Linville Gorge - Babel Tower-Sandy Flats Loop, NC (6-21-06) - dwhike

Babel Tower

One of the most ruggedly beautiful hikes I've ever been on. I descended via the Babel Tower Trail then followed the Linville Gorge Trail downriver to the Sandy Flats Trail. From there I made my 1200' climb out of the gorge...

Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.907309, -81.911145

Route Type: Loop Difficulty: EXTREME

Hike Length: ~9.0 miles Hike Duration: 5:15

Trailhead Temp: 65'F Trail Traffic: 5-10 people

Min. Elevation: 2,150' Max. Elevation: 3,800'

Total Vertical Gain: 2,100' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 233'

Trails Used (blaze color): Babel Tower (unblazed), Linville Gorge (unblazed), Sandy Flats (unblazed, no longer exists)

Linville Gorge - Babel Tower-Sandy Flats Loop, NC (6-21-06)

Babel Tower-Sandy Flats Loop Route Map
My approximate route...
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.