09 Jun 2020 3 min read hiking

Linville Gorge Wilderness

The Grand Canyon of the Southeast.

The Linville Gorge Wilderness area is a hiking and camping destination gem hiding in plain sight in the North Carolina mountains. Sometimes when I ask friends it they have been there, they usually answer with “Linville Falls? Yes, I have been there…” and are not even aware of this amazing stretch of mountains and canyons that lie further down stream on the Linville River. I can understand that as I have been in that situation too. I had been living 15 years in North Carolina and visiting the mountains a few times every year when I found out about this place.

If you are visiting the Linville Falls area or just driving by the Blue Ridge Parkway, then the Linville Gorge Wilderness is a must-see place for you. If you are a hiker, I assume you already know it because this is hiker’s paradise.

Wiseman’s View Scenic Overlook

The quickest way to see the beauty of this place is to drive to the Wiseman’s View scenic overlook. You will have to slowly drive the 4 miles of dirty and bumpy roads to get there, but that will be worth it. The views from the scenic overlook, a 200 yard stroll from the parking lot, are breathtaking!

As you enter the dirty road and drive past the Linville Falls overflow parking lot, you will see the Forest Service’s Linville Gorge Information Cabin . If you find it open, it is a good place to get a map of the wilderness area or get more information from a ranger.

Forest Service’s Linville Gorge Information Cabin. The dirt road to the Wiseman’s View scenic overlook.

Wiseman’s View scenic overlook. Enjoy the magnificent views of the Linville Gorge Wilderness canyon.

Hike the Linville Gorge Wilderness

The best way to experience the Linville Gorge Wilderness is to hike its trails. There are many trails to choose from, for all levels and tastes of hikers.

There are trails to climb up the many peaks along the canyon, such as Hawksbill Mountain trail and Table Rock trail, which will give you the best views of the canyon from above. There are others to descend down to the canyon floor, such as Conley Cove trail, to enjoy the banks of the Linville River and its cascades.