Linville Falls, Three-tiered waterfall in Blue Ridge Mountains, United States

Linville Falls is a waterfall on the Linville River in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It begins as a twin set of upper falls, runs down a small gorge, and ends in a 45-foot (14 m) main drop. The water falls between layered gray-brown rock walls with blocky ledges and deep vertical crevices.

The area around the falls served as hunting grounds for Cherokee and Catawba peoples long before European settlers moved into the region in the 18th century. This land held importance in their seasonal travels through the mountains.

The name comes from the Linville River, which plunges over the falls and then begins the Linville Gorge. The upper falls can be reached by a 0.5-mile trail where water spirals through a small canyon before the main drop. Below the falls, swimming in the pool is considered safe in normal flow, though it is illegal in parkway waters above.

The visitor center provides access to four overlook points with different difficulty levels and distances. Some views are just a short walk from the parking area, while others require longer walks through the forest.

The waters flow into a 12-mile gorge where exposed rock layers reveal millions of years of geological history. These layers tell the story of how the landscape was shaped over vast amounts of time.