Linville Gorge Trail

This is a 16.6-mile point-to-point route from Pine Gap Trailhead on Old NC 105 to Wolf Pit Trailhead. The visitor distance is one-way; the stored line follows the physical corridor once, not a duplicated return track. The route runs north to south on TR 231, then uses mapped portions of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (TR 440), Schoonover Crossover, Faulkner Flats, and Shortoff Trail to reach Wolf Pit. Plan on roughly 9–10 hours of moving and route-finding time for strong hikers, or make it a backpacking itinerary with a shuttle.

The route is rugged, steep, and remote, with rocky/rooty footing, uneven grades, and limited or absent trail marking inside the wilderness. The Linville River corridor brings dramatic gorge views but also exposed terrain and wet or difficult crossings after rain. Bring a current topographic map, compass, offline navigation, and enough food and water for a long day; cell service is unreliable.

Expect dense hardwood and pine forest, steep gorge walls, river views, rock formations, and a strong sense of backcountry isolation. The route’s character changes from the river-following TR 231 to the rougher connector and ridge sections approaching Wolf Pit.

Use the Pine Gap Trailhead on Old NC 105 for the north end of this point-to-point route. The south end is Wolf Pit Trailhead at the end of Wolf Pit Road. Arrange a shuttle or plan an overnight strategy; the Linville Falls Visitor Center is a separate, shorter National Park Service trail access and is not this route’s primary trailhead.

• This is strenuous primitive wilderness travel, not a developed Parkway walk. Read a topographic map and carry a compass; trails may be signed at their trailheads but are not consistently signed or blazed inside the wilderness.
• Overnight camping requires the free USFS permit on weekends and holidays from May through October. Groups are limited to 10 people, and stays are limited to 3 days and 2 nights.
• No mechanical transport is allowed in the wilderness. Treat the Linville River and any wet crossings conservatively, especially after rain, and do not rely on cell coverage.
• Dogs are allowed on the route but should remain leashed and under control.