Camp on Shortoff Mountain in the Linville Gorge

Shayne MacKinnon

Camp on Shortoff Mountain in the Linville Gorge

02/06/18

We are residents of the community at Shortoff Mountain and Wolf Pit has become almost impassable due to lack of maintenance. We are gathering this petition to submit to various government agencies in hopes of getting regular maintenance to the road for everyone. https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/petition-to-repair-and-maintain-wolf-pit-road?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_thank_you

5.0

Jay Bowser

Camp on Shortoff Mountain in the Linville Gorge

01/14/18

Decided to try camping in the middle of January while a winter storm was approaching, and discovered Shortoff while growing the Outbound app- it looked like a perfect fit! Our group started out the hike in the middle of a rainstorm, and hiked an hour and 15 minutes until we found a prime campsite on the ridge, with great trees for hammocks, flat spots for tents, and even a small “cave” to build a fire in away from the rain and wind. After we got camp set up, the rain and wind died down, and we had an amazing evening around the fire while the temperatures dropped from 60° all the way down to 24°. Warning! The winds here are no joke! Check the weather before you go out- and if there’s supposed to be winds, a hammock might be a bad idea. I was definitely wishing I was in a good tent instead of an exposed hammock. Even with the cold temperatures and the rain, Shortoff was an amazing experience and we will definitely be back when the weather is a little nicer!

5.0

Joshua Kent

Camp on Shortoff Mountain in the Linville Gorge

09/23/17

Did this trip last night and Im already planning my second one back. absolutely beautiful

5.0

Dave Thomas

Camp on Shortoff Mountain in the Linville Gorge

04/05/16

The "road" in is an unmarked, one lane, gravel ordeal so potholed it will make your car rock like it's in a Jeep commercial. Follow it all the way to the end (past the rusted "no motor vehicles beyond this point" sign if you take your eyes off the road to spot it on a tree) where you'll find a cul-de-sac and large signpost marking the trail head. The hike up is quite exposed to the sun but affords great views of Lake James below. As you near the top, the path rounds the rim of the gorge, revealing a network of cliffs. Visiting out of season offers the convenience of no permits, but the cliffs look best when contrasted against fully green trees. Prime campsites abound along the ridge, but the best (read: "most exposed") is about 2.5-3 miles or <1 hour up. Just past a pond, an unmarked fork breaks off perpendicular to the left. Follow this to the edge for a wide open spot with a perfect view of Table Rock Mountain. Be aware though, the wind along the gorge rim can kick up instantly and with alarming force (gusting 30+mph the night we stayed). Use the heavy fireplace rocks to weigh down your tent stakes or choose a more protected site if you'd rather not lay wake all night wondering if the tent poles will snap. Arriving for sunset behind the opposite rim is best and avoids making the exposed ascent in direct sunlight. Bear encounters are possible (if less likely than in the Smokies), so practice proper food protocol. Finally, trails in the Gorge Wilderness area are mostly unmarked, so take extra care and a map.

5.0