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A steep trail that leads from Memorial Highway directly to the Linville Gorge Trail.


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Map Key

1.1

Miles

1.8

KM

Point to Point

3,216' 980 m

High

1,548' 472 m

Low

0' 0 m

Up

1,668' 508 m

Down

28%

Avg Grade (16°)

43%

Max Grade (23°)

Dogs Off-leash

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Hunting and fishing are allowed, but permits are required. Camping is permitted in the gorge, but permits are required from May 1 through October 31.

Description

The Pinch-In is a trail that leads from the Pinch-In parking area off of Memorial Highway (State Road 1238) to the Linville Gorge Trail, which is part of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Loop. Trailhead parking is available off of the highway. The Pinch-In trail is perhaps the most popular trail to access the Linville Gorge Wilderness Loop from the western side.

It's a very steep route that drops almost 1,800 feet in only a mile and a half. About half a mile into the trail, hikers can climb a large rock above the trail that offers a nice view of the surrounding area. Shortly afterwards, the trail will continue to drop until it reaches Linville Gorge Trail.

Flora & Fauna

Local flora - rhododendron, sand mrtyle, red chokeberry, azalea, turkey beard, bristly locust, yellow root, silverbell, orchids, ninebark, and wild indigo.

Local fauna - white-tail deer, black bears, squirrel, raccoon, grouse, turkey, vultures, owls, hawks, as well as brown and rainbow trout. There are also copperheads and timber rattlesnakes.

Contacts

Shared By:

Max Willner

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 18 votes

#396

Overall
  4.5 from 18 votes
5 Star
61%
4 Star
28%
3 Star
11%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#396

Overall
24 Views Last Month
5,318 Since Dec 3, 2015
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
0%
0%
53%
47%

Photos

Grand view
Dec 30, 2019 near Spruce…, NC
Sunrise view of Hawksbill from an unnamed campsite before the steep descent.
Oct 6, 2021 near Spruce…, NC
View
Dec 30, 2019 near Spruce…, NC
Linville Gorge.
Jan 4, 2016 near Spruce…, NC

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Apr 16, 2021
Mikaela Rae
Drink enough water!! Great views!!! Love this trail. We have done this to Conley Cove to Rock Jock and the other way around. I prefer starting at R…
Jan 1, 2020
Michael Licata
Jan 5, 2019
Kevin Heimbrook
1.1mi
Apr 28, 2018
Sharon Gardner
Bruce, Wally,and Payton 3.2mi
Feb 18, 2018
Phil C
About 70 percent tree cover, but beautiful once it opens up and becomes rocky. 1.1mi — 2h 30m
Aug 2, 2016
Dylan Akers
Pinch In sucks But she will be conquered
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