Linville Gorge Wilderness, Nature reserve in Burke County, North Carolina, US.
Linville Gorge Wilderness covers more than 4,800 hectares of forested slopes and rock walls within Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. The Linville River flows between the steep walls of this canyon, forming waterfalls and pools along its course.
This area gained protection under the Wilderness Act in 1964 and was among the first designated wilderness zones in the country. Colonists explored the terrain as early as the 18th century, but the difficult topography prevented major settlement.
Local plants grow in twisted shapes across the rocky ridges, adapting to wind and thin soil. Visitors often find traces of old fire rings and footpaths where hunters once moved through the valley.
A permit is required for weekend camping between May and October, but weekdays need no advance booking. Trails are steep and sometimes faintly marked, so carrying a map and compass helps with navigation.
Some plant species on the highest ridges grow only in much colder northern regions elsewhere, because the cool microclimate along the slopes protects them here. Climbers find more than 40 named rock faces and routes along the western wall of the gorge.
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