Friends in Linville Falls

Blue Ridge Parkway is less than .7 tenths of a mile from Banks Creek Barn.  A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special.

The Linville Gorge Wilderness, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, is part of the Pisgah National Forest. The gorge is formed by the Jonas Ridge on the east and Linville Mountain on the west and is bisected by the Linville River which drops 2,000 feet into the valleys below. The terrain is steep and rugged with numerous rock formations.

The Linville River flows from its headwaters high on the steep slopes of Grandfather Mountain and cascades through two falls as it begins a nearly 2,000 foot descent through this rugged and spectacularly beautiful gorge. Known by the Cherokee as "the river of many cliffs," Linville Gorge was the nation's first officially designated wilderness area. Towering hemlocks, dense stands of rhododendron, and native wildflowers grow along the trails that begin at the visitor center and encircle the falls.

Located at the southern gateway to western NC's High Country region, Linville Caverns is an ideal destination for visitors of all ages.  The beauty of our mountains is echoed within Humpback Mountain and visitors are invited to explore the splendor and wonders nature created "inside a mountain".

Welcome to the Orchard at Altapass, one of the most visited locations on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Orchard is a non-profit organization, and for over a quarter-century.

Grandfather Mountain is a place of amazing biodiversity and scenic beauty that towers 5,946 feet above northwest North Carolina. A part of the United Nations’ Southern Appalachian Biosphere Reserve, the mountain is estimated to be 300 million years old — with certain rock formations dating back 1.2 billion years.