Linville Gorge - Babel Tower-Sandy Flats Loop (9.0 miles; d=13.20)
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Babel Tower-Sandy Flats Loop Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my hike around the Babel Tower-Sandy Flats Loop at Linville Gorge as depicted a la Google Earth...
Babel Tower-Sandy Flats Loop Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my hike around the Babel Tower-Sandy Flats Loop at Linville Gorge...
The Kistler Memorial Highway runs the length of the West Rim at Linville Gorge. I parked the car at the Sandy Flats trailhead and followed the road about a mile north to the Babel Tower Trail.
Babel Tower Trailhead
The trail started out wide and quite flat. It would get steeper but nowhere on the Babel Tower Trail is it excessive.
As the trail started to drop into the gorge I started to get some views through the trees. This is looking north I believe.
As I got farthur down the Babel Tower Trail the views became more numerous. This is a shot of Hawksbill and Tablerock to the south.
As you can see here the vegitation presses in pretty close. Later, on the Linville Gorge Trail, it would practically overgrow the trail in places.
After a short climb I emerged on top of Babel Tower. This shot is looking back up the West Rim that I had justy descended.
The Upper Gorge
Once at the base of the so-called Babel Tower I had to find a way to the top. This rock wall seemed manageable...kinda.
The stunning view south from the top of Babel Tower. Hawksbill Mt pokes its head above the flanks of Sitting Bear Mt to the left. Tablerock is straight down the gorge and the rocky Laurel Knob is to the right.
Linville Gorge
The terrain looking north from Babel Tower is much more confusing. The Linville River carves its way back and forth around numerous ridges.
The been-there-done-that shot at the top of Babel Tower. Tablerock Mt rises in the distance.
I decided to head north along the Linville Gorge Trail for a bit to explore. This is as nice the trail gets. Most of the way its overgrown and quite rugged.
I was amazed at the size of some of the trees in this part of the gorge. I kid you not, these Hemlocks were at least 4-feet in diameter!
Linville Gorge-Cabin Trail Junction
After only one wrong turn I soon arrived at the Cabin Trail junction. According to my guidebook the Cabin Trail is one of the most rugged trails in the gorge. I'll be saving it for another day. Here I turned around and headed back south.
Eariler I had taken a left here when, in fact, the trail simply heads off the edge of these rocks. It took about 15 minutes of cross-country travel to regain the path...about par for the course here in the gorge.
A typical section of the Linville Gorge Trail north of the Babel Tower area.
As I descended to the river just south of the Babel Tower area I was impressed by the cliffs across the gorge on Sitting Bear Mountain.
Linville Gorge-Babel Tower Trail Junction
As I crossed the Babel Tower Trail headed south I spotted this sign. I wondered why the forest service had left this sign when they have done such a good job of removing them elsewhere.
A closeup shot of Tablerock through the trees from the Linville Gorge Trail. About 1/2 mile south of Babel Tower.
Finally, about 3/4 of a mile from the Babel Tower area the Linville Gorge Trail drops close to the river. This is a shot upstream.
Guest
on January 8, 2012cliff across the gorge are midcliff point /Futuristic wall. Sitting bear mountain is not in this pic. USFS changed their policy and put in a few signs.