints: 21 (Including: Parking, Trailhead, Picnic Spots, etc.)
Route and Tracks:
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Linville River
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Mountains to Sea Trail
Adventure Travel Tip
Warning: People have died in the gorge. Weather in the North Carolina mountains can change suddenly. Rains upstream of your location can cause water levels to rise quickly, and the trails can become treacherous. I recommend you carry a portable weather alert radio* and wear sturdy shoes.
Trip Planning
Linville Falls
Naturally, summertime is peak for tourists congesting the falls area. If you want to avoid snowcones, t-shirts, and cotton candy, then stay away from the northwest side of the gorge. However, there is one west side vista worth the venture...
Wiseman's View
Continue south, past the parking lot for the falls (waypoint 0 10). From there you'll be on the "Kistler Memorial Highway" (Jeep Trail). To get to Wiseman's (Waypoint 0 20), you should have a high clearance vehicle with the weight over the drive wheels.
From the vista point at Wiseman's, look north down into the gorge and you will see Babel Tower (Waypoint 30). If you are so *inclined* there is a trailhead (waypoint 040) to Babel Tower from the road near Laurel Knob.
While you're at Wiseman's, take a good look at the features on the east ridge and try to name them. Many of the trails I mention below start at or lead to them. If you happen to be in the area at night, look for the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights, which may also be seen from the Brown Mountain Scenic Overlook (waypoint 140).
I would not hazard to drive south of Wiseman's without 4 wheel drive.East Ridge Trailheads
To access the east ridge, leave the Linville Falls area, heading northeast and cut over to 181 and head south through the community of Jonas Ridge. Before you get to Cold Springs take a right on Gingercake Road at Waypoint 050. Off Gingercake, there are several trails that lead down to the river and/or to interesting geological features along the ridge.
Devil's Hole Trailhead (Waypoint 060) will lead you down to some good fishing spots. From Lettered Rock Ridge (Waypoint 070) it is a short walk to Hawksbill Mountain (110). Spence Ridge (Waypoint 0 80) is exactly opposite Wiseman's View. From there you can either go down to the river on the Spence Ridge Trail or you can connect with the Mountains-to-Sea Trail to bag Table rock Mountain (Waypoint 090) and The Chimneys (Waypoint 100).
Fish Hatchery
A little further away, check out the Fish Hatchery (Waypoint 130) during visiting hours. There's a picnic area and the ranger is usually very informative. Along the way there's a views of the back side of Table Rock which is popular with local artists.
If you have a few extra days, hike up Grandfather Mountain or trout fish in the Wilson Creek area.
References
Special thanks to members of the Linville Gorge group on Yahoo! for contributing GPS data. Please visit the Linville Gorge group on Yahoo for more information about the Gorge.
