), 35.954583, -81.927833     //     N35 57.275 W81 55.670. The drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway to get to the Linville Falls visitor center is also very scenic and breathtaking. It is a primitive dirty and gravel path with several steep climbs near the end. The Plunge Basin Trail departs from the visitor center, descending to the gorge floor for an up-close view of the falls across a deep, glassy basin. Very family-friendly hike. Downriver, the river courses through a boulder-filled bed, carving in a wide meander through the deep-channeled mountain landscape. The trail crosses a bridge over the Linville River, following a wide gravel road and rolling elevation through a vibrant green forest. The hike itself was not hard. This makes for a 2.2-mile hike of moderate difficulty. It wasn’t busy, but there we a couple of people on the trail on a weekday. The trail arcs away from the river, ascending through an old-growth forest of broad-trunked pine and hemlock. Bring your mask. A second parking area is near the village of Linville Falls in Pisgah National Forest - a great option for winter hikes when the Parkway is closed (read more). Since the mountain beside the river is basically vertical, you'll actually have to walk in the riverbed a bit. Linville falls is one of North Carolina's treasures and perhaps the most photographed water fall in the state. And before you go, always check the trailhead kiosk, official maps, and the park or ranger office for notices of changed routes, trail closures, safety information, and restrictions. The trail also gives you beautiful overhead panoramas of the falls from various overlooks, including Erwin’s View and Chimney View. Hike the gorge’s southern end near Lake James on the Shortoff Mountain Trail, and catch incredible view after incredible view on this 7-mile roundtrip. Trails near the Linville Falls Visitor Center lead to the breathtaking three-tiered Linville Falls over the Linville Gorge via both strenuous and moderate hikes. Table Rock’s plateaued mountain summit offers stunning, 360-degree panoramas on a moderate 2-mile trail. Eric Champlin is a creative director and photographer who loves to explore southeast. Out of Marion, NC go north on Highway 221. Linville Falls is the most popular waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains because of its accessibility to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The hike doubles back to the split, veering right to trek a short downhill to Erwin’s View. Most of the overlooks require visitors to use steps or stairs. Turn right, uphill, to begin the hike to Linville Falls. From the visitor center, there are two main trails Erwin Trail and Linville Gorge Trail or Plunge Basin that lead to the falls. Overview: The Linville Gorge is one of the most forbidding wilderness areas in North Carolina. Here are a list of trails in the Linville area: Dugger’s Creek Trail 0.3 miles one direction from Vistors’ Center. Linville Falls resides in the Blue Ridge Parkway (though one trailhead sits in Pisgah National Forest) near Linville Falls in Burke County, North Carolina. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website. Always leave no trace, pack out everything you pack in, and if you see trash, pick it up and pack it out. Overall we’d highly recommend this hike because of the gorgeous views, especially with the leaves changing colors! The small falls can be seen on the right from a footbridge over the creek. Please support them by making a donation or joining a volunteer day. In the area with extra energy, time and daylight to burn? There were rocks and tree roots throughout the trail but one could walk around/avoid them. A lot of people but once we were at the falls most people were wearing masks. Old Mitchell Trail & Mount Mitchell High Loop, Mount Mitchell Summit & Balsam Nature Trail, Best fall foliage hikes near Asheville and in the NC mountains, Linville Gorge hiking, camping & adventure guide, Blue Ridge Parkway hikes: our favorite summit views, Roan Mountain & the Roan Highlands on the Appalachian Trail, 2019 Fall color forecast for Asheville, NC, waterfalls near Asheville under two miles, the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, check for trail updates and parkway closures. Near the overlook’s southern edge, downriver from the upper falls, the river carves deep into a canyon, surging and twisting in tendrils of whitewater before plunging through a cliff. You can see beautiful forest trees and flowers and a nice display of fall colors. INFO CABIN 221 LEGEND PARKWAY STATE/PAVED ROADS UNIMPROVED ROADS FOOT TRAILS We hiked just after it down-poured so the water level was very high. Beautiful, easy trail for the whole family. Easy hike to a number of Linville Falls viewing platforms. To experience fully what Linville Gorge has to offer, hike to the multiple spots that offer delightful views of Linville Falls from various angles. A colorful and varied display of wildflowers decorates the trails in the spring. This map shows our approximate route while exploring this trail, but does not replace an official trail map. Erwin’s View Trail is 1.6 miles round-trip from the visitor center. Very crowded. The route quickly takes a left to explore the upper falls overlook, descending along a blocky cliff. Nice short trail with some elevation thrown in. The trail crosses a bridge over the Linville River, following a wide gravel road and rolling elevation through a vibrant … Make sure you wear sneakers or hiking shoes. The overlook offers beautiful long-range views of Linville Falls as it cascades down between the gorge’s grand walls. Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail. Dogs are also able to use this trail. pretty views. Bring the whole family out and explore the area surrounding the falls. Two main hiking trails lead to beautiful views of the Linville Falls. Linville falls is located in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina and is the beginning of Linville Gorge; the waterfalls are fed from the Linville River and flows down the mountain into Lake James near Marion, North Carolina. At noon,when we left, it was worse, so try for 9am. At the gorge’s northern edge, near the Blue Ridge Parkway, the river cascades in a series of waterfalls that plummet through its dramatically beautiful landscape. Please always practice good trail etiquette. Erwin's view is the easier of the two, and stops at three main overlooks: Upper Falls, Chimney View, and the eponymous Erwin's View. Easy trail, nice view of waterfalls but crowded. Tall trees tower over the rolling landscape of grasses, rhododendron, and fern. It was overcrowded by people with umbrellas and no social distancing whatsoever. We’ve loved hiking this route with our trail-loving Labrador Retrievers! This trail passes through a majestic forest of old-growth hemlock and white pines, to spectacular cliff-top views of one of the most scenic and photographed waterfalls in the East. The trail proceeds upriver on the right side about 100 yards to the plunge pool, and view of the main drop of Linville Falls. And a bonus overlook, near the hike’s end, offers southbound views into the deep-carved gorge. (Before you go, check for trail updates and parkway closures on the official Blue Ridge Parkway website. The gorge offers 39 miles of hiking with elevations of 2,000 to 4,000 feet. At Hwy 183 go right for about 1/2 mile and turn right again on a gravel road. Catch some gorgeous sunrises and sunsets on the Hawksbill Mountain Trail, climbing to the summit of a rocky, jagged, beak-like mountain. Please refer to the official trail map for the most current and accurate route. Linville Falls Trail is a 0.9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Newland, North Carolina that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. Make sure you bring a water bottle. The gorge is cool and the falls are fine, but it was EXTREMELY overcrowded and ruined the whole experience. Dugger’s Creek Trail is one of the area’s best-kept secrets. It is listed as a moderate difficultly walk and has a defined pathway. Follow the signs to a gravel parking lot. It begins by walking through the visitor center across a footbridge over the river and on toward the waterfall. We'd love to know! Hiking Trails Hiking in and around Linville falls offers every level of hiking challenge and satisfaction. The trail departs from the gravel parking lot noted in the Trailhead description and is clearly marked. From top to bottom, there is almost 1,500 feet in elevation change. The majority of the trail was gravel. The hike turns, retracing its steps back to the main trail and climbing elevation. Nice trail with great views. Chimney View’s high-elevation perch offers stunning views into the gorge below, catching sight of the enormous falls dropping through two tiers in a towering, blocky cliff. In terms of overall experience, I think it would normally be a fun waterfall walk but the number of maskless crowds is not a plus. Just in case it is Linville Falls Plunge Basin Trail here is some info on that hike found on Asheville Trails. This hike visits three waterfall overlooks on a one-mile outbound adventure, each catching a unique perspective of the upper falls, immense lower falls, and the surrounding gorge. Forests offer virgin hemlock mixed with other familiar trees such as white pine, oaks, hickory, and birch. Up for chasing some more ultra-stunning cascades without a long hike? The hike was still enjoyable even with the rain. At the bottom of this descent you can go left for about .2 miles to a viewing platform directly above the falls. We got to the parking lot at 10:40 Saturday morning,it was musical chairs,but we got a spot. He’s also the co-founder of Atlanta Trails and Asheville Trails, digital magazines that highlight the South’s best outdoor adventures. The hike descends through a blocky, cliff-lined terrain to the overlook’s wide, smooth rock expanses on the river’s banks. The Western Carolina mountains are a sought after place to work off the city blues. Related to the first tip, I would either purchase a paper map or download an app like Avenza Maps where you can download different maps to your phone. Bring a mask because very few people were wearing masks and/or socially distancing. Linville Falls Plunge Basin Trail "The hike departs from the Linville Falls visitor center, located off the Blue Ridge Parkway at MP 316 (view maps and driving directions), hanging a left in front of the visitor center. Check out more of our favorite. Note: slippery rocks and fast moving water can be extremely dangerous! There are two main trails to view the falls – Erwin’s View Trail and Linville Gorge Trail – both with multiple overlooks. All offer a good hike and most also reward you with a spectacular view. Linville Falls, pictured above, is the most photographed falls in NC located in the Linville Gorge. UPPER BASIN FALLS PLUNGE BASIN OVERLOOK GRAVEL PARKING AREA LINVILLE FALLS COMMUNITY 317 VISITOR CENTER TRAIL MILEAGE IS VISITOR CENTER DUGGERIS CREEK RT 163 CAMPGROUND RIVERBEND U.S.F.S. Started at the MarionWright trail counter clockwise. It’s a hike that’s particularly gorgeous in summertime mornings, as the fog begins to lift from the gorge’s deep valley and the sun rises over the opposite ridge. The level, road-width Linville Falls Trail leads through a scenic forest along the river to a junction on the right at 0.4 mile (a Forest Service spur trail connects to NC 1238, a short distance away-see the map below). Carving deep into the mountainous landscape between Asheville and Boone, a tumbling river dives deep between two rugged ridges, flowing nearly 2,000 feet below the surrounding mountain summits. Or for more of our favorite hikes and campsites in the gorge, check out our Linville Gorge hiking and camping guide for more adventure inspiration. At the time of this report, this trail option was closed. Trail Type: Dirt and gravel Hike Distance: See Hike Description Difficulty: 6-9 Beauty: 9. Linville Falls: the hike The hike begins at a visitor center located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near MP 316 (view maps and driving directions). Just move over it's not that hard.. anyway, it's a cool attraction but if you are in good shape I'd recommend doing one of the lesser known, back-country trails to see the gorge/falls. Linville Falls is about 1 hour from Asheville North Carolina or 2 hours from Charlotte North Carolina. Linville Falls - Milepost 316 Linville Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Super short and a good decline. 80% of people were not wearing masks, and it was very upsetting to see the lack of consideration for others. Strenuous with heavy elevation and technical trails. Best view was from the gorge but it was tough on the knees so bring poles. Another beautiful day, so a little busy, but adequately spaced out. Great sights and photo ops. The only reason we’re giving this trail 4/5 is because we prefer hiking on less manufactured trails. The park should be charging for admission or limiting the number of cars. Linville Falls Perhaps the most famous North Carolina waterfall near Sugar Mountain is Linville Falls. Linville Falls Trails There are a few trails at the park, with the easiest one being Erwin’s View Trail. Biggest tip I have: There is NO cell phone service around the Linville Falls Community. Upriver, the upper waterfall cascades down in a pair of synchronous waterfalls framed by 20-foot-tall outcrops. Make sure you go to the bathroom at the visitor center before you start your hike whether you take the upper or lower trail. Photograph it from several areas along the trail. Duggers Creek Falls is located in the Linville Falls National Recreation Area. Make sure to do your research ahead of time. It wasn't very crowded, parking was easy, & park ranger was very helpful! Top Linville Hiking Trails: See reviews and photos of hiking trails in Linville, North Carolina on Tripadvisor. A colorful and varied display of wildflowers decorates the trails in spring. The lower waterfall is just out of sight – but the tremendous roar of water gives an audible preview of its beauty. Our favorite hikes to waterfalls near Asheville under two miles explore some of Western NC’s most beautiful falls on great beginner-friendly trails. Aug 4, 2017 Greg Gilger. Next time I'll try it before 9am. Linville Falls Overlook Trail is a 2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Newland, North Carolina that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Great for even young kids. Access the trails from two parking areas about 15 miles from Sugar Mountain: on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 316.4 and in the Pisgah Forest Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. Linville Gorge is strikingly beautiful. The views were very pretty. Free parking is available at the visitor center, located at MP 316.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville. Hiked to top and then down to Bottom of Linville Falls. It was worth it. Head to the gorge’s eastern rim to hike the Table Rock Trail. He's the co-owner of Trailful Outdoor Co, a locally-owned hiking outfitter shop in Hiawassee in the Georgia mountains near the Appalachian Trail. The trail is primarily used for walking and is best used from April until November. Dogs and kids are everywhere so it’s not a quiet peaceful place but still a nice little hike. The steep-walled Gorge is known as the “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians.” Linville Falls Visitor Center (MP 317.8) hosts 350,000 visitors annually. Very worthwhile hike. Upper Falls, Chimney View, Gorge View, and Erwin’s Outlook all had breathtaking views of the falls and river. Easy hike with great rewards. Contact us here, and thanks for helping us keep this site updated! ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT ERIC CHAMPLIN OR SUMMIT19 STUDIO LLC. The trail will wind around a bit, at one point curving through a side gully with a long rusty pipe partially exposed, and you'll reach a signed intersection with a spur trail to an overlook after about 1/3 mile. Linville Falls thunders through a towering cliff before pooling in a deep, wide basin below the waterfall and flowing downriver through the 12-mile gorge. Aug 18, 2017 Jake Cimolino. Looking for some exceptional views? I am sure the folks running this attraction feel folks will come regardless how poorly it is managed. The trail is primarily used for walking and is best used from April until November. Sep 9, 2017 Tina Wolfe. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Please don’t climb, stand on, swim near, or jump from any waterfall. Did you have trouble accessing the trail, or notice some recent trail updates or storm damage? 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