Water Tree (Blackgum Springs)–Jeep, 3 sights
3.5 mi · ▲ 1,207 ft · 1 hr 46 min
Water Tree (Blackgum Springs)–Jeep, 3 sights is a 3.5-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Linville, NC. The route reaches Water Tree (Blackgum Springs) at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It climbs 1,207 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 81/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Water Tree (Blackgum Springs)–Jeep, 3 sights
3.5 mi · ▲ 1,207 ft · 1 hr 46 min
Elevation 1,803–2,965 ft
Out & Back · Linville Gorge Wilderness
Trailhead: Shortoff Trail · 35.82418, -81.88949
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 94°F / low 73° · precip 11% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:51 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 left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Jeep, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Shortoff Trail, heading NE.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~69 min). Leave by 6:22 PM for the 7:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:40 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
- Amphitheater–Jeep, 3 sights 11.5 mi · ▲ 3,480 ft
- Linville Gorge Trail–Shortoff Trail, 3 sights 12.1 mi · ▲ 4,240 ft
- Water Tree (Blackgum Springs)–Cambric Loop, 7 sights 12.5 mi · ▲ 3,076 ft
- Shooks Creek Road–Shortoff Trail, 3 sights 12.6 mi · ▲ 3,057 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Linville, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Linville, North Carolina