Linville Caverns
Linville Caverns is an attraction in North Carolina, at a modelled elevation of 673 m. Big Bald stands 1,613 m to the northwest, 8.2 miles off. The nearest named place is Mill Falls, a waterfall 0.8 miles away. Blue Ridge Parkway passes 1.0 miles off.
The story
Linville Caverns are privately owned active limestone caverns located in northern McDowell County, North Carolina, just south of the village of Linville Falls, on U.S. Highway 221. The caverns are open to the public year-round for guided tours. Linville Caverns have been open for tours since the late 1930s and remain the only show caverns in North Carolina. The caverns were discovered in 1822, by local fishermen and since that time have been of interest to locals and travelers alike. Half hour guided tours escort visitors through the caverns with information about cavern history, resident creatures, and the formations viewed along the way. Formed in a deposit of Shady Dolomite at the base of Humpback Mountain, Linville Caverns offer an environment for the public to explore the subterranean world of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors hear the lore surrounding the caverns, including the tale of the Civil War deserters who used the caverns as a hideout, as well as the geology of the stalactites, stalagmites, and other formations found on the tour route. In the fall and winter months, caverns visitors may be able to view the caverns' most popular residents, the tricolored bats and little brown bats. These insect-eating creatures hibernate in the caverns from late fall until early spring. White-nose syndrome, a disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, was discovered among the bats that roost in Linville Cavern during the winter months. While harmless to humans and domestic animals, the fungus is deadly to bats. The visitor center takes steps to mitigate the spread of the fungus by asking guests to step in a bleach solution that kills any fungus on the soles of their shoes.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q6555113, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
What the record says
- Built
- 1937
What to expect
- Operated by
- Linville Caverns Inc.
How to reach it
- 1.0 mi off the Blue Ridge Parkway, National
- 0.9 mi off the Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway
- 11.2 mi off the Little Parkway
- 16.4 mi off the Mission Crossing
Overlooks nearby
- Chestoa View Overlook · 1 mi
- Bear Den Overlook (MP 323.0) · 2 mi
- Hefner Gap Overlook · 2 mi
- Wiseman's View · 2 mi
Named places within 25 miles
- Mill Falls: 0.8 mi
- Brushy Ridge Falls: 1.2 mi
- English Falls: 1.3 mi
- Laurel Leap Falls: 1.8 mi
- Bear Den Falls: 1.9 mi
- Laurel Knob: 1.3 mi
- Green Mountain: 1.8 mi
- Humpback Mountain: 2.2 mi
- Honeycutt Mountain: 2.3 mi
- Little Table Rock Mountain: 2.5 mi
- Daniel Boone Wildlife Management Area: 4.0 mi
- Green Valley Community Center: 6.0 mi
- Crossnore Town Park: 7.2 mi
- Riverside Park: 7.2 mi
- Central (Pocket) Park: 7.3 mi
- Mosaic Mural: 7.2 mi
- Art & Frame Store: 7.3 mi
- The Market on Oak: 7.3 mi
- SPMS Billboard: 7.4 mi
- Fonta Flora Covered Bridge: 9.4 mi
- Daffodil Flats: 5.9 mi
- Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine: 7.0 mi
- Hide & Seek: 11.6 mi
- Wild Percussion: 11.6 mi
- Viewing Blind: 11.6 mi
- NC Mineral and Gem Festival: 7.4 mi
- Museum of North Carolina Minerals: 7.7 mi
- Wilson Creek Visitor Center: 10.3 mi
- Avery County Musuem: 11.6 mi
- Wilson Center for Nature Discovery: 13.1 mi
- Gillespie Gap: 7.8 mi
- Mortimer memorial: 11.1 mi
- Avery County Veterans Memorial: 11.6 mi
- Law Enforcement Memorial: 11.6 mi
- The McDowell's and The Carson's: 16.0 mi
- Raven Cliff: 6.9 mi
- Raven Cliffs: 8.5 mi
- Little Lost Cove Cliffs: 8.7 mi
- Big Lost Cove Cliffs: 8.9 mi
- Rattlesnake Cliffs: 10.2 mi
- Linville Falls Picnic Area: 4.0 mi
- Woods Walk: 12.9 mi
- Forrest Gump Picnic Area: 13.2 mi
- Cliffside Picnic Area: 13.3 mi
- Twin Springs Picnic Area: 16.2 mi
- Mitchell Giving Gardens: 7.4 mi
- Camp Celo Gardens: 15.5 mi
- Terrace garden: 16.6 mi
- Mountain Gardens: 16.6 mi
- Community Gardens: 21.8 mi
- Lost Cove Wilderness Study Area: 9.6 mi
- Peak Mountain Conservation Area: 16.6 mi
- Elk Valley Preserve: 17.5 mi
- Foscoe Wetland Conservation Area: 17.6 mi
- Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina: 18.4 mi
- Water Tree (Blackgum Springs): 6.3 mi
- Gully Pipe: 6.4 mi
- Shanty Springs: 14.9 mi
- Bear Wallow Spring: 15.4 mi
- Hemphill Spring: 23.7 mi
- Brown Mountain View: 5.6 mi
- Marion Rest Area - Westbound: 19.8 mi
- McDowell County Rest Area: 19.8 mi
- Marion Rest Area - Eastbound: 19.8 mi
- Watauga County US 221 Rest Area: 20.5 mi
- Riverside Park Beach Access: 7.2 mi
- Boat beach: 12.1 mi
- Swimming beach: 12.2 mi
- Mortimer: 10.9 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 9.0 miles of Linville Caverns. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bald | NW 305° | 1,613 m | 8.2 mi |
| Yellow Mountain | NW 305° | 1,613 m | 8.2 mi |
| Little Bald | WNW 300° | 1,510 m | 8.7 mi |
| Spear Tops | NW 317° | 1,481 m | 8.3 mi |
| White Rocks | NW 310° | 1,418 m | 8.6 mi |
| Burleson Bald | NW 306° | 1,414 m | 7.2 mi |
| The Lookoff | WNW 291° | 1,342 m | 8.4 mi |
| Humpback Mountain | NW 324° | 1,295 m | 2.2 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:32 | 19:06 | 19:40 |
| June solstice | 06:12 | 20:10 | 20:48 |
| September equinox | 07:16 | 18:53 | 19:26 |
| December solstice | 07:35 | 16:38 | 17:18 |
Local time (America/New_York).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 34 | 37 | 43 | 52 | 60 | 67 | 71 | 69 | 63 | 53 | 44 | 38 |
| Precip in | 4.5 | 3.5 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.6 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Spruce Pine 4 ENE, 4 mi away.
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOfficial siteOpenStreetMap element way/284118832
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