Water Tree (Blackgum Springs)–Cambric Loop, 7 sights
12.5 mi · ▲ 3,076 ft · 5 hr 42 min
Water Tree (Blackgum Springs)–Cambric Loop, 7 sights is a 12.5-mile loop in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Linville, NC. The route reaches Water Tree (Blackgum Springs). It climbs 3,076 ft, with sections as steep as 50% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 85/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Water Tree (Blackgum Springs)–Cambric Loop, 7 sights
12.5 mi · ▲ 3,076 ft · 5 hr 42 min
Elevation 1,251–3,122 ft
Loop · Linville Gorge Wilderness
Trailhead: Shortoff Trail · 35.82418, -81.88949
Weather Sep 4: Rain showers, high 91°F / low 73° · precip 18% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Shortoff Trail, heading W.
- 1 miTurn right onto Jeep, heading NW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Water Tree Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miReach Water Tree (Blackgum Springs), then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading NE.
- 2.6 miTurn left onto Cambric, heading W.
- 1.4 miTurn left onto Linville Gorge Trail, heading S.
- 2.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 1 miTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SE.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 1.6 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Schoonover Crossover, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Faulkner Flats, heading NE.
- 1 miBear right onto Shortoff Trail, heading N.
- 500 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 6:24 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:41 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Shortoff Trail Trailhead
- Gully Pipe–Olson, 3 sights 2.8 mi · ▲ 1,103 ft
- Faulkner Flats–Schoonover Crossover Loop, 3 sights 3.3 mi · ▲ 1,108 ft
- Water Tree (Blackgum Springs)–Jeep, 3 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 1,207 ft
- Amphitheater–Jeep, 3 sights 11.5 mi · ▲ 3,480 ft
- Linville Gorge Trail–Shortoff Trail, 3 sights 12.1 mi · ▲ 4,240 ft
- Shooks Creek Road–Shortoff Trail, 3 sights 12.6 mi · ▲ 3,057 ft
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Hikes near Linville, North Carolina