Blue Ridge Park way - Massanutten Resort

Linville River Cottage - MP 317.4. North on US 221 - 3 miles, on
Linville River. Full kitchen, washer & dryer, Sat TV w/DVR, fireplace.
Sleeps four. www.LinvilleRiverCottage.com. (828) 733-4984.
Linville Falls Lodge & Cottages - MP 317.4, US 221S 1 mile to Rt.
183, left. Restaurant (ABC permit), Walk to falls & gorge.
www.linvillefallslodge.com (800) 634-4421.
Linville Falls Trailer Lodge & Campground - Milepost 317, left
(south) on US 221, 500 ft. Beautifully shaded, full hookup sites.
Separate wooded tent area. Cabin, trailer rental. Hot showers, playground,
laundry. May 1-Nov. 1. www.linvillefalls.com
(828) 765-2681.
Parkview Cabin - Romantic getaway two bedroom cabin with
fireplace, & Jacuzzi. Full kitchen. Private mountain location. Wrap
around deck with scenic views. (828) 765-4787.
Parkview Lodge - Milepost 316.4, 500 ft. south of Parkway on US
221. Private guest rooms, 1 bedroom suite, & secluded cabins available.
TV, swimming pool, crafts, wine & beer shop. Free breakfast
with guest room. Open all year. www.parkviewlodge.com.
(828) 765-4787.
320.7
62
Chestoa View offers an unusually fine view from
one of the many vertical cliffs on Humpback
Mountain.
Bear Den Campground - Blue Ridge Parkway @ MP 324.8. 400
acres, 144 sites. Tents to RV’s. Campin’ cabins. Apr-Oct 31. 600
Bear Den Mtn. Rd., Spruce Pine, NC 28777. www.bear-den.com
(828) 765-2888.
Creek Side Cabins - Blue Ridge Pkwy MP 324.8. Fully furnished
with all amenities including Jacuzzi, fireplace. Cabins for 2-10
guests. Open yr. round. www.bear-den.com (828) 765-2888.
Chestoa View
Milepost 316
LINVILLE
FALLS
The colonial botanist Mark Catesby observed, described, and
sketched the natural world of the Blue Ridge for seven years in
the eighteenth century. His particular interest was the extensive
network of streams and rivers arising along the mountains and
gathering volume and speed as they descended to the coastal plain
and beyond.
“The larger rivers in Carolina and Virginia,” he wrote, “have
their sources in the Appalachian Mountains, generally springing
from rocks, and forming cascades and waterfalls… uniting into
single streams… innumerable brooks and rivulets, all which
contribute to form and supply the large rivers.” Here at Linville
Falls, Catesby’s descriptions become real for the Parkway visitor.
The Linville River flows from its beginning point high on the
steep slopes of Grandfather Mountain and cascades through two
falls as it begins a nearly 2,000 foot descent through a rugged
and spectacularly beautiful gorge. The Cherokee knew this river as
“Eeseeoh” or “river of cliffs,” and a hike into the gorge leaves no
doubt about the origin of the name.
Towering hemlocks, dense stands of rhododendron and
native wildflowers grow along the trails that encircle the falls.
Little wonder this is one of the Parkway’s top destinations. And
what awaits the visitor who hikes down from the visitor center
at Linville? A forested gorge of virgin timber stands as pristine
and primitive as in the days when only Native Americans called
this place home. The aquatic and forest ecology and the unique
geological stories told here make a visit special.
In the early days of Parkway planning, under the shade of a
hemlock tree above the falls, philanthropist John D. Rockefeller was
treated to a fine picnic lunch and convinced of the necessity of
protecting this piece of Appalachian scenery. The lunch was spread
out within earshot of sawmills that had already begun timbering
the area. After some months of negotiations, Mr. Rockefeller
agreed to “pick up the tab” for the Linville Falls property, ensuring
protection for Parkway visitors today.
We may not immediately think of the Blue Ridge Parkway as a
park rich in water resources. But from Native Americans to colonial
botanists and 21st century tourists, the waterways and streams of
the Blue Ridge have played a vital role in the overall ecology and
unsurpassed beauty of our region. The Blue Ridge Parkway, like all
national parks, is set aside to protect these special parts of our
world.