Take the time to visit this ever popular waterfall. It is a beautiful three-tiered waterfall plummeting into the Linville Gorge, the “Grand Canyon of the South”. The 440-acre Linville Falls Recreation Area offers three trails: The Falls Trail, about 1.6 miles RT, is easy. The Gorge Trail, about 1.4 miles RT, is strenuous. The Plunge Basin Trail, about 1 mile RT, is moderate. There are four overlooks along the rim of the Gorge: First Overlook (upper falls), Chimney View (the first look at the lower falls), Gorge View (the river cutting through the mountains), and Erwins View (the breathtaking gorge and a distant view of the falls). The views include spectacular rhododendron thickets, as well as other native trees and shrubs.

Headwaters for the Linville River begin on Grandfather Mountain and flow through the Linville Gorge to the Catawba Valley. Settlers called the river and the falls “Linville” to honor the explorer William Linville, who was killed in the Gorge by Indians in 1766.

The attached photos are used with permission and show the falls around the turn of the century, one view prior to the 2004 flood and a view during the 2004 flood.

Directions: Leaving Linville, head south on US 221 to Pineola. Take NC 181 heading south for about 2 miles and access the Blue Ridge Parkway on the left. Travel south to Milepost 316.5 and turn left onto the 1.4-mile spur road that leads to Linville Falls Recreation Area.

Linville Falls just prior to the 2004 flood.


Linville Falls during the 2004 flood.