Linville Falls

About this spectacle

Linville Falls is one of the most dramatic waterfalls in the southern Appalachian Mountains, plunging into the rugged Linville Gorge Wilderness in North Carolina. Visitors follow well-maintained trails through mixed hardwood and hemlock forest before reaching a series of overlooks that frame the falls from multiple angles. The upper falls cascade over a broad ledge, while the lower falls drop in a powerful single plunge into a deep, boulder-strewn pool below. The gorge walls rise steeply on all sides, creating an enclosed amphitheater of rock and mist. The sound of rushing water intensifies as you approach, and in autumn the surrounding forest blazes with color. Early mornings bring soft light filtering through the canopy, and brief rainbows form in the mist near the base. Wildlife including songbirds and occasionally white-tailed deer can be spotted along the trails leading to the falls.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Oct — Apr

Getting there

Nearest airport: AVL. Nearest city: Morganton.

Booking options

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