NO-TRACE CAMPING DISCOVER A TRAIL Visitors are asked to minimize impact LINVILLE TRAIL NAME TRAIL LENGTH Pine Gap ----------------------------------------------------------1.00 mile to the wilderness and Bynum Bluff ------------------------------------------------------1.00 mile follow these rules. GORGE Cabin --------------------------------------------------------------0.75 mile • Avoid holidays and * Babel Tower ------------------------------------------------------1.30 miles weekends. Conley Cove ------------------------------------------------------1.35 miles • Avoid popular and WILDERNESS Pinch-In -----------------------------------------------------------1.50 miles overused areas. • Never cut standing trees or damage and pick Spence Ridge -----------------------------------------------------1.75 miles * plants or wildflowers. Devil’s Hole ------------------------------------------------------1.50 miles • Pick up all litter. Pack out all garbage. * Jonas Ridge -------------------------------------------------------2.40 miles • Avoid campsites that are overcamped. * Little Table Rock -------------------------------------------------1.10 miles • Use existing fire rings. Better yet, use a back- * Table Rock Gap --------------------------------------------------1.20 miles packer stove for cooking. Chimbric Ridge --------------------------------------------------1.30 miles • If you must have a fire, create a shallow depres- Brushy Ridge -----------------------------------------------------2.00 miles * sion on mineral soil for the fire and keep it small. Shortoff ------------------------------------------------------------8.00 miles * Make sure the fire is dead out before leaving. Rock Jock ---------------------------------------------------------2.80 miles • Destroy evidence of the fire. Replace and scatter Table Rock --------------------------------------------------------1.20 miles * twigs and leaves cleared for fire or sleeping. • Bury human waste six inches deep and at least * Primitive trails with very strenuous hiking. 100 feet from water. Pine Gap to Conley Cove ---------------------------------------5.00 miles Table Rock to Shortoff ------------------------------------------4.50 miles The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Table Rock to Spence Ridge -----------------------------------2.00 miles prohibits discrimination in all its programs and Table Rock Picnic Area to activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, inville Gorge Wilderness, top of Table Rock -------------------------------------------1.20 miles age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital covering over 12,000 Table Rock to Chimneys ----------------------------------------1.25 miles status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual acres, is laced with trails Mountains-to-Sea Trail orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s that wind through thickets (Pinnacle-Shortoff-Table Rock) --------------------------11.00 miles income is derived from any public assistance L of mountain laurel and program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all descend to the depths of Linville NOTE: Trails are signed at trailheads but are not signed or blazed once programs.) Persons with disabilities who require inside the wilderness. You should be able to read a topographical map alternative means for communication of program Gorge—one of the most rugged and and use a compass. You can purchase topo and other maps from the information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) scenic gorges in the East. From the Grandfather District Office (phone and address listed inside). should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) gorge’s rim, you get an awesome view 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of of the Linville River 2,000 feet below. NOTE: A bridge crosses Linville River at Spence Ridge Trail. discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., U.S. Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795- 3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an Forest Service equal opportunity provider and employer. Southern Region Revised Dec. 2009 WHERE DID THE GORGE PERMITS REQUIRED WILDERNESS DIRECTIONS HUNTING Free permits are required for camping only ACCESS TO EASTERN SECTION: GET ITS NAME? on weekends and holidays from May 1-Oct. 31. & FISHING The area is named after explorer William From Marion, take U.S. 221 and head north Permits are not required Nov. 1-April 30 or for Hunting and fishing Linville. Linville and his sons were scalped by to the intersection of NC 183 at Linville Falls. visitors who do not stay overnight. are permitted under North Indians in 1766 in the gorge. Turn right on NC 183 and continue to NC 181. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first- Carolina State Wildlife Turn right and go south on NC 181 and continue Resources Commission serve basis, beginning the first working day of each three miles to Forest Service Road (FR) 210 LINVILLE GORGE OFFERS previous month. For example, reservations for regulations. Deer, bear, (Gingercake Road). Turn right onto FR 210. squirrel, raccoon and wilderness camping permits for June are accepted At the first fork, turn left and continue through HIKING, ROCK CLIMBING starting the first working day of May. ruffed grouse live here. Brown and rainbow trout Formed by Linville Mountain on the west Gingercake Acres subdivision. are game fish found in the Linville River. and Jonas Ridge on the east, the gorge sits east The first parking area is for Devil’s Hole Trail of Mount Mitchell. Linville Gorge’s unique LENGTH OF STAY: Each visitor or group may (Sitting Bear), two miles from Gingercake Acres. assortment of rock formations on Jonas Ridge get one weekend permit per month and may stay The second parking area is for Hawksbill DISCOVER VARIETY OF PLANTS for up to three consecutive days and two nights. Due to a range of moisture, topography, and include Sitting Bear, Hawksbill, Table Rock and (parking area on left and trail on right) one mile other physical factors along the gorge walls, a the Chimneys. from Devil’s Hole. The third parking area is for GROUP SIZE: Cannot exceed 10. great variety of plants inhabit the area. The gorge These features Spence Ridge and North Table Rock trails, one shelters stretches of virgin forest and five rare are ideal for hiking, mile from Hawksbill. Violators of the above laws and endangered plants. Some plant communities backpacking and rock To reach Table Rock Picnic Area, go one are subject to a fine of not more than are very fragile. Please stay on the trail to avoid climbing. The area mile to the first intersection and turn right. Stay $5,000 or imprisonment of not more than trampling delicate plants. includes 39 miles on this road, bearing to the right through several six months or both. of trails, offering switchbacks to the picnic area. experienced hikers a SAFETY TIPS wonderful excursion. FOR PERMITS & MAPS ACCESS TO WESTERN SECTION: • Hikers should be in good health before Some trails are quite Grandfather Ranger District From Marion, take U.S. 221 north to the attempting trails. Anyone with heart or lung steep and meander 109 East Lawing Drive intersection of NC 183 at Linville Falls. Turn right trouble should reconsider hiking these trails. through dense Nebo, NC 28761 on NC 183 and go one mile to NC 1238, Kistler • Wear bright clothing and dress dogs in forest, so novice (828) 652-484l/2144 Memorial Highway. Trailhead and parking lots orange vests during hunting season. hikers can get easily (located off I-40, Exit 90, Nebo/Lake James Exit) accessing the western section of the gorge lead off • Treat water by boiling for 20 minutes. disorientated. Several Kistler Memorial Highway. • All hikers should be able to identify and rock formations INFORMATION CABIN To access Kistler Memorial Highway from closely watch for two poisonous snakes, the along Jonas Ridge Open from April to October, Thursday through Marion, take U.S. 70 and head east to Nebo. copperhead and timber rattler. offer a challenge Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m, this cabin sells At Nebo, take NC 126 across Lake James and • Fire can be a problem during dry periods. for qualified rock maps and other items. This cabin is on NC 1238, continue eight miles. Turn left on NC 1238, Kistler Extinguish fires completely before leaving. climbers experienced Kistler Memorial Highway, 0.4 mile from NC 183. Memorial Highway. Kistler highway is a gravel • Lock your car and carry valuables with you. in safe climbing road and is very rough in places, especially for Thieves can easily gain access to your car techniques. WILDERNESS QUALITY two-wheel-drive vehicles. and its trunk. For a more solitary visit, explore the southern Linville Gorge became one of the East’s first • Be safe. Hike with a companion. portion of the gorge, south of the Conley designated wildernesses in 1964. The permit WILDERNESS RANGERS • Carry a map and compass. Cove Trail in the western half and south of the limitation of group size and restrictions on length During your visit to Linville Gorge, you may • Let someone know where you plan to be Chimneys in the east. The northern portion of the of stay are efforts to maintain wilderness quality. meet a wilderness ranger. This ranger will be glad and when you will return. gorge surrounding Brushy Ridge also receives low To preserve solitude, no motorized or mechanical to answer your questions about campsites, fishing, • Be prepared for cold weather. Know hypo- use and provides more solitude. In addition, the equipment or transportation (motorcycles, bicycles trail conditions, plant and animal life, and trail thermia’s symptoms and how to treat them. rugged terrain offers a physical challenge. or wagons) can be used. locations..