The Chimneys & North Carolina Wall | Linville Gorge Wilderness | Table Rock | Top Hike in the State?

This is one of the best hikes in North Carolina. It is challenging but delivers stunning views of the Linville Gorge as you make your way along cliffsides that represent some of the best rock climbing in the southeast. If you want to get your heart pumping and absorb some of the most beautiful landscape in the southeast, this trek is for you!
CONTENTS
00:00 Intro Teaser
01:00 Map Overview
02:45 Trailhead
03:52 Rock Outcropping
04:40 The Gorge
06:35 NC Wall
09:00 Ice on Trail Edge
11:27 Reaction
Along the eastern flank of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains is the Linville Gorge - home to challenging hikes of such grandeur they are worthy of any outdoor enthusiast’s bucket list. On this blustery day we hiked from the Table Rock access to the Chimneys and the elusive North Carolina Wall. The steep cliffs aren’t just for hiking, but also provide some of the best rock climbing the region has to offer. The Green Berets and Outward Bound guides have historically climbed Table Rock - and by the 1970s climbers routinely navigated the Chimneys and the NC Wall as well.
In August of 2022 we dropped a video highlighting our Top 5 hikes within the Linville Gorge. One of those hikes included a trek to Table Rock and the Chimneys. Our newly discovered diversion to the North Carolina Wall, however, turns this hike into a truly epic event - one that merits consideration for the top spot on that list. Just keep in mind that this journey is aggressive and not for the faint of heart.
First consider that the path is only open a few months out of the year. The trek along the NC Wall is closed January to August due to nesting of the local Peregrine Falcon. Additionally, one must be comfortable with sketchy routes and traversing high exposed cliffs. Utilizing an app such as AllTrails is helpful - and almost necessary. Even with a good eye and our GPS, we lost the path and had to reset to get back on course.
Normally one would start this trek from the popular Table Rock parking area. But since we were hiking during the winter months, we had an extra climb from the closed gate where we had to leave our Subaru.

[@robertunderwood1011]

You did good to push in all the way from the base of the table rock Road you got some good pics too

[@markmoser7914]

One of my go to hikes in Linville Gorge. I absolutely enjoy exploring this area!

[@criscale3667]

The area is the best for outdoor enthusiasts - and those looking for hiking punishment. ;-) We appreciate the comment!

[@bossman1974]

I climbed the front face of Table Rock a long time ago 😊 (1974)😊

[@criscale3667]

That’s crazy! What an accomplishment. That would be an absolutely incredibly experience. We appreciate you sharing that with us.

[@robertunderwood1011]

You hiked the upper North Carolina wall There is an also lower North Carolina wall Trail, but it is much rougher Since you were under the cliffs on the LNCW, ice can form on the wall above you unseen and in the afternoon afternoon Son it can flake off to have a 30 pound chunk of ice fall down beside you while you are hiking can be very disconcerting The the UNCW and the LNCW are both closed from January 15 to August 15. And it is too hot to hike in August so you’ll have to wait until about the first week of September. Your window of opportunity is from September to January The table rock Road closes in January The hike you took was relatively easy