Last updated: September 10, 2024
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Enjoy the View Like Neal Wilcox
How do you enjoy the view?
The Enjoy the View Like Us series invites National Park Service employees to share their stories about their favorite park views. The ways to enjoy the view are as unique as parks and their visitors. We hope these stories inspire you to enjoy the view! Learn more about scenic views in national parks.
“I remember standing near the train tracks as a kid. When a train eventually went by, I felt the shaking in my bones from the power of the locomotive. That power was both frightening and exhilarating. This waterfall makes me feel like that. When you’re near a waterfall you are reminded that nature is powerful and we’re just visitors to these special places.”
This is how Neal describes his favorite view of Linville Falls in Blue Ridge Parkway. "Hikes and views like Linville Falls are exactly why I wanted to work in public lands.” Neal is the Trails Program Coordinator at the Blue Ridge Parkway. This position is funded with support from the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. “The parkway borders a designated wilderness area. That means we get to work with other great organizations and partners. To work near these places is a privilege. I love this job because I get to be a thread woven in the tapestry that is land conservation.” Neal follows up with an Aldo Leopold quote,
“There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.”
He elaborates, “Knowing that this wild place exists for those who cannot live without it brings me comfort. I count myself among them, finding solace in such places.”
What makes this view so special?
"I love this view because it is different than most of our other views. Big open views are almost everywhere you look, but this gorge is not visible from the road. It’s off the beaten path so to speak, and it takes a little bit of work to reach it. I love that the reward is worth the work, like being rewarded with gold after a long treasure hunt.”
The breathtaking three-tiered Linville Falls is probably the most famous and most photographed waterfall along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Experiencing enchantment of waterfalls is all about immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and sensations of flowing water. In Neal’s words: “The sound of the falls forces out unnatural sounds, and you become entranced with the strength of the river. If you’re viewing it from the bottom, the mist from the falls covers you and you feel blended with the riverscape.”
The Linville River flows from its headwaters high on the steep slopes of Grandfather Mountain. It cascades through two falls as it begins a dramatic descent of nearly 2,000 feet through Linville Gorge. Neal describes how, “Linville Falls has carved this gorge since it was formed, millimeter by millimeter it continues its geologic destiny.” Known as the "Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians," the steep-walled gorge adds to the majestic allure of this natural wonder.
What should visitors know?
There are two main hiking trails lead to views of Linville falls. Both begin at the Linville Falls Visitor Center and range in difficulty from moderate to strenuous. On your hike to the falls, you will pass through a virgin hemlock forest. The forest is mixed with other familiar tree species such as white pine, oaks, hickory, and birch.
Neal reminds us, “Waterfalls are forces of nature, much like a thunderstorm, or a powerful ocean wave. A force that’s beautiful but deadly if not respected or if taken for granted. They should make us feel small, instead they often make us feel invincible. Please follow the instructions of all park signs and park staff onsite. Enjoy all waterfalls from a safe distance. Do not risk the lives of pets or loved ones to view the falls at an unsafe distance. Take only happy memories and a sense of awe from Linville Falls."
Find out more information about Linville Falls Hiking Trails.