| Air was shooting through the gorge, causing the temperature to drop. It was cold, but the water of the Linville River was even colder.
The mountains descend into a rocky mass; the rock formations look like pancakes stacked one on top of the other. This rocky mass is divided by a rushing river flowing through it, and a few Mars Hill College students were wondering why they were about to willingly jump into this furious river.
This is Linville Gorge, the Grand Canyon of North Carolina.
The trip on April 12 was the sixth and last trip the Mars Hill College Outdoor Center would be offering this semester. This was going to be a great way to cap off the year, but the trip began in regular Outdoor Center fashion, meaning the group of eight got a little lost on the way to their destination.
Soon enough they found their way back onto the proper roads and the trip was moving forward once again. The drive from Mars Hill College to the Linville area, which is just outside of Boone, is just over an hour long and fairly straightforward. After arriving in the Linville area, there is one road that can be followed from the bottom of the ridge all the way to the top of the ridge. This gravel road has trails shooting from it in every direction. The Outdoor Center decided to make three stops that day while ascending the ridge.
The First stop was to see the actual Linville Falls. This is a spot not far from the paved road and is considered a common tourist spot. Once you see the falls it is easy to understand why so many tourists are frantically walking about snapping a million pictures a minute. The falls cast a hypnotic spray over the viewing area. No matter their age, whether it is eight or eighty, viewers express awe at the sight of the falls.
The next stop was a little more strenuous. The group was now heading down into the gorge. The path was rough and had rocks littering the trail. But the trekkers soon agreed that every step was worth the view.
While walking down the gorge the group stopped at a landmark called Babel Tower. This rock formation shoots hundreds of feet up and can be reached by a moderately strenuous hike. Once on top of the tower, a hiker can see the gorge and the surrounding mountains in a full three hundred and sixty degree view. Looking down, the river can be seen cutting through the pine and hardwood trees that cover the gorge. The view is indescribable, but the real destination was the bottom of the gorge.
The group finally got there. Some feet were blistered and most stomachs were growling, but it was all worth it. The white water flows over the rocks and pours over the falls. Cliffs tower over deep and open pools, just calling the names of those brave enough to jump in and face the cold.
The final stop was just what the group needed to cap off the experience. Everyone hopped in the van and drove up to Wiseman's View to see the gorge as a whole. The viewing area enabled the group to see for miles and miles all around them. Instead of looking up at birds, the group was actually looking down on the birds soaring below them. The wind was blowing and every breath of fresh air that was taken was a breath of rejuvenation.
GETTING THERE from Mars Hill College:
Total Time: 1 hour 9 minutes Total Distance: 44+ miles
1: Take US-19/23 (I-26) North - 1.5 mi
2: Take US-19 N, EXIT 9, BURNSVILLE/SPRUCE PINE - 0.3 mi
3: Turn RIGHT onto US-19/US-23. Follow US-19 - 10.8 mi
4: US-19 becomes US-19E - 24.4 mi
5: Turn RIGHT onto BRUSHY CREEK RD - 2.2 mi
6: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto HOBBS LN/HOBBS NOB LN - 1.1 mi
7: Turn RIGHT onto US-221 - 1.0 mi
8: Turn LEFT onto NC-183 - 0.7 mi
9: Turn RIGHT onto COUNTY LINE RD
Several Gorge trailheads on left within 8 mi.
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