Linville Gorge Wilderness

Cathedral Falls–Hawksbill Ledge, 3 sights

4.3 mi · ▲ 1,227 ft · 2 hr 3 min

Cathedral Falls–Hawksbill Ledge, 3 sights is a 4.3-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Wisemans View, NC. The route reaches Cathedral Falls at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It climbs 1,227 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 95/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,051 – 3,317 ft · steepest grade: 28%4.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Hawksbill Trail 35.91431, -81.87840
Nearest town Wisemans View, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cathedral Falls–Hawksbill Ledge, 3 sights

4.3 mi · ▲ 1,227 ft · 2 hr 3 min

Elevation 2,052–3,316 ft

Out & Back · Linville Gorge Wilderness

Trailhead: Hawksbill Trail · 35.91431, -81.87840

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 83°F / low 69° · precip 19% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:53 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.6 miTurn right onto Hawksbill Ledge, heading SW.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 0.6 miSharp right onto Spence Ridge Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.9 miReach Cathedral Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 0.9 miSharp left, heading NE.
  7. 0.6 miTurn right onto Hawksbill Ledge, heading N.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  9. 0.5 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

64% dirt26% gravel10% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 83°F69°
Precip19%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity86%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
85°65° 1 PM: 7% rain2 PM: 11% rain3 PM: 18% rain4 PM: 19% rain5 PM: 8% rain6 PM: 8% rain7 PM: 4% rain8 PM: 3% rain9 PM: 1% rain10 PM: 2% rain11 PM: 3% rain
Sunrise 7:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:53 PM
Sat 86°69° 17%
Sun 88°63° 73%
Mon 72°61° 56%
Tue 75°56°
Wed 84°58°
Thu 84°63°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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