Table Rock to Shortoff - One-Night Backpack Linville Gorge Wilderness

Join us for a one-night backpack along the rim of the scenic Linville Gorge. We’ll start at the Table Rock Trailhead (actually, at a gate 1.5 miles before the trailhead), hike through the unique Chimneys, and continue along the rocky rim of the Gorge until we reach our campspot on the southern end of Shortoff Mountain. On Sunday we’ll return via the same route.

The trail is moderately technical at times plus some slick rock surfaces, so I’d recommend hiking poles. We’ll try to keep a moderate pace of about 30-35 minutes a mile uphill and 25-30 min/mile on flat and downhill. We add in time for stops to catch our breath or to take in the views. Faster than that? No problem, just make sure you know where you’re going. Slower than that but want to come along? Make sure you’re able to navigate yourself and come along with us!

Hike Level – Intermediate -- typically hiked at 30-35 minutes/mile uphill & 25-30 mins/mile downhill

Itinerary:
Saturday, December 6, 2025 - We’ll meet at the Food Lion at 120 Bost Road in Morganton at 8:30 am and carpool together to our trailhead. We can't reach the Table Rock parking area this time of year. So we will park along the dirt road prior to where the pavement starts. (This adds 1.5 miles & 1,000' of climb on Saturday and is included in our 8-mile estimate.) From Food Lion in Google Maps type in “Table Rock Summit Trail, Old Table Rock Road, Morganton, NC.”

We’ll start our hike at the gate about 1.5 miles before the Table Rock Trailhead - (in the FarOut App MST Segment 4 mile marker 226.8) and hike to our campspot south of the peak of ShortOff Mountain at approximately mile marker 221.3. Our elevation for our winter camp will be 3,000’. Total for the day 8 miles, 1,700’ Accumulated Elevation Gain and 700’ loss.

Sunday, December 7, 2025 - We’ll return via the same route for 8 miles, 700’ AEGain and 1,700’ AELoss.

Water:
Water has been a challenge of late at Linville Gorge. In the past we’ve filtered water from the magical Water Tree (at MST milemarker 221.5 in FarOut App) and equally beautiful Dwellers Gulp (at MST mile marker 222.2) both near our camp. On September 29, 2025, at both of those trees, water was collecting in clean but still pools with very little active flow. There’s another source that we’ll pass on our way to camp but we’d have to carry water for a ways. All hikers will need to bring bottles/bladders able to hold enough water for dinner, breakfast and the hike out (2 liters? 3??) no matter from which source we’re able to collect water.

Disclaimers:

• Know your abilities. This is a moderate hike typically hiked at 30-35 minutes/mile uphill
• We do not wait at trail intersections. Be prepared by having a map (or map app) and studying the route. Each mile or two we tend to wait 3-5 minutes for folks to re-group, but we don't wait too much more than that. Be prepared to navigate yourself.
• Hike organizers are in no way responsible for you, your health, or safety. By attending this event you acknowledge that the organizers assume no liability for you or your gear.

You can find a description and .gpx track of our hike at Gaia Shortoff Mountain via Table Rock

Here you can find information from the US Forest Service on Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. [Info needed for future trips: Permits are required to camp in Linville Gorge on weekends and holidays May through October.] Our trip this time is in December, so no permit needed.

Here is a Linville Gorge Guide.

Please come along for the dramatic beauty.