Blue Ridge Parkway’s Lower Linville Falls viewed from the Plunge Basin overlook
Length: 1.2 miles, round trip
Time: 1 hour (includes hiking and stopping to see the falls)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Both the Plunge Basin Trail and Linville Gorge Trail take hikers to unique views of Lower Linville Falls. The difference is that Plunge Basin Trail ends at a viewing platform that is level with the top of the falls, whereas the Linville Gorge Trail leads to the base of the falls. There are also views from the Erwins View Trail, so you have three different options to see the falls—hiking to all three views is not a bad idea. Linville Falls flows year around and is the best waterfall on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Click to enlarge
The hike to both Plunge Basin and Linville Gorge begins on the same trail. I highly suggest hiking to both, assuming you are physically able. The hike to Plunge Basin is easy to moderate, but the hike to the Gorge is probably the toughest on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and tougher than most eastern United States trails.
The hike to Plunge Basin (and the Gorge) begins at the stairs on the left side of the Linville Falls Visitor Center. A one minute walk along a short connector trail leads to the intersection with the main trail. Make a right to get to either Plunge Basin or the Gorge (a left turn takes you on a short hike to Dugger’s Creek Falls). The trail begins with a moderate uphill climb, but after only a tenth of a mile it flattens out and remains that way until the Plunge Basin / Gorge split, another two tenths of a mile farther ahead. The terrain is fairly smooth for a trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but this is not to say that it is rock and root free.
Typical terrain of the first .3 mile of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Plunge Basin Trail
Before arriving at the split with the Gorge trail, be aware that there is an unmarked intersection with a trail that branches off to the left. I have no idea where this leads, but to get to Plunge Basin stay straight. At the split with the Gorge trail, stay straight as well. Signs point the way.
Fork for the Plunge Basin and Linville Gorge trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway
The trail remains relatively easy for a while, but this can’t last forever since it leads down to the waterfall. The descent is accomplished over the trail’s last tenth of a mile on a series of steep stone and wood staircases. (Total distance from the split to the viewing platform is just .3-mile.)
The Plunge Basin Trail ends at the top section of Lower Linville Falls where the water flows over the first of three drops. The view is very similar to that at Chimney View on the Erwins View Trail, with Chimney View being much farther away and a little more centered on the waterfall. The view from Plunge Basin is close and off to the right side.
For the best photos, do not visit until after 1 PM and no later than 4 PM. Prior to and after these times Lower Linville Falls will be in the shadows. The photo at the top of this page was taken at 12:30 PM in October, and you can see that much of the waterfall and the pool at the bottom is still in the shadows. The photo below was taken at 5 PM in September, and not only is the waterfall in the shadows, the sun was shinning in my face.
View of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Lower Linville Falls from the Plunge Basin overlook
Other than the climb up and down the stairs, the hike to the Plunge Basin is easy…but there is no way around the stairs. Plan to spend about an hour on the journey, which includes time to enjoy the falls. Round trip is a little over one mile. For an even better view be sure to hike the Linville Gorge Trail on the way back. A combination of the two hikes takes about 2.5 hours and covers just over 2 miles.
Back to the Top | Linville Falls Hiking Trails | Waterfalls
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Last updated on December 1, 2023
