Gulf Contour & Long Arm
6.6 mi · ▲ 1,546 ft · 2 hr 58 min
Gulf Contour & Long Arm is a 6.6-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Linville Falls, NC. It climbs 1,546 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 43/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Gulf Contour & Long Arm
6.6 mi · ▲ 1,546 ft · 2 hr 58 min
Elevation 3,171–3,935 ft
Out & Back · Linville Gorge Wilderness
Trailhead: Linville Falls Connector Trail · 35.95020, -81.93364
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right onto Linville Falls Trail, heading NE.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Linville Falls Road, heading N.
- 350 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Gulf Contour, heading SE.
- 1.4 miTurn left onto Gulf Ridge, heading SW.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Long Arm, heading SE.
- 0.4 miReach Gulf Contour, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Gulf Ridge, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Gulf Contour, heading W.
- 1.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 400 ftSharp left onto Linville Falls Road, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Linville Falls Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftArrive 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 2.2 mi in (~71 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 7:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Linville Falls Connector Trail Trailhead
- Chimney View & Erwin's View Trail 1.2 mi · ▲ 308 ft
- Erwin's View Outlook–Gorge View, 3 viewpoints 1.5 mi · ▲ 179 ft
- Duggers Creek Falls via Erwin's View Trail 1.5 mi · ▲ 197 ft
- Marion Wright via Erwin's View Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 262 ft
- Plunge Basin Overlook & Plunge Basin Trail via Erwin's View Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 394 ft
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Hikes near Linville Falls, North Carolina