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Saturday, July 1, 2017

Tanawha Trail at Linn Cove - Blue Ridge Parkway


In June 2017, I hiked ½ mile (one mile roundtrip) of the Tanawha Trail from the Linn Cove Visitor Center north to the location of the most iconic view of Linn Cove Viaduct. The first 900 feet of the trail to an observation point under the viaduct is paved. Beyond that, the trail surface consists of rocks, roots, and dirt. As the trail goes through one of the boulder fields on Grandfather Mountain, it's easy to see how much work went into building the trail with the least impact to the mountain.

The trail seems to be well drained, but some places were a bit muddy two days after a rain event. The trail climbs about 130 feet from the visitor center to the beginning of the side trail to the view of the viaduct from above. The Linn Cove Visitor Center is located at mile 304.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Topographic map with GPS route

Paved trail at the north end of the parking lot

End of paved trail

Stone steps

Rocks and roots

Under the boulders

Over the boulders

Beside the boulders

Amid the boulders

Between the boulders

Around the boulders

Mud, roots, and rock

More roots and rocks

Mostly rocks

A steep, short bridge crosses a gap between boulders

The trail passes along the base of a bluff

Continuing along the base

Through a rhododendron thicket

The trail stays near the parkway

Bridge over Linn Cove Branch

Linn Cove Branch
Looking back

Stepping stones

More mud, roots, and rocks

Another muddy section

Down the marked side trail

Rock scrambling is required to get the view of ...

Linn Cove Viaduct

Entry to the parkway is free.

The parkway website is https://www.nps.gov/blri.

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