Linville Falls - Erwin's View Best Hike

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Total Length: 1.5 mi
• Trail Tread Condition: Some Obstacles
• Climb: Few Hills
• Lowest Elevation: 3160 ft
• Highest Elevation: 3360 ft
• Total Elevation Gain: 300 ft
• Trails/Roads Used: Erwin's View, side paths to overlooks
• Hike Configuration: Out-and-back
• Starting point: Linville Falls Visitor Center
• How to Get There: From Asheville, follow the Blue Ridge Parkway north past Craggy Gardens, Mount Mitchell and Crabtree Falls to the Linville Falls area (about 65 miles). Turn right on the signed road; park at the visitor center where the hike starts. Note: The section of Parkway between Asheville and NC 80 near Little Switzerland is frequently closed while the section near Linville Falls is open.

This wide, moderate trail takes you to three spectacular views of Linville Falls - Upper Falls (.5mi), Chimney View (.7mi), and Erwin's View (.8mi), passing through a majestic evergreen forest along the way. Although the park literature calls this a "strenuous" climb, it is only so by a casual Parkway visitor's standard. As trails go, this one is moderate, and although there is a good climb in the middle, you can take it slow and enjoy the spectacular forest you're walking through. Side trails to the first two overlooks are a bit rougher, with some rock steps, but well worth the effort.

Starting from the visitor center, you'll cross over the Linville River on a concrete vehicular bridge. The trail follows the tranquil river through a forest with some large trees, then climbs away from the river a bit to an intersection with a side trail to an overflow parking lot. Continue straight. You'll meander up and down, crossing over small tributaries, pass a small, open meadow, and then reach the signed intersection with the spur to the Lower Falls overlook. It is 500' and slightly downhill to the overlook for the Upper Falls and the slot canyon above the lower falls. The trail passes through some more large trees, and through a slot in a large, broken rock. It's well worth the trip, but if you're saving your energy, it's not as nice as the view from Chimney View or Erwin's View of the entire falls.

Continuing uphill from the intersection, you'll pass beside another open meadow. On the left grows a huge hemlock, on the right a huge spidery white pine. Immediately you are impacted by the size of the trees growing here. Just beyond this meadow, the trail begins the most significant climb. It is still mostly smooth however, and there are plenty of places to rest. Besides, the forest you are in is worth a stop for looking around. This old growth forest consists largely of Eastern Hemlocks, White Pines, and Carolina Hemlocks. These three evergreens thrive in the acidic soils. But thanks to man, two of them are threatened with extinction. For more information, see the side bar.

As you crest the top of this hill, you'll come to the side trail to Chimney View. It's just a short path down a steep set of steps from here to the overlooks, which are WELL worth the climb back out. Some tall white pines grow right here. From Chimney View, there is an excellent view of the falls just up the river from where you're at. You can see the cliffs surrounding the falls, directly down to the river itself, and between the overlook and the river's edge is, of course, a huge cliff. Standing off from the cliff are two tall pillars of rock that look like chimneys, hence the overlook's name. There is also a good view down the gorge and surrounding ridges from here. Carolina Hemlocks grow in their conical form around this overlook.

Back on the main trail, it's just a short distance to Erwin's View. The trail does climb some more, and it's a tad rougher - but still quite easy. There are actually two overlooks at Erwin's View. The first one you come to is down on the right and has a great view of the gorge downstream. From here, climb up to your left just a few feet to the main overlook. It's on top of a large, flat-topped boulder which you'll reach by climbing up a set of wooden steps. You're a bit farther from the falls here and you not only get a spectacular view of them, but also of the surrounding mountains and ridges. At this point you've climbed to 3330', and it's the highest point on the hike. This marks the end of the hike as well; return to your vehicle on the same trail.