Near Jonas Ridge in Burke County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Linville Gorge from Brown Mountain Overlook

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 14, 2025

1. Linville Gorge from Brown Mountain Overlook Marker

Inscription.

Linville Gorge from Brown Mountain Overlook. . Beyond Table Rock and Hawksbill Mountains lies a deep rugged canyon, carved over the ages by the Linville River. The "Grand Canyon of the East," Linville Gorge is one of the wildest, most rugged places in the eastern United States. The gorge is ringed by a series of tall peaks including Gingercake, Hawksbill, Table Rock, The Chimneys and Shortoff mountains. Elevations range from about 1,300 feet above sea level near the Linville River to 4,120 feet at Gingercake Mountain., Linville Gorge became a Wilderness Area in 1964, one of the first in the United States. Today, the Gorge's 11,786 acres are managed to preserve its unique natural conditions and wilderness character. Being a "Wilderness," the recreation experience is primitive, where visitors are faced with the challenge of being entirely self-sufficient during their stay. Signage and trail blazes are minimal, and there are no shelters, campgrounds, water spigots or restrooms. Once you enter the Wilderness, you must travel by foot because no motorized vehicles are allowed., Permits are required to camp in the Gorge on weekends (Friday and Saturday) and on holidays from May 1 through Oct. 31. Hunting and fishing are allowed but state licenses are required. Groups are limited to 10 people., On summer weekends, find information at the Linville Gorge Cabin. To get there, head north on State Route (SR) 181: turn left onto SR 183. Turn left onto SR 1238 (Kistler Memorial Highway) and drive ¾ mile to the cabin or 5 miles to the Wiseman's View trailhead. Trailheads for Linville Falls are also off SR 183 and SR 1238., (sidebar) , The North Carolina mountains and foothills were designated the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in recognition of their natural beauty and living traditions of music, craft, agriculture and Cherokee culture. This location is part of a regional trail of distinctive heritage sites. Ask for information at area visitor centers., More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com, (captions) , If you're not prepared for a rugged Wilderness experience, portions of the Mountains-to-the-Sea National Recreation trail skirt the Gorge's southern and eastern rims. Linville Gorge. J. Payne , Rugged vegetation and rock outcrops are features of Linville Gorge Photo by Murray Lee, One of the easiest places to take in the area's grandeur is from Wiseman's View, a ½ mile accessible hike from the trailhead just off SR 1238 (Kistler Memorial Highway) Photo by Murray Lee

Beyond Table Rock and Hawksbill Mountains lies a deep rugged canyon, carved over the ages by the Linville River. The "Grand Canyon of the East," Linville Gorge is one of the wildest, most rugged places in the eastern United States. The gorge is ringed by a series of tall peaks including Gingercake, Hawksbill, Table Rock, The Chimneys and Shortoff mountains. Elevations range from about 1,300 feet above sea level near the Linville River to 4,120 feet at Gingercake Mountain.

Linville Gorge became a Wilderness Area in 1964, one of the first in the United States. Today, the Gorge's 11,786 acres are managed to preserve its unique natural conditions and wilderness character. Being a "Wilderness," the recreation experience is primitive, where visitors are faced with the challenge of being entirely self-sufficient during their stay. Signage and trail blazes are minimal, and there are no shelters, campgrounds, water spigots or restrooms. Once you enter the Wilderness, you must travel by foot because no motorized vehicles are allowed.

Permits are required to camp in the Gorge on weekends (Friday and Saturday) and on holidays from May 1 through Oct. 31. Hunting and fishing are allowed but state licenses are required. Groups are limited to 10 people.

On summer weekends, find information at the Linville Gorge Cabin.

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To get there, head north on State Route (SR) 181: turn left onto SR 183. Turn left onto SR 1238 (Kistler Memorial Highway) and drive ¾ mile to the cabin or 5 miles to the Wiseman's View trailhead. Trailheads for Linville Falls are also off SR 183 and SR 1238.

(sidebar)
The North Carolina mountains and foothills were designated the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in recognition of their natural beauty and living traditions of music, craft, agriculture and Cherokee culture. This location is part of a regional trail of distinctive heritage sites. Ask for information at area visitor centers.

More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com

(captions)
If you're not prepared for a rugged Wilderness experience, portions of the Mountains-to-the-Sea National Recreation trail skirt the Gorge's southern and eastern rims. Linville Gorge. J. Payne
Rugged vegetation and rock outcrops are features of Linville Gorge Photo by Murray Lee

One of the easiest places to take in the area's grandeur is from Wiseman's View, a ½ mile accessible hike from the trailhead just off SR 1238 (Kistler Memorial Highway) Photo by Murray Lee

Erected by United States Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these

Linville Gorge from Brown Mountain Overlook Marker looking south along NC Hwy 181 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 14, 2025

2. Linville Gorge from Brown Mountain Overlook Marker looking south along NC Hwy 181

topic lists: Environment • Natural Features • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1964.

Location. 35° 56.532′ N, 81° 50.525′ W. Marker is near Jonas Ridge, North Carolina, in Burke County. It is on North Carolina Route 181 3.2 miles south of Gingercake Road, on the left when traveling south. The marker is in parking area at the Brown Mountain Overlook, part of the Pisgah National Forest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8176 NC-181, Newland NC 28657, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Brown Mountain Overlook (a few steps from this marker); U.S. Army Air Force Crash (approx. 2.2 miles away); Rockhouse Restaurant (approx. 5.7 miles away); Crossnore School (approx. 7 miles away); a different marker also named The Crossnore School (approx. 7 miles away); DAR Chapter House (approx. 7½ miles away); The Bell Tower (approx. 7½ miles away); The Weaving Room at Crossnore School (approx. 7½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jonas Ridge.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Gardens of the Blue Ridge (was approx. 4.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Marker in front of a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Jonas Ridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 14, 2025

3. Marker in front of a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Jonas Ridge

Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 149 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 15, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.