Linville Gorge Wilderness Area - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Linville Gorge Wilderness Area |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | North Carolina |
| Nearby Town: | Marion |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | From Marion, take Highway 221 north until it intersects with N.C. 183. Turn right on N.C. 183 and continue 1 mile to Old NC 105, Kistler Memorial Highway. Trailheads and parking lots, accessing the western section of the Gorge, lead off of Kistler Memorial Highway. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 7.00 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easy to Moderate |
| Permit Required: | Yes |
| Hike Type: | In & Out, Backtrack Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Linville Gorge Wilderness Area |
| Trails Used: | Conley Cove Trail, Linville Gorge Trail |
| Backcountry Campsites: | Yes |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams, Rivers |
| Management: | U.S. Forest Service |
| Contact Information: | District Ranger-U.S. Forest Service Route 1, Box 110-A Nebo, NC 28761 (828) 652-2144 |
| Best Season: | Summer |
| Users: | Hikers, Dogs |
| Road Conditions: | Unmaintained Gravel or Dirt Roads |
| Hike Summary: | For this hike, our primary goal was to get down to the gorge, set up camp, and explore. Conley Trail was what we used to get down to Linville River at the bottom of the gorge. This trail is heavily used because it is the easier of the trails leading down to the Linville Gorge Trail. Because of the heavy foot traffic, the path is clearly marked. there were plenty of colorful plants and mountain views (Table Rock being the most unusual) on Conley Trail. Once we reached the bottom, we set up camp and took off on the Linville Gorge Trail. This trail follows the Liville River for over 11 miles. We hiked several miles on the trail and dipped in the water when we wanted to cool off. The trail itself is not very well kept and showed signs of wear and tear, but the surrounding sights were gorgeous. The area was strewn with boulders and mountains rising up on both sides of the river. There were plenty of people swimming, fishing, and hiking in and around the river. In fact, I did not feel very secluded at our campsite, since we had fellow campers on either side of us for the night. There was slim pickings for firewood as well which led to a skimpy fire that barely lasted the night. It was a pretty area, but lacked the seclusion that I typically like. I did enjoy swimming in the river when I felt inclined to do so. The hike back to the top the next day was fairly strenuous. Luckily, it is only 1.5 miles to the top. Overall, it was a good weekend hike if you can tolerate crowds. |
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