Just past Morganton, North Carolina, is a stretch of remote woods called the Linville Gorge Wilderness. Situated past Lake James, you’d think the Linville Gorge Wilderness would be difficult to access. While it can be on foot, a road called Old NC 105 makes it possible for most people to view this hidden gem.
Old NC 105 stretches for about 13-14 miles south-to-north for the Lake James side and vice versa if you enter from Linville Falls. This gravel and dirt road takes you along the ridge overlooking the stunning Linville Gorge Wilderness. I recently took a trip to Old NC 105. You can see the beautiful views and adventurous hikes in my YouTube video below!
A Recap of What Old NC 105 Has to Offer
Assuming you have watched this video (if not, go watch!) I’ll recap what this area has to offer, plus the broader Linville Gorge Wilderness. Overall, Old NC 105 is a mix of remoteness, stunning views, and a shared enjoyment of the environment with our fellow explorers. In the video, I highlight multiple campgrounds with a full view of the Appalachian Mountains. Something you only get on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but with fewer people.
Also, while you might think that the old highway is a rugged, overlanding trail for true 4×4 vehicles, it really isn’t. You can see in the video it’s mostly a simple gravel road with some bumps. I try to show off my Nissan Frontier overlanding, but those are all offshoots of the main road. I saw sedans on the road; however, I recommend your vehicle have some ground clearance. Most SUVs could handle Old NC 105.
Most of the video shows off the main road of Old NC 105. I do show some scenery, such as Wiseman’s View, which you can see for the stunning views that it’s a beautiful place! My favorite part, however, was hiking down into the gorge to the Linville River. This was a little under a mile on the Linville Gorge Trail towards the northern part of the road. You could definitely see the damage from Hurricane Helene. The area seems to be making a full recovery, however.
Hopefully you can make a trip to Old NC 105! Remember to respect this area, as it sees a large volume of visitors, as many have discovered its beauty. There is a permit system to camp on Old NC 105 and the broader Linville Gorge Wilderness. This is for the weekends around the warmer months when people get out. The goal in mind is to limit overcrowding, from my understanding. You can find out more here from the Forest Service.
Leave a Reply