This easy day excursion combines waterfalls, caverns, mountain vistas and a relaxing winery stop
The summit of the Hawksbill Mountain hike overlooking Linville Gorge offers spectacular panoramic views. (Photo: Tony Mecia/The Mountain Ledger)
In the span of a little over half a day, you can hit one of North Carolina’s most famous waterfalls, its only commercially operated cave and one of the top hike-in mountain views around. And then cap it all off with a drink while listening to live music.
Sound like fun? It’s the Linville Falls and Linville Gorge area.
It’s not close to much – 45 minutes from Blowing Rock, Boone or Morganton, or about an hour from Asheville or Lenoir. But the sites are so close together that you could easily knock them out in a day trip.
But make sure you set your online maps before you leave, as cell service is spotty. And beware that there are a lot of Linville-named areas that can get confusing: Linville, Linville Falls, the Linville Falls trailheads, Linville Caverns and Linville Gorge are all in different locations, not right next to each other as you might think.
Our family checked these out in May and had a great time – hope you can, too! Our quick guide:
First Stop: Linville Falls
Linville Falls is one of the more rewarding easy-to-moderate stops in the region — a scenic waterfall accessible via a short walk that pays off well relative to the effort.
View of the falls from Chimney View.
The walk from the parking lot to the best viewpoints is roughly a mile. Two overlooks are worth hitting: the Upper Falls Overlook and the Chimney View, which is the standout. From Chimney View, you get a full, unobstructed look at the falls.
The trail is manageable for most people and doable with kids. Be warned that after rain, it gets muddy, and puddles collect on the path.
A more strenuous option is the Gorge Trail, which takes you down steep steps to the base.
Getting there: The main trailhead is on the Blue Ridge Parkway, by Milepost 316.4. (Note: don't let your GPS send you to the community of Linville Falls — make sure you're navigating to the Parkway entrance.) There's a large parking lot, and from there you cross a bridge and follow well-marked trails.
Panoramic views after hiking Hawksbill Mountain
Hawksbill Mountain is one of those hikes that feels underrated, given the reward you get at the top. The trailhead is a short drive down some winding mountain roads, and the out-and-back trail is about 1 mile each way. It starts easy before getting noticeably steeper as you climb through what looks like a creekbed. Kids can handle it, though the upper section will test younger legs (and older ones, too).
The summit is worth every step. You're standing on a rocky, exposed peak with mountains in every direction, layers of ridgelines fading into the distance and a view of Linville Gorge. Packing a lunch up there might be the pro move. Figure about two hours total, including lingering at the top.
Getting there: The trailhead is off N.C. 181: Turn off at Gingercake Road and stay on Table Rock Road (including gravel portion) until you reach the trailhead.
Linville Caverns
If you have kids with you, or just want something different, Linville Caverns is worth a stop.
Guided tours leave every 10 minutes and are capped at 15 people, running about 30 to 35 minutes. Inside, you'll find stalactites, stalagmites, an underground stream and a crystal-blue pool that reportedly reaches more than 250 feet below the cave floor.
It's also North Carolina's only show cavern open to the public. The temperature holds steady at 52 degrees year-round, which makes it a natural escape on a hot summer day, or a rainy one.
Getting there: It sits on U.S. 221, just four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway, so it fits naturally into the day.
Linville Falls Winery
You can celebrate your achievements and your active day at the nearby Linville Falls Winery, located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s a 40-acre working farm with its own vineyards, a Tuscan-style tasting room and a hand-laid stone patio at the foot of the vineyards with views.
A bite to eat and a flight of wine … and music? Yes, please.
There are charcuterie and snack options, and live music Thursdays-Sundays from 2-5 p.m. (June through September)
Getting there: The winery is on U.S. 221 just north of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s in a broad valley of vineyards and Christmas trees on the right of the highway as you travel north.
—Matthew Mecia and Tony Mecia