Linville Gorge Wilderness Area Information (printable pdf file).
The Cherokee called it "Eseeoh," meaning a river of many cliffs. Hiking and backpacking enthusiasts have called it the Grand Canyon of the East.
Backpacker magazine has often referred to it as one of the wildest, most rugged gorges in the eastern United States. I am, of course, talking about our beloved Linville Gorge.
The Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, located just south of Crossnore and Pineola, is in Burke County. It's part of Pisgah National Forest and is named for explorer William Linville and his son John, who were killed by American Indians in the gorge in 1766.
In 1964, with the signing of the Wilderness Act, the area became one of the original components of the National Wilderness System. The 1964 Wilderness Act defined wilderness as, "an area that generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable...where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."
Linville Gorge is made up of 10,975 acres of protected wilderness that lie beneath Jonas Ridge on the east and Linville Mountain on the west. The Linville River divides the two sides and drops 2,000 feet into the valleys below.
The area originally consisted of 7,575 acres, but was increased to its present size by the 1984 North Carolina Wilderness Act that reinforced the idea that it was up to the Forest Service and anyone who used the area, to preserve its natural characteristics. "It shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such a manner as will leave it unimpaired for future use."
Elevations in Linville Gorge range from 1,300 feet on the Linville River to 4,120 feet on Gingercake Mountain. The terrain is steep and rugged, covered by a dense forest canopy overhead and an assortment of rock formations all around.
Be prepared for primitive conditions; trails are generally unmarked, except at trailheads and are roughly maintained and difficult to follow at times. Most of the trails are strenuous with difficulty levels ranging from "more difficult" to "most difficult."
Hikes in the gorge range from a short trip in and out on the same trail to a variety of circuit hikes. Most hikers intent on logging some miles or staying a couple nights choose to enter and exit on different western side trails and follow the Linville Gorge Trail between them.
When you enter the western side of the gorge the first trailhead you come to will be the Pine Gap Trail. This is the easiest trail to drop in on because of its gradual descent into the gorge, unlike any of the others. Once you have made the initial descent, the trail intersects the Linville Gorge Trail. The Linville Gorge Trail descends along the western side of the river for 11.5 miles.
Along the way to the southern area of the gorge are other trails connecting the bottom of the gorge to the top. One of the most important things that frequent hikers of Linville Gorge can learn is the terrain of each of those trails that can take you back to the rim of the gorge.
You never know what can happen or when you may need to make an emergency exit, so it is advised that you know all of your options beforehand.
After the Pine Gap Trailhead there are seven other trails that can get you in or out of the gorge. Bynum Bluff Trail starts out gradually before plummeting down a sharp ridge to the bottom.
Cabin Trail is a steep, strenuous, primitive trail. The Babel Tower Trail, one of the most popular trails, is a highly used, scenic trail to enter and exit the gorge.
Sandy Flats Trail is a primitive side trail that ascends the mountain steeply in about one mile. The following junction is Conely Cove Trail, a heavily used route due to its less threatening slope.
Conely Cove intersects with the Rock Jock Trail that runs the rim of the canyon for about one mile before cresting back to the top of the gorge.
The last trail out of the gorge on the west side is a notoriously steep and rugged trail called Pinch In Trail.
A hike in this southern portion of the gorge exists for the experienced hiker and backpacker.
These areas offer a great physical challenge due to the terrain and should only be attempted by those who have the knowledge and survival skills necessary to meet any condition the terrain and climate may throw at them.
The most important thing that many unsuspecting visitors to the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area overlook is proper planning. It is amazing to me the things that I have had to strap onto my pack, especially on the Pinch In Trail, that people have discarded.
The terrain on that end of the gorge is so steep that they apparently couldn't carry out what they had brought in. Then it is up to the National Forest Service and other hikers to carry out so that it won't be a danger to the environment or an eyesore for the next hikers who come along.
If you enter the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, please be an advocate for "Leave No Trace" hiking and camping. Pack out what you pack in, avoid popular areas to reduce impact, replace and scatter twigs, branches and leaves that may have been removed for sleeping areas and pick up any traces of litter that you may find along the way.
The "Leave No Trace" campaign sums it up best; "Leave no evidence of your visit so the next person can enjoy a natural scene. Tread lightly so nature can endure and replenish."
Linville Gorge Wilderness Area Information (printable pdf file).
