Backpacking the Linville Gorge Grand Loop [43 miles]
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Trip Details and Timestamps Below
I have been wanting to hike the Grand Loop in Linville Gorge, NC for several years now, and finally got a chance to complete it this month. We only had three days to work with so we managed to finish the roughly 43 mile loop over the course of 2.5 days and 2 nights. I would strongly encourage anyone considering this loop to spread it out over a minimum of 3 nights, you will have more time to enjoy it and won’t be utterly exhausted at the end of each day like we were. If you have never hiked in Linville Gorge do not underestimate it. Gorge miles are tough and this was NOT an easy hike.
We started and ended at the Linville Falls parking area off of old NC 105, moving clockwise. We had good weather until night two, when remnants of Hurricane Delta moved through the area. To say we got wet on day three is an understatement, absolutely drenched from the time we left camp to the car.
Trails Used:
Day One - Linville Falls to Chimney Gap (17.8 miles):
Linville Falls Trail | Gulf Contour Trail | Long Arm Trail | Red North Trail | Brushy Ridge Trail | Red South Trail | Devil’s Cliff Trail | Jonas Ridge Trail | Ledge Trail | Spence Connector | Spence Ridge Trail | Little Table Rock Trail | Mountains to Sea Trail (MST). Camped at Saddle Camp near Chimney Gap.
Day Two - Chimney Gap to Sandy Flats (17.9 miles):
MST | Lead Mine Trail | Linville Gorge Trail (LGT) aka Linville River Trail (LRT). Camped north of Conley Cove at Sandy Flats.
Day Three - Sandy Flats to Linville Falls (6.5 miles):
LGT | Pine Gap Trail | Marion Wright Trail | Linville Falls Trail back to the car and lunch at Louise’s.
Day One Points of Interest:
Navigation: Beginning of Gulf Contour Trail 6:16
Navigation: Turn onto Long Arm Trail 10:51
Navigation: Turn onto Red North Trail 11:40
Water Source: Red North Trail (Bull Branch) 12:26
Navigation: Turn onto Brushy Ridge Trail 12:54
View: Reference Rock 13:49
Navigation: Turn onto Red South Trail 14:16
Water Source: Red South Trail (Henson Creek I) 15:16
Water Source: Red South Trail (Henson Creek II) 15:51
Navigation: Turn onto Devil’s Cliff Trail (18:18)
View: Celestial Point 19:25
Navigation: Turn onto Jonas Ridge Trail 21:28
View: Sitting Bear Rock 22:18
View: South of Sitting Bear Rock 22:33
Water Source: Sitting Bear Trailhead 23:47
Navigation: Turn onto Ledge Trail 24:15
Navigation: Turn onto Spence Connector 26:51
Water Source: Spence Ridge Trail 27:16
Navigation: Turn onto Little Table Rock Trail 28:08
Navigation: Turn onto MST 29:15
Navigation: Table Rock Parking Lot 29:31
View: Chimneys 29:46
View: Chimney Gap 31:18
Camp Night One: Saddle Camp 32:36
Water Source: Saddle Camp Side Trail 33:38
Day Two Points of Interest:
Navigation: MST Intersection with Cambric Trail 37:20
View: Shortoff Looking North 37:58
View: Shortoff Pond 38:33
Water Source: MST/Shortoff (Gully Pipe) 39:10
Navigation: Turn down to the River on MST 39:46
Navigation: Linville River Southern MST Crossing 40:00
View: Shortoff from the West 42:00
Navigation: Turn onto the Leadmine Trail 42:24
Navigation: Turn onto the LGT 43:25
Navigation: Pinch In/LGT Intersection 44:25
View: Jet Flyover 44:03
Navigation: Conley Cove/LGT Intersection 46:10
View: Cathedral Falls/Campsite 46:52
Camp Night Two: Sandy Flats 48:27
Day Three Points of Interest:
View: Gorge Looking North 53:53
Navigation: Babel Tower/LGT Intersection 55:16
Navigation: Cabin Trail/LGT Intersection 55:49
Navigation: Turn onto Pine Gap Trail 56:40
Navigation: Turn onto Marion Wright Trail 56:56
Trip End: Linville Falls Trail 58:02
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Way to dig it on it fellers. Right good time. Lotta walking. Less time for lollygagging. Whoooooo Buddy))))
Thanks Shug! Definitely not the way We envisioned doing the Grand Loop for the first time but I’m glad we completed it. I’ve been wanting to do it ever since I watched your videos on it - you and Kent did it the right way for sure. Next time there will be a lot more lollygagging!
I really appreciate how you detail the individual trails that make up your route. Just enough commentary to keep it interesting and informative. Epic loop. Thanks
Thanks! I added in some time stamps to the description to hopefully allow some people to get more use out of the video. Thanks for watching!
I also appreciate this detail but there are discrepancies..some of which might be due to labeling errors on Avenza. I've wanted to get with other map makers (I designed the Grand Loop and produced the first rough tracks of the NE Quad.) and get these maps justified with each other but I dont see any particular eagerness to do so. As a result, you hiked a field whereas the GL would have kept you in the woods the whole way.
Now to the main point:
AWESOME
AWESOME
AWESOME
AWESOME
AWESOME.
Incredible filming, coverage, and speed of travel. This vid ought to be standard reference as well as Sintax 77 vid covering the same territory in miserable conditions. Hikers attempting the Grand would want to see both.
Hikers would do well not to attempt Ledge late in the day. It is So much rougher than the other trails !!!
And Ledge is too pretty to speed thru under pressure.
Also agree : Take more time. Many nearby viewpoints were missed. (and not noted on current maps.)
River crossing is better with 8 ft pole...and crocs. They were not kidding about painful...and it will soon be too cold.
One last note: you will lose those trails unless you maintain them.
Maintenance is illegal..so the LEAST you could do if you want the trails to be there for you, is to actively explore them, photograph them, and get signatures and REQUEST the USFS to add them to their inventory.
@@robertunderwood1011 I know what you mean about the discrepancies around map details. Your name actually came up in our conversation on the trail this trip when we were discussing who created the trail system. Appreciate all you did for the area, I hope to pay it back one day and do my part. I would love to do this loop again, but over the course of 4 or 5 nights. Thanks as always for watching
@@johnnytwotarps2191
I hope hikers will remove Ledge from their overnight plans and treat it as a very special rock hop. To be enjoyed without backpack and not to be hurried.
Hikers could ENTER the loop at Sitting Bear, drive down to Ledge Lower entrance and hide your packs, drive back to SB and visit the top of Hawksbill before entering the upper end of Ledge. No need to carry the weight of a back pack one step futher than you have to...and TAKE ALL DAY and enjoy yourself. It's a beautiful but rough section of trail. Take TIME TO ENJOY IT.
Recover your hidden packs and continue on.
Easily the best Linville Gorge trail overview I’ve watched. Extremely detailed. Heading out there this weekend and feel much more confident in what to expect.
Thanks! I tried to make an extra effort to include details in this one because I had trouble finding something similar when prepping for the trip
Really great video. I really appreciate the detail you included about which trails you were on, the intersections, etc. I was able to follow along on the map and now I have a good idea of what each section is like. Very helpful, thank you!
That was my goal on this one, glad it helped!
Came across your channel yesterday as I’m prepping to do my first grand loop. A lot of great information and really enjoyed the video, y’all stay safe out there!
Glad you found the channel! I made the Grand Loop video in hopes that it would help others attempting the loop, hopefully you got done use out of it! Thanks for watching!
Dude...hot chocolate in coffee. That's a game changer man.
Yes! I drink it black at home but I need something to take the bite out of the instant coffee. Hot chocolate makes it tastes so much better and it’s a good sugar boost before hitting the trail in the morning
One of my favorite places to hike! Great video and beautiful time of the year to be in the Gorge.
Me too! It was a beautiful time of the year to be there. Could have done without the monsoon on day three but hey that’s what it’s all about right??
Epic views and a little rock scrambling. ATB
The views in the Gorge never get old. Sometimes the rock scrambling does though 😂
Dude, I am 2minutes into this video and I KNOW you guys had to dig deep to finish in 2.5 days.
I've been all over that place and just navigation in the quad is slow and time consuming.
Looking forward to the video
One of the best Gorge videos I've seen. Welldone
Thank you!! You are right there was a lot of digging deep and some internal debate on whether or not we would be able to finish. Glad we saw it through
I have been on the pinch in- conley section a couple of times. I can’t imagine doing that rocky roller coaster after the miles y’all laid down before that. Ankle buster for sure.... great video!
It was painful! A week later and my feet still hurt. Had a great time though!
Great adventure
Leaf peaping
Nice trip! Personally I think you should have tons more subscribers....your documentation is more in line with what you'll "really" experience vs the "pro" youtubers imho.....I just got back from the Mount Rogers/Grayson Highlands based off of the loop you just did. (1st solo) 👍🏻
I appreciate that! I’m glad to hear you think it represents the real experience, my goal has always been to give people an idea of what to expect on these trips - that is why I usually watch trip videos so I wanted to pay it back to the community. Thanks for watching!
I agree, your video and detailed info are above and beyond most! I hiked Shining Rock last month in part to your videos. I'm sharing your channel with friends for sure! Keep hiking. Thanks Johnny!
Hi Johnny 🙋♀️
I love hiking 🥾 so much
Nice video and content
U have my support
I make some videos in nature too
Day one looked like a beast. How close were you to shortening the loop the next day?
It was a beast for sure. Neither one of us said it out loud that night, but night one I think we both were thinking we weren’t going to finish the entire thing. We woke up the next day feeling rested and motivated. By the time we crossed the river we were dialed in on finishing
I certainly had my doubts on day 1. Felt great on day 2. Day 3 we were motivated by warmth and good food.
Do you happen to have a map of the trails used on this trip?
I use the Avenza app. You can download it from the App Store and then download the Linville Gorge Wilderness map. I’d also recommend carrying a paper map as backup. Also check out the forums on linvillegorge.net, a lot of good info there
What kind of pack(s) are you guys using?
I’m using a ULA Ohm 2.0 and Bracken is carrying a Gossamer Gear Mariposa I believe
@@johnnytwotarps2191 GoodStuff™ Appreciated.
Now you have two more followers.
@@dillweed2163 I also use the Gossamer Gear Kumo 36. This trip I was torn between packs but decided on the Mariposa because I wanted extra space for extra food. I knew I’d be hungry with those long days.
@@brackeng1294 GoodStuff™
All the talk of louise's and at the end of the video... No louise's.... pfftttttt