Linville Falls is a waterfall on the Linville River in Burke County, North Carolina, dropping about 100 feet in a series of steps at milepost 316 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Below it the river enters Linville Gorge, the first officially designated wilderness area in the nation. Hurricane Helene destroyed the visitor center in 2024; the falls and most trails are open again in 2026.
The falls
The river spills over the twin cascades of the upper falls into a pool, squeezes through a narrow rock channel, then plunges into a deep basin at the lower falls, framed by chimney-like rock outcrops. A lidar reading puts the total at about 100 feet over five steps, with the final tier the largest at 40 feet; the Park Service gives the lower plunge as 45 feet, and Wikipedia cites 150 feet in four drops.
Getting there
Turn off the Parkway onto the Linville Falls spur road and drive about 1.5 miles to the free paved lot. There is no entrance fee on the Parkway. The Parkway north to Blowing Rock reopened on July 21, 2025, while repairs south of the falls were still underway in 2026, so check road status first. A gravel lot on Old NC 105 (Kistler Memorial Highway) also connects to the trails.
The Erwins View Trail is rated moderate, 1.6 miles round trip, with overlooks at the upper falls (0.5 mile), Chimney View (0.7 mile) and Erwins View (0.8 mile). The strenuous Plunge Basin Trail, 1 mile round trip, leads to an overlook of the lower falls. The Linville Gorge Trail down to the base remains closed after Helene damage. Only portable toilets stand where the visitor center was; there is no drinking water.
When to go
Spring wildflowers and fall color are the highlights along the trails, and weekdays are less crowded.
On site
Swimming in the river and climbing on the rocks are dangerous and not allowed. At the upper falls, stay behind the retaining walls above the fast water. Visitors in July 2026 reported downed trees along the cleared Erwins View Trail. The campground and picnic area remain closed, and public comment was taken in September 2026 on a plan to rebuild, with design and construction set to begin in 2027.
History and name
The Cherokee called the Linville "the river of many cliffs." In 1952 John D. Rockefeller Jr. donated about 1,100 acres, including the falls, to the federal government for the park. In 1928 a visitor swept over the upper drops was pulled from the pool, and in 2010 kayaker Pat Keller ran the main drop.
Nearby
Duggars Creek Falls, on a short trail from the same lot, is about 0.5 mile away. Deeper in Linville Gorge are Cave Falls at about 2.8 miles and Cathedral Falls at about 3.9 miles; Upper Creek Falls is about 3.6 miles.
Distances are straight-line.