The Chimneys–Cambric, 3 sights is a 15.7-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Linville, NC. The route reaches The Chimneys. It climbs 4,974 ft, with sections as steep as 45% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 91/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi1,335 – 3,553 ft · steepest grade: 45%16.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Mountains-to-Sea Trail 35.82230, -81.93051
Nearest town Linville, NC
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
The Chimneys–Cambric, 3 sights
15.7 mi · ▲ 4,974 ft · 7 hr 43 min
Elevation 1,334–3,554 ft
Out & Back · Linville Gorge Wilderness
Trailhead: Mountains-to-Sea Trail · 35.82230, -81.93051
Weather Sep 4: Rain showers, high 86°F / low 68° · precip 17% · wind 15 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading E.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Linville Gorge Trail, heading NW.
- 3.1 miTurn right onto Cambric, heading N.
- 1.4 miBear left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading NE.
- 1.5 miPass The Chimneys.
- 0.8 miReach The Chimneys, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.3 miBear right onto Cambric, heading S.
- 1.4 miTurn left onto Linville Gorge Trail, heading W.
- 2.5 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.6 miSharp right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading E.
- 1.1 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
100% dirt
Weather
Rain showersTemperature 86°F68°
Precip17%Wind15 mphUV7Humidity93%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
90°65°
Sunrise 7:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:53 PM
Sat
89°71°
Sun
89°64°
70%
Mon
76°62°
59%
Tue
80°59°
Wed
85°59°
Thu
88°63°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.1 mi in (~251 min). Leave by 3:22 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Mountains-to-Sea Trail Trailhead
- Linville Gorge Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 1,340 ft
- Unnamed / White Oak Stand via Linville Gorge Trail 6.6 mi · ▲ 3,107 ft
- Linville Gorge Trail–Shooks Creek Road, 3 sights 7.6 mi · ▲ 1,958 ft
- Linville Gorge Trail 8.4 mi · ▲ 1,818 ft
- Gully Pipe–Linville Gorge Trail, 4 sights 9.8 mi · ▲ 3,732 ft
- Amphitheater–Cambric, 3 sights 14.2 mi · ▲ 5,028 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Linville, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Linville, North Carolina