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...

Kistler Memorial Highway

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

Babel Tower Trailhead

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.

Babel Tower Trail

As the trail started to drop into the gorge I started to get some views through the trees. This is looking north I believe.

Babel Tower Trail

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.

Babel Tower Trail

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.

Babel Tower Trail

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.

Babel Tower Trail

The Upper Gorge

Babel Tower

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.

Babel Tower

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.

Babel Tower

Linville Gorge

Babel Tower

The terrain looking north from Babel Tower is much more confusing. The Linville River carves its way back and forth around numerous ridges.

Babel Tower

The been-there-done-that shot at the top of Babel Tower. Tablerock Mt rises in the distance.

Linville Gorge Trail

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.

Linville Gorge Trail

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.

Linville Gorge Trail

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.

Linville Gorge Trail

A typical section of the Linville Gorge Trail north of the Babel Tower area.

Linville Gorge Trail

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.

Linville Gorge Trail

A closeup shot of Tablerock through the trees from the Linville Gorge Trail. About 1/2 mile south of Babel Tower.

Linville Gorge Trail

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.

Linville Gorge Trail

Sometimes, as seen here, house-sized boulders force the river around and under the rocks.

Linville Gorge Trail

Looking south from the same spot as the prevoius photo.

Linville Gorge Trail

Hawksbill Mountain rises almost 2000' above the Linville River in this shot from the Linville Gorge Trail.

Linville Gorge Trail

A hazy shot of Hawksbill almost 2000' above me. Shot from the Linville Gorge Trail not far from the Sandy Flats Trail junction.

Linville Gorge Trail

The same tree as in the previous photo just looking straight up. Amazing.

Linville Gorge-Sandy Flats Trail Junction

The Sandy Flats Trail meets the Linville Gorge Trail in this grove of enormous hemlocks. I thought I'd jump in the picture to give some scale.

Linville Gorge Trail

The Linville Gorge Trail makes an interesting crossing of this rock face about a mile north of the Sandy Flats Trail.

Linville Gorge Trail

I decided to have a good rest before tackling the Sandy Flats Trail. I wandered down to the river and relaxed on a nice rock and took in the scenery.

Sandy Flats Trail

In places the Sandy Flats Trail was barely discernible as a trail at all. I was about halfway up at this point.

Sandy Flats Trail

After a mile of relentless climbing and one final scramble up a 30' rock face I emerged to this panorama. It would have taken my breath away if I had any to spare:) Hawksbill rises across the gorge and the cliffs of Wisemans View are to the right.

Sandy Flats Trail

The Sandy Flats Trail is neither "sandy" or "flat." It is the most steep and rugged in the park climbing over 1200' in one mile. I quickly found out I wasn't as in shape as I thought I was.

Sandy Flats Trailhead

A shot of the Sandy Flats Trailhead along the Kistler Highway. I foud out later that the trail was closed and I could have been fined $5000 if caught on it!! I had seen no signs to this effect at either end of the trail, however. Just FYI.