Linville Falls Hike
Waterfall | North Carolina
1.6 mi round trip
Linville Falls Hike at a Glance
The Linville Falls hike via the Erwins View Trail is 1.6 mi round trip.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 3,200 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Erwins View Trail |
| Distance | 1.6 mi round trip |
Your time: about 30 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 40 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 300 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 1.6 mi distance for this hike is verified (nps.gov), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Linville Falls
Linville Falls is a waterfall in North Carolina, on land managed by Blue Ridge Parkway (National Park Service).
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Erwins View Trail: 1.6 miles round trip, from Linville Falls Visitor Center. Distance from nps.gov.
Before You Go
- Swimming in the Linville River and climbing on the rocks is dangerous and not allowed. (nps.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Blue Ridge Parkway (National Park Service) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Linville Falls?
The Erwins View Trail to Linville Falls is 1.6 miles round trip.
Where does the Linville Falls hike start?
It starts from Linville Falls Visitor Center.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Linville Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- nps.gov
- Distance
- nps.gov
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Linville Falls.