Heading to NC in June and I have a day and a half that I can spend in Linville Gorge. This will be my first trip into the gorge so I'm looking for any recommendations.

I plan on entering from the west side trailheads. Unfortunately this will be on a weekend so I realize it will be busier so if there are areas that are less crowded, info on that would be appreciated (I assume the south end is less busy).

Is it possible to cross the river and if so what trails? Trailsillustrated map shows that this is possible. (Obviously water flow/height will vary.) I assume you can cross over to the Spence Ridge Trail. Are there any other spots where you can cross?

I like long days, so if the weather cooperates I plan on being in the gorge a good 10-12 hours. Thanks!

I believe you can cross at Spence Ridge Trail and hook up at House Rock.

Looking at this map, it seems like there are several paths to cross the river.

http://www.linvillegorge.net/linvilletrackmap.html

Thanks for the info.

I've done a little more investigating since my original post and found that there is a bridge across the river on the Spence Ridge Trail. I have found a few webpages with info where people have made a loop in the gorge using the Spence Ridge bridge and crossing back over the river using the Chimbric Ridge Trail (these hook up the Linville Gorge Trail and the Mountains to Sea Trail). From what I have read so far, it sounds like these are long, cold crossings typically in high water - so unless I get some other info I'll just plan on using the bridge at Spence Ridge if I decide to cross from the west side to the east side.

There are tons of possibilities. You can just hike down the main trail to the Linville Falls for quite an experience. Depends on how much time you have. Hiking at least some of the Rock Jock Trail and dead-heading back wouldn't be half-bad, either.

If you're up for a super-tough hike, go down the Pinch-In Trail, explore up and down the gorge, then return the same way. You'll hike through the nasty burn area, but the forests down in the bottom of the gorge were spared the fire.

BobSmith wrote:You can just hike down the main trail to the Linville Falls for quite an experience.

If you're up for a super-tough hike, go down the Pinch-In Trail, explore up and down the gorge, then return the same way. You'll hike through the nasty burn area, but the forests down in the bottom of the gorge were spared the fire.

Bob - can you actually get to Linville Falls from the Linville Gorge Trail? It doesn't look like it on all the maps I have seen and the Ranger at Grandfather Mountain told me that it doesn't connect. If I could I would love to start on the Linville Falls Trail (take Plunge Falls trail?) and connect with the Linville Gorge Trail and head to Babel Tower. If I can't do that then I was planning on descending via the Babel Tower Trail - probably hit Babel Tower and then hike down the Linville Gorge Trail a while. Any thoughts about where the best waterfalls/cascades are along the Linville Gorge Trail (other than at Linville Falls). I read your TR on the Pinch-In and have considered that as well. Thanks!