The Linville River is a river in western North Carolina, United States. The river begins in the slopes of Peak Mountain, Sugar Mountain and Flattop Mountain, in the Linville Gap area (also known as Tynecastle). As it goes south through Avery County, it passes through the communities of Grandfather, Linville, Pineola, Crossnore and finally at Linville Falls. After entering Burke County at the community of Linville Falls, the river becomes the centerpiece of the Linville Falls and the Linville Gorge, an area referred to as "the Grand Canyon of North Carolina." After approximately 30 miles (48 km), the river ends at Lake James and the Catawba River; the original confluence with the Catawba River has been flooded by the creation of the reservoir in 1923.[dubiousdiscuss]

Linville River
Linville River
Linville River is located in North Carolina
Linville River
Location of the mouth of Linville River in North Carolina
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountiesAvery, Burke
Physical characteristics
SourceLinville Gap
 • locationSugar Mountain, North Carolina
 • coordinates36°07′23″N 81°50′44″W / 36.12306°N 81.84556°W / 36.12306; -81.84556[1]
 • elevation4,051 ft (1,235 m)
MouthCatawba River
 • location
Glen Alpine, North Carolina
 • coordinates
35°44′35″N 81°50′11″W / 35.74306°N 81.83639°W / 35.74306; -81.83639[1]
 • elevation
1,230 ft (370 m)[1]
Basin features
ProgressionLinville → CatawbaWatereeSanteeAtlantic Ocean
River systemCatawba River
Tributaries 
 • leftLittle Grassy Creek, Big Grassy Creek, Stacey Creek, Cow Branch, Buckwheat Branch, Canoe Branch, Camp Creek (North Carolina), Gulf Branch, Bull Branch, Chimney Branch, Cambric Branch, White Creek
 • rightLinville West Fork, Jenny Branch, Crossnore Creek, Bill White Creek, Golden Creek, Shooks Creek
WaterfallsLinville Falls

In 1975, North Carolina designated 13.0 miles (20.9 km) of the river as Linville State Natural River, including it in the state's Natural and Scenic Rivers System.[2][3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Linville River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. June 17, 1980. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "Size of the North Carolina State Parks System" (PDF). North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation. January 1, 2011. pp. 1–4. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 6, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  3. ^ "Directory of State Parks and Recreation Areas" (PDF). North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings. May 1, 2010. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 22, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2011.