#9 of 112 trails in Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway, NC · VA
Short, steep climb to Linville Gorge’s exposed Table Rock summit
Overview
Table Rock Mountain is one of Linville Gorge’s signature viewpoints: a short, steep climb ends on an exposed granite summit with broad views over the gorge, Hawksbill Mountain, Shortoff Mountain, Linville Falls, and the Chimneys. The summit’s old stone foundation and wind-shaped terrain make the destination worth exploring after the climb.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike itMap & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Ridge Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Blue Ridge Parkway audio tourMore stories near here in the app
“…We knew we wanted to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. The narration was impeccably timed. The facts and info provided were meaningful. Without it, the trip would not have been near as awesome.”
Trail guide
This out-and-back follows the Table Rock Summit Trail from the Table Rock parking area to the summit and its short signed summit spur, about 1.4 miles total. Expect roughly 600 feet of gain on a steady, rocky ascent with stone steps, switchbacks, rock overhangs, and two trail intersections; keep right at the signed forks for the summit route. The mapped line stores the outbound corridor once, while the return uses the same trail.
The lower trail climbs through rocky forest and rhododendron, with views opening toward the Chimneys and Linville Gorge as you gain elevation. On top, exposed granite and a broad, rugged plateau provide changing 360-degree panoramas. Stay on the marked trail around the summit and treat informal scrambles as optional only when conditions are safe.
The trailhead is at the Table Rock day-use area in Pisgah National Forest. Access is via long, rough gravel Forest Service roads, so allow extra time and use a vehicle suited to the road. The site is seasonal, with typical use from April through December; check the Forest Service status before driving. Picnic tables and grills are available, but potable water is not.
Wear shoes with dependable grip, carry water, and stay on the marked trail to protect the steep, fragile terrain. Keep children and dogs close near cliff edges, do not shortcut the switchbacks, and turn around if fog, ice, or storms make the exposed summit unsafe.
Wildlife
1,208 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
1,020 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
2,257 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
200 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,126 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
255 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateHawksbill Mountain Trail1.9 mi · 1.5 hr · 2 mi awayShort, steep climb to Linville Gorge’s blockbuster 360° views
ChallengingLinville Gorge Trail16.6 mi · 9.5 hr · 4.5 mi awayA strenuous point-to-point wilderness traverse from Pine Gap through Linville Gorge to Wolf Pit.
EasyChestoa View Trail0.8 mi · 36 min · 4.8 mi awayEasy lollipop walk to Chestoa View’s stone balcony and Blue Ridge vistas
ModeratePlunge Basin Trail1.8 mi · 1 hr · 5.3 mi awayRugged out-and-back to the Plunge Basin overlook and waterfall viewpoint
EasyDuggers Creek Falls Trail0.3 mi · 18 min · 5.3 mi awayTiny slot-canyon falls on a 0.3-mile loop by the visitor center
ModerateLinville Falls Plunge Basin Trail1 mi · 45 min · 5.3 mi awayShort, strenuous drop to Plunge Basin Overlook and views of Linville Falls
ModerateErwin’s View Trail (Linville Falls)1.6 mi · 1.3 hr · 5.3 mi awayFour big overlooks of Linville Falls on a short, moderate walk.
EasyFlat Rock Trail0.7 mi · 20 min · 11.4 mi awayShort loop to a broad rock summit with big Grandfather views
Sight · 4.8 mi awayChestoa View OverlookShort walk to big Linville Gorge views from a stone overlook
Scenic pullout · 4.8 mi awayBear Den Overlook (MP 323.0)Big Blue Ridge views with a bonus birdsong soundtrack
Sight · 4.9 mi awayPlunge Basin OverlookShort hike to Linville Falls’ dramatic plunge-pool viewpoint
Sight · 4.9 mi awayLinville FallsClassic three-tier waterfall with big views into rugged Linville Gorge
Sight · 5 mi awayUpper Falls OverlookA stone-walled viewpoint over the upper cascades and churning Linville River.
Sight · 5 mi awayUpper Linville FallsIntimate double cascade launching the river into Linville Gorge
Visitor center · 5.3 mi awayLinville Falls Visitor CenterTrailhead hub for every view of Linville Falls and the Gorge
Sight · 5.4 mi awayDuggers Creek FallsTiny slot-canyon cascade steps from the Linville Falls parking lotParkwolf’s Blue Ridge Parkway ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
