Crawl along a narrow slippery rock shelf and behold Linville Gorge tucked away in a corner of North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest between Lake James real estate and Grandfather Mountain—daunting to explore, glorious to conquer, and fabulous to see!
North Carolina’s Linville Gorge Wilderness Area is startlingly gorgeous whether you witness the beauty from a tourist outlook or hanging from a sheer rock. Formed by the Linville River that begins as a trickle atop the ancient quartzite of Grandfather Mountain to the north, this wilderness has been spared the clear-cut logging inflicted on most of the other eastern forests during the 1900s.
As the river tumbles over Linville Falls, an impressive 90-foot multilevel cascade known as a cap-rock fall, the experience of the breathtaking natural waterworks, dramatic rock formations, colorful thickets of rhododendrons and mountain laurel, and virgin forests has lured many a seasoned hiker to his knees.
Leaving the falls, the river drops almost 2,000 feet over the next 14 miles, weaving through the spiny ridges of adjacent mountains and the vertical rock outcroppings hundreds of feet high for 20 miles. Passing mountains named Sitting Bear and Hawksbill (which can also be seen from Wiseman’s View), it finally splashes into Lake James at the entrance to the piedmont. McDowell County property borders the hem of this astounding work of Mother Nature.
Bears, deer, raccoons, rattlesnakes and other wildlife move through the 12,000 acres along with avid bikers, hikers, and rock climbers. Thick undergrowth, stands of balsam fir, beds of sphagnum moss, chokeberries and green grassy meadows are just the beginning of a lush habitat. Fishermen follow the river and cast around for plentiful brownies and rainbows throughout the Catawba Valley.
Numerous steep trails (some overgrown!) can be accessed from the eastern or western rim. From the east, take in scenic views from higher elevations with a few short hikes to breathtaking views or longer hikes deep into another world. Several access trails from the west lead to the bottom of the gorge, waterfalls and the grand wilderness experience. Babel Tower is the name given to one of these peninsulas that nearly blocks the river, turning it to a moat-like sea at one point. The Chimneys are a nearby group of outcroppings great for top roping. The primitive Jonas Ridge offers fantastic panoramic views of the gorge for the experienced survival-minded adventurer. Linville Mountain is the westerly border of the wilderness area.
A mile of some of these rugged trails is like two anywhere else and the high adventure does not appeal to all! Permits are required for hunting, fishing and camping during the tourist season. So opt to keep it simple and ask for alternatives at the Linville Falls Visitor Center.
The Linville Gorge Wilderness Area is about a 90-minute drive northeast of Asheville. Take I-40 east to 221 North (exit 85 at Marion). After several miles, turn right on NC 183, then right again on Service Road 1283, also known as the Kistler Memorial Highway. Stop at the Linville Gorge Information Cabin for in-depth advise from the caretakers.
Historic Notes:
Many have heard the call to explore these areas, including the Cherokee who revered Table Rock as a sacred place for religious ceremonies. Explorers William Linville (namesake) and his son John were killed here in 1766, succumbing to the dangers (Indian practices) of the region.
Many hikers have been lost, some forever, wandering around in the boulder-strewn river and the surrounding wilderness, which in 1964 became one of the original components of the National Wilderness System. Before the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway allowed easy access into the Great Smokey Mountains to the west and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east of its path, access was limited.
Studies of the “Grand Canyon of the East,” as some have called it, have led geologists to believe that over millions of years, Linville Falls has migrated 12 miles north, leaving the Gorge in its wake. A geology quirk reveals a hard, erosion-resistant layer of rock overlaying younger soft rock. Soft rock erodes more quickly, undercutting the hard layer and forming a precipice (the cap) that eventually collapses of its own weight. The trademark white rock adds a unique contrast to the forested thickets full of hardwoods and lush undergrowth.
Design by IMC Articles by Harris Realty © Copyright 2006
Top of Page
|
