Linville, NC

Waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway

These falls are a great day trip if you want to see a couple in one day.  They are pretty close together and less than 5 miles to all 3.

Crabtree Falls

    One of my favorite waterfalls in NC and I've gotten to go twice up to this point.  This is about a 3 mile loop, so if you really wanted, you could do the shorter side down and back up and shorten your hike a little.  Know that neither option is easy, but counterclockwise seems to be easier for most people.  If you bear to the right and go clockwise after you get on the trail, your decent is a little rocky and can be wet going down.  After arriving at the falls, the trail continues up the other side.  You hike up for a bit and then it levels off and is a really nice walk back to your car.  Make sure you use the picnic, campground for directions, otherwise your GPS may steer you wrong.

Linville Falls

    

    Unpopular opinion - this is not my favorite set of falls.  However, it is still definitely a must see because it is one of the most famous falls of the Blue Ridge, there is a lot of interesting geological features, they've got a great visitor center, facilities and it is a fairly easy walk to the first overlook. The reasons I don't love it is that I don't think you get a really good vantage point to truly be able to appreciate the falls for what they are.  Second reason is that it is always busy - try to go during the week if possible and not during the fall if you want to avoid crowds.  We also hiked up to one of the upper overlooks which gives you a great view of the gorge.   

Dugger Creek Falls 

    

    These falls are definitely not impressive, but they were fun to go see.  We went because it's a short, easy hike, about .3 of a mile from the visitor center at Linville Falls.  You might as well go see them while you are there.