Out of Marion, NC go north on Highway 221. The trail is great for walking and normally takes 1-3 hours. Stay on the marked trail, tell someone where you're going, pack safety and wayfinding essentials, and don't rely on a mobile phone to find your way. Dorie Robinson wrote a review Nov 2020. A colorful and varied display of wildflowers decorates the trails in spring. Additionally, some trails were closed for repair and the was no clear indication that trails would be inaccessible. Best view was from the gorge but it was tough on the knees so bring poles. Located in Burke County, Linville Falls drops 90 ft. into the 12-mile long Linville Gorge with cliffs towering above the river. Please support them by making a donation or joining a volunteer day. The Western Carolina mountains are a sought after place to work off the city blues. There is another paved parking lot further down on Hwy 183, but the trail to Linville Falls is longer. 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. Bring your mask. If you're set on going during fall colors or other peak time, I'd recommend walking down to Dugger's Creek or at least do the other parking lots for Erwins view / Chimney. Great sights and photo ops. There are many other similar attractions in the Linville and Blue Ridge Parkway area. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Great hike for families. Linville Falls Trails There are a few trails at the park, with the easiest one being Erwin’s View Trail. Bring a mask because very few people were wearing masks and/or socially distancing. Reaching the trail’s end, two short spurs travel to the trail’s final overlooks, and the hike veers to the right, catching stunning views into the gorge. The trail crosses a bridge over the Linville River, following a wide gravel road and rolling elevation through a vibrant green forest. Aug 18, 2017 Jake Cimolino. Linville Falls is about 1 hour from Asheville North Carolina or 2 hours from Charlotte North Carolina. At the time of this report, this trail option was closed. 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. Go early as this place gets very crowded. Absolutely our favorite hike on the Blueridge Parkway! Please refer to the official trail map for the most current and accurate route. At the bottom of this descent you can go left for about .2 miles to a viewing platform directly above the falls. 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. All offer a good hike and most also reward you with a spectacular view. I am sure the folks running this attraction feel folks will come regardless how poorly it is managed. Started at the MarionWright trail counter clockwise. Easy trail, nice view of waterfalls but crowded. The hike descends through a blocky, cliff-lined terrain to the overlook’s wide, smooth rock expanses on the river’s banks. If you are looking for something a bit more private this isn't it. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website. Please don’t climb, stand on, swim near, or jump from any waterfall. light, easy trail nestled in shade and sun. Beautiful, easy trail for the whole family. The trail departs from the gravel parking lot noted in the Trailhead description and is clearly marked. The overlook offers beautiful long-range views of Linville Falls as it cascades down between the gorge’s grand walls. Only one of the trails is strenuous, and you can hike to all five viewpoints with a four-mile hike. © 2014 - 2020 Trailful Outdoor Co. // Made in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition to hiking, find a campground along the Parkway acces… The trail descends down hill for about .4 miles. Great for even young kids. Regardless of where you start, the trails are well marked, easily followed, and offer great views of the falls and the gorge. Hike to epic views of the enormous waterfalls at Linville Falls, climbing to high-elevation views into a steep-walled gorge just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Duggers Creek Falls is located in the Linville Falls National Recreation Area. Linville Falls is one of the major attractions along the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 316. This trail is maintained thanks to the hard work of countless volunteers and donations from supporters of the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards. Please always practice good trail etiquette. Note: slippery rocks and fast moving water can be extremely dangerous! It’s a fairly simple 1.6 miles round trip. 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. 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. This makes for a 2.2-mile hike of moderate difficulty. 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. I would recommend bypassing the trails and park at Linville Falls for these other alternatives. Sep 9, 2017 Tina Wolfe. Very crowded. Aug 4, 2017 Greg Gilger. Fun hike that is simple enough especially with children. Super short and a good decline. Easy hike with great rewards. The hike doubles back to the split, veering right to trek a short downhill to Erwin’s View. Did you have trouble accessing the trail, or notice some recent trail updates or storm damage? It begins by walking through the visitor center across a footbridge over the river and on toward the waterfall. Tall trees tower over the rolling landscape of grasses, rhododendron, and fern. Erwin’s View Trail. It is administered by the National Park Service. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Hiked to top and then down to Bottom of Linville Falls. But if the water is too high, you won't be able to safely make it. The Linville Falls Trail is the most popular hiking trail to view Linville Falls. 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. 30.1mi — 49h 02m Aug 22, 2017 Angela Theil. It wasn't very crowded, parking was easy, & park ranger was very helpful! The hike itself was not hard. Make sure you bring a water bottle. Dogs and kids are everywhere so it’s not a quiet peaceful place but still a nice little hike. ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT ERIC CHAMPLIN OR SUMMIT19 STUDIO LLC. Catch some gorgeous sunrises and sunsets on the Hawksbill Mountain Trail, climbing to the summit of a rocky, jagged, beak-like mountain. 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. Strenuous with heavy elevation and technical trails. Let's work together to keep these fantastic trails maintained and open for use! Some of the most popular hikes include Hawksbill Mountain Trail, Linville Gorge Wilderness Hike, Linville Falls Erwins View Trail and Plunge Basin Trail, Table Rock Summit and Wiseman's View. The hike hangs a left at .5 miles, following signs to the upper falls overlook. Linville Falls resides in the Blue Ridge Parkway (though one trailhead sits in Pisgah National Forest) near Linville Falls in Burke County, North Carolina. In the area with extra energy, time and daylight to burn? Our favorite hikes to waterfalls near Asheville under two miles explore some of Western NC’s most beautiful falls on great beginner-friendly trails. The trailhead is clearly marked from here. Table Rock’s plateaued mountain summit offers stunning, 360-degree panoramas on a moderate 2-mile trail. Trail Type: Dirt and gravel Hike Distance: See Hike Description Difficulty: 6-9 Beauty: 9. Nice trail with great views. (Before you go, check for trail updates and parkway closures on the official Blue Ridge Parkway website. Free parking is available at the visitor center, located at MP 316.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville. 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. His mission? The hike reaches a spur trail at just under one mile, turning left to catch views of the waterfall from the Chimney View overlook. The only reason we’re giving this trail 4/5 is because we prefer hiking on less manufactured trails. VISIT OUR SHOP ABOUT US OUR STORY CONTACT US. The trail also gives you beautiful overhead panoramas of the falls from various overlooks, including Erwin’s View and Chimney View. The hike was still enjoyable even with the rain. Bring the whole family out and explore the area surrounding the falls. 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. 80% of people were not wearing masks, and it was very upsetting to see the lack of consideration for others. The trail arcs away from the river, ascending through an old-growth forest of broad-trunked pine and hemlock. Linville Falls Perhaps the most famous North Carolina waterfall near Sugar Mountain is Linville Falls. The trail crosses a bridge over the Linville River, following a wide gravel road and rolling elevation through a vibrant … The hike retraces back to the main trail once again, turning left to hike to Erwin’s View overlook. It is listed as a moderate difficultly walk and has a defined pathway. 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. Went yesterday during a torrential downpour thinking it was going to be lonely and quiet. Make sure you bring a camera for pictures. 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). No crowd at all on a Friday morning (around 9am) and no problem with parking. We hiked just after it down-poured so the water level was very high. The trail is primarily used for walking and is best used from April until November. Of the four major gorges located in the state, Linville is the only one that doesn’t have a road cutting through it. Trailful Outdoor Co. is a registered trademark of Summit19 Studio LLC.Privacy Policy | Terms of Use No photo, illustration, data, or text on this website may be reproduced, published, or distributed without prior written permission and license. Upper Falls, Chimney View, Gorge View, and Erwin’s Outlook all had breathtaking views of the falls and river. It is a spectacular three-tiered waterfall plunging into Linville Gorge, the “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians.” The Falls Trail distance is 1.6 miles round trip and easy. Two main hiking trails lead to beautiful views of the Linville Falls. Was a spontaneous stop while driving Asheville and loved it! I bought a $2 rain poncho at the Visitor Center. Continue another approximately .2 miles and you will come to the "Chimney" viewing area. There are two main trails to view the falls – Erwin’s View Trail and Linville Gorge Trail – both with multiple overlooks. We went to 3 viewing points and each one was prettier than the next. Here are a list of trails in the Linville area: Dugger’s Creek Trail 0.3 miles one direction from Vistors’ Center. Also hiked cove trail part of mountain to sea trail about a mile. There are also views from the Erwins View Trail, so you have three different options to see the falls—hiking to all three views is not a bad idea. It wasn’t busy, but there we a couple of people on the trail on a weekday. The winter access trail reaches the main Linville Falls Trail at.3 miles, hanging a left to hike southbound. NB the main parking lot is accessible only from the parkway itself, not Route 183. Another beautiful day, so a little busy, but adequately spaced out. Check out our favorite Linville Falls winter hike for wintertime trailhead access. Trails are marked well. Dugger’s Creek Trail is one of the area’s best-kept secrets. We’ve loved hiking this route with our trail-loving Labrador Retrievers! Note: remember which parking lots you came from because there is a fork on the return saying “gravel or government “ parking! From this vantage point the falls are about 200 meters away. Linville Falls, pictured above, is the most photographed falls in NC located in the Linville Gorge. The lower falls from the bottom of the Plunge Basin Trail. There were rocks and tree roots throughout the trail but one could walk around/avoid them. 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). 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. At noon,when we left, it was worse, so try for 9am. The park should be charging for admission or limiting the number of cars. We got to the parking lot at 10:40 Saturday morning,it was musical chairs,but we got a spot. 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. Both begin at the Linville Falls Visitor Center and pass through remnants of a virgin hemlock forest mixed with other familiar trees such as white pine, oaks, hickory, and birch. Crowded on a Saturday, but plenty of room for everyone. 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 easy, short trail. 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. Always leave no trace, pack out everything you pack in, and if you see trash, pick it up and pack it out. The gorge offers 39 miles of hiking with elevations of 2,000 to 4,000 feet. Top Linville Hiking Trails: See reviews and photos of hiking trails in Linville, North Carolina on Tripadvisor. 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). Very worthwhile hike. Linville Falls is the most popular waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains because of its accessibility to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail was heavily trafficked considering the stormy Saturday weather, we can only imagine the traffic on a good weather day. Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail. All reviews different angles mile round trip nice hike miles total shortest hike visitor center moderate trail bad knees up hill fitness level worth every step beautiful fall colors difficult trail tree roots the blue ridge parkway parking lot is worth the effort park service taking pictures beautiful waterfall half day trip viewing area. Trails lead to views of both the upper and lower falls. Linville Falls is home to many beautiful, scenic trails. Pretty trail and very wide. He’s also the co-founder of Atlanta Trails and Asheville Trails, digital magazines that highlight the South’s best outdoor adventures. 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. Continue up the trail another 800 feet or so and view into the Linville Gorge at Erwins View. My almost 3 year old crushed it! The trail is primarily used for walking and is best used from April until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Next time I'll try it before 9am. The route quickly takes a left to explore the upper falls overlook, descending along a blocky cliff. Upriver, the upper waterfall cascades down in a pair of synchronous waterfalls framed by 20-foot-tall outcrops. © 2014 - 2020 Trailful Outdoor Co. // Made in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The lower waterfall is just out of sight – but the tremendous roar of water gives an audible preview of its beauty. At Hwy 183 go right for about 1/2 mile and turn right again on a gravel road. We'd love to know! Hiking Trails Hiking in and around Linville falls offers every level of hiking challenge and satisfaction. Because this is a really easy hike/walk, there were tons of people even in rain (ditto to another recent reviewer on here). The area is subject to close in the winter, especially after a snow. 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. It can be reached by the short Duggers Creek Falls trail, which starts at the back right corner of the paved parking lot from the Visitor Center. The hike turns, retracing its steps back to the main trail and climbing elevation. Departing Erwin’s View, the hike retraces its steps to the trailhead, completing the hike at just over 2 miles. The hike begins at a visitor center located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near MP 316 (view maps and driving directions). 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. Nice short trail with some elevation thrown in. The overlook spots had steep stairs with a railing. 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