Linville Gorge
Submitted by: saxfiend
2013 Closure in effect
Effective January 2013, All areas between and including Tightrope and Bumblebee Buttress are closed due to local falcon population
Description
Linville Gorge is a premier climbing destination in the SE. Routes range from easy multipitch to hardman sandbags. Table Rock and the Amphitheatre are very popular with those seeking more moderate outings while areas like Hawksbill and Shortoff attract a more hardcore crowd.
The rock is quartzite, and typically low angle. There aren't many parallel sided cracks here, and routes can wander so route finding can be an issue. Of course, this make Linville an ideal place for beginning multi-pitch leaders to cut their teeth. The plethora of easier routes combined with some foreseeable challenges create an atmosphere of learning.
Having said that, it is also important to note that despite the easy grade of many of the routes at Table and Linville, they are still rock routes and are affected by the same factors as any other rock climbing route. It is advisable to wear a helmet at all times. Don't count on belay stations to be fixed. Know your route.
Linville is a fantastically beautiful place, with great exposure and lots of fun routes.
Getting There
From Asheville, take I-40 east toward Marion, exiting at US 70 just west of Marion. Continue on 70 to exit on US 221 and head north to the small town of Linville Falls. At Linville Falls, turn right (east) on NC 183 and drive about four miles to NC 181; turn right again (south). After about 2.5 miles, make another right off 181 onto Gingercake Road (SR 1264) for a short distance, then take the left fork onto Table Rock Road (SR 1261); this changes to forest road 210 and becomes a gravel road. Continue for several miles to the Table Rock parking lot. From here, there is camping and trails leading to Table Rock and to various sections of Linville Gorge.
Photos
This pano was taken from Wise Mans View on the west side of the gorge. The formations from left to right are Halks Bill, Table Rock, Carolina Wall, and way down there is Shortoff Mtn.
A view north into Linville Gorge from the route The Daddy.
Linville Falls. This is where the Gorge starts.
Matthew settling in for a cold night
Dusk
Baine on the last and only worthwhile pitch of The Daddy 5.6 at the Ampitheater in Linville Gorge NC
Sunset from Table Rock
Sunset from Hawksbill.
View of Linville Gorge from the Chimneys.
One of the top rope climbs on the chimneys.
Best Seat In The House (Mashburns Pinnacle)
Devils Cellar Highline!
Trillium's are common along the river in spring.
From L to R: Hawksbill, Table Rock, the NC wall, and Shortoff
Shorthoff Mtn, shortly after the South side river crossing
The Camel (pinnacle) as seen from Table Rock
Comments
Andy Laakmann Sep 6, 2007
I received this update via email from Bob Underwood
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Rockjock Trail
This largely abandoned and overgrown trail was listed in Sept 2006 for the US Forest Service Adopt-a-Trail program . The trail runs about four miles ( by crow ) across the top of a 400ft wall sometimes called the 'Goldcoast'. Altho the NC Wall directly across the Gorge is higher and cleaner, the Rockjock area contains some clean rock on the south side of the 'canyons'. it is currently being 'mined' by various groups of independent climbers. It is a spectacular trail which passes by about 6 waterfalls, overhangs and caves and several unusual promnitories and outcrops.
The agreement with the USGS allows us to work from Conly Cove south to an unpublished trail i call "Mossy Canyon Ridge Trail" (MCRT) about half mile north of Pinchin. If/ when this work is Done, i will requsest Your help in petitioning the USFS to extend the agreement to continue the Rockjock trail south to Dobson Knob Road--which was its original length.
The reason the USFS did not allow us to continue south of MCRT is because that portion of Rockjock never appeared on their maps and they are required to go thru a lengthly process to approve "new" trail. They seem reluctant to do this. Common sense woud suggest that MCRT is a steep trail and highly vulnerable to erosion if it became better known and that the Dobson entrance is Clearly the best way to protect the forest. We hope MCRT will be abandoned and allowed to revert to nature when this project is complete.
This area was burned by the Nov 2000 fire and burned again on its south end in the spring of 2007. It is now a charcoal forest and easy to get thru. A spare fire crew did a wonderful job of restoring trail from both ends and the middle is still unfinished. Your help is needed.
Work began on Rockjock in Oct 2006 and about 60% of the trail is now open.
An interactive map of the entire Linville Gorge is available at www.linvillegorge.net with an index of 39 trails not published on USFS maps ,
Google Earth has hi-res photos of the Gorge which would allow you to see a person standing anywhere in it ,
and Yahoogroups Linvillegorge keeps a open forum running of Rockjock progress.
Finishing this beautiful trail is not going to be a one-day one-shot process , it will requre dedication. Go out and have a look. The Rockjock trail will speak for itself!
Bob Underwood
Bob Underwood Apr 12, 2008
the US Forest service has opened the Rockjock trail from Conly Cove south to Mossy Canyon Ridge trail allowing a backpacker to return via MCRT to kistler Road
Bob Underwood Sep 14, 2008
Work on Rockjock was finished by the USFS in Spring of 2008. This trail remains on the USFS Adopt-A-Trail program and will always need occasional maintenance. The southern exit shown on the USFS maps is mislabeled. It is a rim-to-River trail called MCRT (Mossy Canyon Ridge trail). MCRT is now a steep barren flag route thru the heart of fire blast from the 2007 'Pinnacle' fire. Since it is mislabeled as being the south end of Rockjock, it will become an erosion ditch with increased use. Rockjock TRail is unmaintained south of MCRT but continues along the rim of the Gorge 0.5 mile south to Pinchin and beyond all the way to the intersection of kistler Road and Dobson knob road. This fire-damaged trail is now survey flags thru thin scraggly brush but it is relatively flat and will not erode. Pinchin is the better exit. Rock face along this broken wall is a fantastic area of fracture and erosion but not much clean rock. --Bob
Bob Underwood Sep 14, 2008
Correction to directions:
When you get to Forest Service Road 210 continue down this gently descending and very winding road. A mile past the parking areas for Spence Ridge Trail take a sharp right. This puts you on FSR 2105, the road that leads past OUTWARD BOUND and on up to Table Rock. Bring water as spring at TR is not reliable. Parking can be crowded at TR. Hyde's Linville Gorge Trail guide suggests that it is about as quick to park at Spence and hike up via the MST.
EliShank Apr 6, 2009
Is there a peregrine closure period for shortoff or north carolina wall?
Phil York Jun 12, 2009
EliShank, yes.
You can keep updated on closures through the year here: www.carolinaclimbers.org/area-reports-mainmenu-30/linville-g>>>
Jake Gounaris Feb 25, 2010
Keep in mind that despite being in the south, Linville is not a winter rock climbing destination. Many areas are above or near 4,000 feet and get snow as early as late October.
todd w Mar 29, 2012
"Linville Gorge (Shortoff Mountain and NC Wall) closed from January 15th - August 15th"
Does anyone know if this includes the Amphitheater?
andjoely Mar 29, 2012
^No
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