Top 5 Trails of the Linville Gorge | Best Hiking in North Carolina | Pinchin | Hawksbill | Shortoff

In the Southern Appalachian mountains of North Carolina lies the Linville Gorge Wilderness area, a region of extraordinary beauty and brutal ruggedness. The gorge drops over 2,000 feet from its ridge to the river below. It is the steepest in the eastern United States and is a utopia for backpackers, hikers, and mountain climbers. Uninterrupted wilderness, however, comes at a cost - as the gorge is remote and wild. There are some easy hikes at Linville Falls and Wiseman’s View, but here we outline more serious challenges. These are our picks for the Top 5 Trails of the Linville Gorge.

CONTENTS
00:00 Intro Overview
00:45 Daffodil Flats
03:02 Table Rock & Chimneys
05:28 Hawksbill Mtn
07:34 Shortoff Mtn
09:58 Babel Tower
12:24 Pinchin

#5 Daffodil Flats
Once a year in February this aggressive trek is frequented by those looking for a unique floral spectacle. This epic wildflower hike is indeed eye catching, but don’t underestimate the rigorous effort the infamous Linville Gorge brings.

#4 Table Rock and the Chimneys from Spence Ridge
While you can drive within a mile of the Table Rock summit, what’s the fun in that? Spence Ridge will give you a taste of the steep, rocky ascents within the gorge - and a path to an iconic peak, epic views, and the best rock climbing in the Southeast.

#3 Hawksbill Mountain
The shortest of the hikes on our list, the trip to Hawksbill is aggressive but has the greatest reward to effort ratio. The true 360 degree views at the summit are a large reason why it is listed as one the best hikes in North Carolina.

#2 Shortoff Mountain
Shortoff brings breathtaking views of the nearby Lake James as you ascend to the ridgeline and experience fabulous vistas at the mouth of the gorge. Summer or winter, it is easy to see why this trek mentioned among the top day hikes in America.

HM Babel Tower
This sleeper trail in the Linville Gorge should be recognized for the rock scrambling required to reach an outstanding vantage point directly above the river. From here, a look down the river is awe inspiring as you see Table Rock rise triumphantly above.

#1 Pinchin Trail
While this hike is only two-and-a-half miles long, it is the epitome of what the gorge has to offer. Breathtaking views, gorgeous flora and river access is combined with a splash of rock scrambling and an ample serving of rugged terrain. This is the steepest trek out of the gorge and among the toughest stretches of trail in the eastern United States.