Shortoff Mountain Trail in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area - Linville, NC
“If you keep walking down the right path, and you are willing to keep walking, eventually you will make progress.” - Barack Obama
“If you want to hike one mph faster, be sure to bring Alex along.” - Ginger Shields
“If you want to hike an extra hour for no reason, be sure to bring Mom along.” - Alex Shields - Alex’s response, without missing a beat, to Ginger’s statement.
The Story -
On Sunday morning, Ginger, Alex, Sophie and I hiked eight miles on the Shortoff Mountain Trail along with a section of the Mountain To Sea Trail in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area in Pisgah National Forest. The weather was perfect, the views were amazing and the company was pretty good 😂
“Grand Canyon of the East” -
Shortoff Mountain is a beautiful yet uneven and rugged trail that provides breathtaking views of Lake James and the "Grand Canyon of the East" or Linville Gorge. The Linville Gorge Wilderness area is one of the few designated wilderness areas in the country and is considered to be a backcountry trail with limited maintenance. Rock cliff overlooks are abundant, offering ample opportunities for photographs and places to sit back, relax, catch your breath and relish your surroundings.
Switchbacks, Forest Fires, and Exposure -
Shortoff Mountain Trail raises your heart rate almost from the very start, beginning with a moderate climb before quickly becoming steep and somewhat strenuous leading to a series of switchbacks. As mentioned above, however, there are several rock outcroppings where you can rest and soak up the spectacular views of Lake James, with the views only getting more breathtaking the higher up you go. And although Shortoff Mountain is not the highest mountain in North Carolina in elevation at 2,883 ft. (extra credit if you can name highest in NC) the stunning views are some of the best you will find in all of the state. Intriguingly, one reason for the such gorgeous views is because of several recent forest fires, with three on Shortoff Mountain since 2002 and most recent one in 2017. The charred stumps, branches and trees along the path combined with the lively new forest, underbrush and wildflower growth provides interest and is truly a unique experience. (It’s Mt. Mitchell at 6684 ft. BTW)
The fires also played a role in the first two miles of the trail being mostly exposed, meaning you will be hiking in the direct sun with little cover, necessitating extra water and sunscreen on your hike. The trail eventually flattens out, with most of the elevation gain early, so you can enjoy a stroll alternating between lush forest, seared earth, and multiple rock outcrops to view the beautiful east rim of the rugged gorge. Note that there is not a clear end to the trail, and we continued hiking on the Mountain to Sea trail, turning around after roughly four miles.
Wrap It Up -
The Shortoff Mountain Trail offers something for everyone and I would highly recommend it for all levels of hikers. There are plenty of stops along the way for those that need a break, and the spectacular views are worth the effort. And as mentioned above, since the Linville Gorge Wilderness area is a backcountry trail with limited maintenance, the trail is very uneven in spots and can be lined with hidden prickly thorn vines. I tripped numerous times on jagged rocks and my lower legs in places look like I lost a fight with a weedwacker. Most of the time I tripped or was pricked, however, was because I was looking elsewhere, admiring my surroundings and not focusing on where I was stepping. Don’t let this discourage you, the trail is very safe, just be prepared to laugh at yourself and others as you stub a toe (or two) or utter a thorn inspired yelp (no profanity of course) while gawking at the scenery. Also note that although some of the leaves were beginning to change colors on our visit, the optimal “Peak Season” for fall color begins around mid-October.
The Rest Of The Story -
I was reminded of several things while hiking the Shortoff Trail. The first reminder, and definitely cliche but true, was that beauty can arise out of ashes. Despite at least three forest fires in the last twenty years, Shortoff Trail is bustling with new life, growth and beauty. We all have “fires” in our lives, yet we must trust that we can and will recover and like the trail, not just survive but thrive again. The second reminder came to me after tripping for the fourteenth time while not paying attention to the path. I was reminded that is important to keep your focus on your task at hand, to not be distracted from your goals (squirrel!) no matter how furry, shiny or tempting those distractions may be. Definitely easier said than done in today’s hyper-connected world, but always a good goal to remember and strive for.
