Waterfall Hero Hikes: Linville Gorge Wilderness

Linville Gorge is a Wilderness Area covering 11,651 acres in the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina. The gorge is formed by Jonas Ridge to the east and Linville Mountain to the west, with the Linville River running through the gorge. Sometimes referred to as the "Grand Canyon of North Carolina", the Linville River lies almost 2000 feet below the surrounding mountains and makes for challenging hiking explorations. Established in 1964, Linville Gorge was one of the first federally-designated wilderness areas in the eastern US.

Map:

Trails:

There are more than 50 miles of trails in and around the gorge, including a portion of Segment 4 of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Babel Tower Trail (#240):

Babel Tower Trail is accessed from Kistler Memorial Highway about 2 miles south of the Information Cabin. The trail descends down and crosses Linville Gorge Trail before reaching Babel Tower.

Conley Cove Trail (#229):

Conley Cove Trail starts from Kistler Memorial Highway and descends steeply to Linville Gorge Trail through a break in the cliffs.

Pinch In Trail (#228):

Pinch In Trail starts from Kistler Memorial Highway and descends steeply to Linville Gorge Trail, dropping almost 1,700 vertical feet in under 1.5 miles. Most of the trail follows a ridge with great views along the way.

Pine Gap Trail (#231):

Pine Gap Trail is the first trailhead access coming south on Kistler Memorial Highway from the Information Cabin. It is the easiest access trail into the gorge, but not necessarily an easy trail. It ends at the intersection with Bynum Bluff Trail and Linville Gorge Trail.

Shortoff Trail (#235):

Shortoff Trail runs for almost 8 miles from the Wolf Pit Trailhead up and across Shortoff Mountain and past the Chimneys to Table Rock Picnic Area. Most of the trail is also part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Points of Interest:

Babel Tower:

Babel Tower is a rock outcrop towering above a horseshoe bend in the river located at the end of Babel Tower Trail.

Brushy Ridge Falls:

Brushy Ridge Falls is a 15-foot waterfall on Linville River in the gorge, accessed from Linville Gorge Trail between Cabin Trail and Bynum Bluff Trail.

Cathedral Falls:

Cathedral Falls is a scenic waterfall on a tributary of Linville River about midway through the gorge.

The Chimneys:

The Chimneys are a series of rock outcrops and formations just south of Table Rock that are popular with rock climbers.

Daffodil Flats:

Daffodil Flats is the site of an old homestead in the gorge. The only evidence of the homesite is a field of daffodils that bloom every year in early March. Daffodil Flats is just off Linville Gorge Trail about 1.5 miles south of Pinch In Trail.

Shortoff Mountain:

Shortoff Mountain is in the southeastern end of the gorge and can be accessed from Shortoff Trail. There a number of exceptionally scenic overlooks and great primitive campsites on the mountain.