Linville Falls

Linville Falls is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Blue Ridge Mountains, dropping nearly 90 feet in two dramatic tiers into the rugged Linville Gorge. The upper falls spill over a wide ledge before the river funnels into a narrow chute and plunges into a deep plunge basin surrounded by towering quartzite cliffs. The dark, tannin-stained water contrasts beautifully against the pale rock walls.

Multiple overlooks offer different perspectives of the falls and gorge. The Erwin's View Trail provides the classic panoramic view from across the gorge, while the more adventurous Plunge Basin Trail descends steeply to the base of the lower falls. The trails wind through old-growth hemlock and dense rhododendron thickets that bloom in June.

Fall foliage season in mid-October transforms the gorge into a tapestry of orange and gold. Summer weekends are extremely crowded — arrive before 9 AM or visit on weekdays. The Linville Gorge below the falls is one of the deepest gorges in the eastern United States and offers some of the most rugged wilderness hiking in North Carolina.