Walking guide
Waterfalls of the Blue Ridge
Johnny Molloy · 2021
Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding waterfall hikes, handy for pairing Linville Falls with other Parkway stops.
United States · Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina
Linville Falls
Two drops feed into Linville Gorge, the deepest canyon in the eastern United States, with several short trails leading to overlooks at different heights above the churn. The gorge below remains one of the most rugged, lightly developed wilderness areas in the Appalachians.
Gateway to the deepest gorge in the eastern US Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Linville Falls drops 27 metres (89 ft) on the Linville, inside Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a tiered-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Linville Falls, with AVL the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
As a tiered waterfall, a series of distinct drops, one below the other.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Linville Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Linville Falls are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Spring and fall give reliable flow and, in October, vivid foliage around the gorge.
Entry: Free; Blue Ridge Parkway access
Getting there
- Base town Linville Falls
- Airport AVL
- Country United States
- Region Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Linville Falls
United States
Height27 mWidth—
Most similar
Nugget Falls
United States
Height30 mWidth—
Also a tiered waterfall, of similar height and in the United States too
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
27 m
30 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Linville FallsNugget FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 36× taller than Linville Falls. Victoria Falls is 4.0× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Linville Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Linville Falls
9:31
20:48
12:06
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Walking guide
North Carolina Waterfalls (3rd edition)
Kevin Adams · 2016
The definitive North Carolina waterfall guide, with trail directions and photography tips for Linville and hundreds more.
On the map
35.9497, -81.9269
Quick answers
Where is Linville Falls?
Linville Falls is in United States (Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina), inside Blue Ridge Parkway. The nearest base is Linville Falls and the closest airport is AVL. Its coordinates are 35.9497, -81.9269.
How tall is Linville Falls?
Linville Falls drops 27 metres (89 feet). It is a tiered-type waterfall on the Linville.
When is the best time to visit Linville Falls?
Peak flow is April to May and September to October. Spring and fall give reliable flow and, in October, vivid foliage around the gorge.
What can you do at Linville Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Linville Falls?
The usual base is Linville Falls, and the closest airport is AVL. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there. Free; Blue Ridge Parkway access.
Nearby
Closest to Linville Falls
Toms Creek Falls
United States · 20 km away
Toms Creek Falls is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest in McDowell County, North Carolina, near the…
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Setrock Creek Falls
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Setrock Creek Falls is a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, in North Carolina.
McGalliard Falls
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McGalliard Falls is a waterfall in Burke County, North Carolina.