Explore Shortoff Mountain

Morganton, North Carolina

Description

One of the most iconic places in Linville Gorge. For a relatively short hike the payoff is amazing. You can explore the cliffs at the top for hours.4 miles roundtrippretty steep elevation gain

After driving 2.4 miles on a fairly sketchy one lane road, you will come to the "parking area" for short. There are no real designated spots so you will have to get creative. The trailhead should be visible at the parking area. After hiking roughly a quarter of a mile you will come to a wooden sign that says "Shortoff". This is where it really starts to get steep. You will gain a tremendous amount of elevation in about a mile. You can look back at Lake James and the parking lot to see your progress, if you need encouragement. After completing the really steep mile, it is essentially flat from here on out. As you walk through the woods, there are plenty of locations available for you to pitch your tent for the night, it is up to you.

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Backpacking

Hiking

Scenic

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