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.
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| Topographic map with GPS route |
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| Paved trail at the north end of the parking lot |
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| End of paved trail |
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| Stone steps |
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| Rocks and roots |
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| Under the boulders |
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| Over the boulders |
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| Beside the boulders |
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| Amid the boulders |
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| Between the boulders |
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| Around the boulders |
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| Mud, roots, and rock |
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| More roots and rocks |
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| Mostly rocks |
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| A steep, short bridge crosses a gap between boulders |
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| The trail passes along the base of a bluff |
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| Continuing along the base |
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| Through a rhododendron thicket |
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| The trail stays near the parkway |
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| Bridge over Linn Cove Branch |
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| Linn Cove Branch |
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| Looking back |
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| Stepping stones |
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| More mud, roots, and rocks |
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| Another muddy section |
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| Down the marked side trail |
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| Rock scrambling is required to get the view of ... |
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| Linn Cove Viaduct |
Entry to the parkway is free.
The parkway website is https://www.nps.gov/blri.
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