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 LINVILLE FALLS TRAILS
Two main
hiking trails lead to beautiful views of the Linville Falls. 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. A colorful and varied
display of wildflowers decorates the trails in spring. Red and
golden leaves in fall beautifully contrast with the soothing green
of hemlocks.
T he Linville Falls trails range in difficulty from moderate to
strenuous. Erwins View Trail, a moderate walk of 1.6 miles round
trip, offers hikers four overlooks, each revealing a different
aspect of the Linville Falls area. The first overlook is 0.5 mile
from the visitor center, and is a moderate walk with a slight loss
of elevation. Here, the Linville River spills gently over the upper
falls where it widens and pauses. Drifting into a narrow canyon, the
water suddenly spirals out of sight and plunges 45 feet over the
lower falls.
The next overlook, Chimney View, 0.7 mile from the visitor center,
is the first point on the trail where the lower falls can be seen.
It offers an excellent chance to photograph both the upper and lower
falls. The overlook is named for the chimney-like rock outcroppings
located to the right of the waterfall.
 The trail is
strenuous in this area with considerable elevation gain.
At Gorge View Overlook, hikers can see the Linville River cutting
its way through the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. The Erwins View
Trail ends at Erwins View Overlook, 0.8 mile from the
visitor center. From this vantage point hikers can enjoy a panoramic
view of the Linville Gorge and a distant view of the upper and lower
falls. This is another of the hikes that YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!
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Looking for more details about the High Country? For information
regarding accommodations, events and things to do, visit the
Ultimate High Country
Activity Guide.
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