Visit Linville Gorge, The Grand Canyon Of North Carolina, To See The Beautiful Changing Leaves This Fall

Many of the states in the northeast have already seen their autumn season come and go. Luckily, we still seem to be in the thick of it! That's just one reason we're lucky to be in North Carolina. Another is the absolutely stunning natural beauty surrounding us. While some folks believe that the most impressive views can only be seen out west, we'd argue that the Tar Heel State competes in just about every way. Including our very own version of the Grand Canyon.

The Linville Gorge Wilderness in Marion is just waiting to be explored. It’s comprised of nearly 12,000 acres of land surrounding the Linville River. It’s just inside the Pisgah National Forest.

The Linville River running through this rugged, forested area makes for a breathtaking sight that’s even more stunning in the fall. It’s clear why we all consider this to be the true Grand Canyon of the East.

The area is the 3rd largest of its type in North Carolina and it’s one of just two gorges like this in the southern United States.

The gorge formed as the Linville River flowed from its source high atop Grandfather Mountain. Over the course of centuries, the river has carved out the walls which now enclose the river for about 12 miles.

We know what sits in the valley, but what about those breathtaking mountains? Easy! Linville Mountain sits on the west and Jonas Ridge is on the east. Adding to the impressive landscape are the numerous rock formations that come out of each mountain.

Jonas Ridge alone is home to Sitting Bear, Hawksbill, Table Rock, and the Chimneys.

There are a lot of ways to explore and discover the area. Many are challenging, but if you’re up for a challenge you’ll get some of the most impressive views of any place in the state.

We especially love the vantage point from Wiseman's View!

If you’d like to start out fairly simply, we recommend the hike leading to Table Rock. The trail is just over one mile. The out and back trail can be found near Morganton. While the route is short, it does go up to the summit so be prepared for some elevation gain.

The amount of things to do in Linville Gorge is impressive, but our favorite is hiking. Here are some unrivaled canyon hikes that you can do right here in North Carolina.