Linville Gorge Wilderness
The Linville Gorge Wilderness ("The Grand Canyon of North Carolina") is the third largest wilderness area in North Carolina (after Shining Rock Wilderness and Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness) and one of only two wilderness gorges in the Southern United States (along with Bald River Gorge Wilderness in Tennessee). Its location is 8 mi south of Crossnore. For a second stop, Mount Mitchell is 22 mi away.
A park & preserve, 8 mi south of Crossnore
Crossnore is the nearest base
Crossnore is 8 miles north, with 5 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Charlotte
Charlotte is about 78 miles southeast (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 68–77°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
The weather near Linville Gorge Wilderness shifts through the year, as below.
Linville Gorge Wilderness
The Linville Gorge Wilderness ("The Grand Canyon of North Carolina") is the third largest wilderness area in North Carolina (after Shining Rock Wilderness and Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness) and one of only two wilderness gorges in the Southern United States (along with Bald River Gorge Wilderness in Tennessee). Maintained by the United States Forest Service, it comprises 11,786 acres (47.70 km2) around the Linville River, and is situated inside the Pisgah National Forest. The river is approximately 1,400 feet (430 m) below the ridge, thus hiking in and out of the Gorge is challenging and enjoyable for those who like serious hiking.
- Type
- Park & preserve
- Wikipedia readers
- 9.5K a year
Overnight near Linville Gorge Wilderness
The closest lodging is in Spruce Pine (9) and Blowing Rock (32).
Spruce Pine
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
2,211 people
9 mi west of Linville Gorge Wilderness
Blowing Rock
1,324 people · 70% vacation homes
21 mi northeast of Linville Gorge Wilderness
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Linville Gorge Wilderness | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spruce Pine | 9 mi west | 15 min | 9 4 hotels · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 2,211 | $208K | — |
| Blowing Rock 70% vacation homes | 21 mi northeast | 30 min | 32 10 hotels · 1 motel · 13 inns & B&Bs · 8 lodges & cabins | 1,324 | $705K | C |
| Banner Elk 44% vacation homes | 18 mi north | 25 min | 19 6 inns & B&Bs · 11 lodges & cabins · 1 hostel · 1 campground | 1,242 | $458K | A |
| Sugar Mountain 77% vacation homes | 16 mi north | 25 min | 13 9 hotels · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 382 | $344K | — |
| Crossnore 23% vacation homes | 8 mi north | 10 min | 5 1 hotel · 3 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 238 | $314K | — |
| Beech Mountain 72% vacation homes | 21 mi north | 30 min | 24 10 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 12 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 659 | $444K | — |
| Boone | 25 mi northeast | 40 min | 35 19 hotels · 1 motel · 2 inns & B&Bs · 9 lodges & cabins · 3 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 19,929 | $411K | B |
| Morganton | 17 mi southeast | 25 min | 11 9 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 17,849 | $222K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
What else is near Linville Gorge Wilderness
These well-known sights sit within 67 miles.
Big draw122 mi MountainMount Mitchell
215 mi MountainGrandfather Mountain
66 mi ParkwayBlue Ridge Parkway16.5M visitors a year
62 mi LakeLake Norman
33 mi WaterfallLinville Falls424 mi Theme parkTweetsie Railroad
62 mi National forestPisgah National Forest519 mi Theme parkLand of OzPhoto credits
Mount Mitchell: Unknown, Public domain · Grandfather Mountain: Original uploader was KyleAndMelissa22 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Blue Ridge Parkway: Ken Thomas, Public domain · Lake Norman: Prince Grobhelm, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Linville Falls: Ken Thomas, Public domain · Pisgah National Forest: Ken Thomas, Public domain
Quick answers on Linville Gorge Wilderness
What town is Linville Gorge Wilderness near?
Crossnore, NC, about 8 miles north.
When is the best time to visit Linville Gorge Wilderness?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 68–77°.
How far is Linville Gorge Wilderness from Charlotte?
About 78 miles southeast of Charlotte, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Linville Gorge Wilderness?
Asheville Regional (AVL), about 48 miles away. The nearest big hub is Charlotte Douglas (CLT), about 73 miles.
Where should I stay near Linville Gorge Wilderness?
Spruce Pine (9 mi, 9 places to stay), Blowing Rock (21 mi, 32 places to stay) and Banner Elk (18 mi, 19 places to stay).
Ask people in Crossnore
There are no tips yet, so start one in Crossnore’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.