Linville Falls

The Linville River drops in an upper cascade and then a lower plunge of about seventeen metres into a basin, then enters the gorge below - which runs for about twenty kilometres with walls up to four hundred metres and is one of the deepest gorges in the eastern United States. The land around the falls was bought by John D. Rockefeller Jr in 1952 and donated to the Park Service on the condition that it remain open to the public without charge, which it has. Four viewpoints run from the visitor centre on trails of varying length, each giving a different angle. The gorge itself is designated wilderness and is unusually rugged - the trails in are unmaintained and rescues there are frequent.

What you actually see

• A lower plunge of about seventeen metres - into a rock basin.
• The head of Linville Gorge - walls up to four hundred metres below.
• Four separate viewpoints - on trails from the visitor centre.
• Land given on a condition - free public access, since 1952.

When to go

April to October; colour in October. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Parking at the visitor centre fills by mid-morning on autumn weekends. Trails to the further overlooks involve climbing. The gorge below is genuinely dangerous - unmaintained trails and frequent rescues. Swimming near the falls has killed people.

Nearby

Grandfather Mountain is north; the Parkway runs both ways.