Degree of difficulty: Strenuous
Source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains – to – Sea Trail
We all need a place where we can be awed by wonder & where our senses are inundated with the divine. Each time I have visited Linville Gorge, I have been re-awakened to the joy it is to experience the majesty of creation. I do not know how old I was when I first experienced Linville Gorge. I grew up in Burke County and my dad would occasionally take us on adventures in his Ford Bronco. One of those was to the top of Shortoff and I still remember the sensation of a view taking my breath away. I am grateful to say that the gorge still does this to me. Hopefully you will see why Hike #8 of the 40 Hike Challenge is my favorite.
In the 40 Hike Challenge Guidebook, this hike begins at Wolfpit road – near Lake James and continues up a 1.0 mile spur trail where it intersects the MST just before Shortoff. The MST continues from Shortoff, through the Chimneys and eventually to the Table Rock Parking area. Both of these trailheads are on Forest Service Roads. The road options to the Table Rock Parking area are either 8 or 12 miles, which can be a long haul. We did not have the option for a car shuttle or pickup so we opted to start at Table Rock Parking area and do an out and back.
The Linville river begins at Grandfather Mountain and continues approximately 12 miles through the gorge where it empties into Lake James. The Cherokee called the Linville River the Ee-see-oh which means the ‘river of many cliffs’. The Linville Wilderness, also called the “Grand Canyon of the East” including the falls, river and gorge are named in memory of William Linville. William and his son John were killed in 1766 by some Shawnee while hunting above the falls.
A word of warning about hiking in this area: this is a true wilderness area with rugged terrain. All the hikes in this area are strenuous. Also, even though the trails are blazed, it is easy to get turned around and depending on the season, if you leave the trail, it could be difficult to find it again.
At the Table Rock Parking area – the giant monolith of Table Rock stands to the North and is a quick climb of about 0.8 miles to the summit. The 360 degree views are well worth the detour off of the MST. Table Rock and the nearby Chimneys have a national reputation as being one of the best rock climbing destinations in the southeast.
The Chimneys are less than 0.5 mile south on the MST (from the parking lot). Here there are incredible vistas to the east and west. If you are interested in a short, breath-taking day hike, the hike up to Table Rock and then back to the Chimneys will we worth the drive.
The path through the Chimneys can be a challenge as it is all rock with some narrow passages as well as some sheer drop offs on the edge of the trail. This area is a great place to explore and boulder, but veering off the trail comes with some deadly consequences.
The trail continues through some of the Chimneys and eventually goes down to circle around them to the west. From this opposite vantage point you can see more of the foothills stretching along Interstate 40 including the South Mountains.
We were blessed with a mild December day in the 30-40’s with clear skies. From this ridge looking south, we could actually see the Charlotte skyline on the horizon. The moment we began our hike we were all pleasantly amazed with the silence. On the gorge side you can hear the gentle roar of the river over a thousand feet below, but otherwise there is nothing but the sounds of the forest – it was so comforting.
Just after the Chimneys and less than a mile from the parking area, the trail begins a sharp descent. The overall elevation change at this point is about 1000′ in about a mile. There are no switchbacks, and the trail goes straight down the ridge with only a few stopping areas. As can be seen in the above picture, the path was well worn by water. It took extra time to navigate the rocks and exposed roots.
After the steep downhill, the trail eventually meanders into the forest and away from the gorge. Within about 0.5 mile it begins a slower ascent of about 500′. The MST returns back to the gorge and reveals more astounding views. This time, the best views are to the north, looking back at Table Rock and the ridge that you just came down. Unfortunately, we knew we would have to tackle the climb later in the day on our way back.
From this point the trail stays relatively level for several miles until it reaches the Shortoff area. For the majority of the time, you will be walking near the rim, so there is always a new view to behold. Along the way, be sure to look for the pond area on the top of Shortoff. In the fall and winter it is usually dry, but in the wetter seasons of Spring and Summer it is amazing to see a few inches of water standing on the top of a flat mountain.
Shortoff offers views in almost all directions. To the north, you are looking up the gorge and to Table Rock and Hawksbill. To the west are the Black Mountains and Mount Mitchell beyond. Lake James lies to the south and is where the Linville River empties. As the trail continues beyond Shortoff and to the junction with Wolfpit Road, the views continue to the south and open up to the east and beyond.
You can spend hours on Shortoff exploring all the cliffs and outcroppings. It also tends to not be as crowded as the Tablerock area during peak seasons. But just like all of the gorge, it is still very dangerous so use caution, especially with kids.
If you ask anyone that has been to Linville Gorge, they will tell you that words and pictures cannot adequately describe the beauty of this area. I agree. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend you put this on your list. Whether it is for a short day hike up Table Rock and the Chimneys or an all out backpacking trek down and through the gorge, you will not be disappointed.
I had the pleasure of experiencing this trip with my son and two of our close friends, James and Jake. Thank you guys for great conversation and a memorable adventure!
“Life is this simple: we are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and the divine is shining through it all the time.”
― Thomas Merton
A complete list of the 40 Hikes and their Blog Posts can be found here
40 Hike Challenge Blue Ridge Parkway Conserving Carolina Falls Lake Hickory Nut Gorge Hiking Jones Gap State Park Lake Lure Linville Gorge Mountains to Sea Mount Mitchell North Carolina Trails
Love all these pictures. My Big Yellow Mtn. is way in the background. We need to talk more about the Gorge. I used to hike all over the Gorge – what a wonderful place! Henry & I did 10.5 miles off the Parkway today at the Black Balsam area.
Mary
Beautiful pictures. This was what I knew until I was 5 years old.
It is absolutely a beautiful area. The Gorge never fails to impress!