View of Linville Gorge from Hawksbill Mountain
There are three distinct rhododendron species native to the mountains of North Carolina, rhododendron minus, which is divided by varieties minus and carolinium, though both are called Carolina rhododendron, Catawba rhododendron, and rosebay rhododendron, each blooming at different times of the year. Linville Gorge is one place in these mountains where the rare pink Carolina rhododendron doesn’t seem so rare. Spectacular views aren’t so rare either.
The view here is looking south through the gorge from near the tip end of the “bill” at the top of Hawksbill Mountain. Imposing Table Rock, another well-known denizen of the gorge, is seen just to the left here. Linville River divides the gorge some 1,400 feet (427 meters) below. The gorge is a true wilderness, and it is largely due to that fact that so few throughout history have bothered to homestead it. In some places, the only evidence that anyone ever lived here are daffodils that were first planted long ago. It is home, however, to squirrels, chipmunks, bats, fox, coyote, deer, bear, more than 250 species of native and migrating birds, lizards and snakes, including the most oft seen timber rattler… watch your step around here.
View of Linville Gorge from Hawksbill Mountain
There are three distinct rhododendron species native to the mountains of North Carolina, rhododendron minus, which is divided by varieties minus and carolinium, though both are called Carolina rhododendron, Catawba rhododendron, and rosebay rhododendron, each blooming at different times of the year. Linville Gorge is one place in these mountains where the rare pink Carolina rhododendron doesn’t seem so rare. Spectacular views aren’t so rare either.
The view here is looking south through the gorge from near the tip end of the “bill” at the top of Hawksbill Mountain. Imposing Table Rock, another well-known denizen of the gorge, is seen just to the left here. Linville River divides the gorge some 1,400 feet (427 meters) below. The gorge is a true wilderness, and it is largely due to that fact that so few throughout history have bothered to homestead it. In some places, the only evidence that anyone ever lived here are daffodils that were first planted long ago. It is home, however, to squirrels, chipmunks, bats, fox, coyote, deer, bear, more than 250 species of native and migrating birds, lizards and snakes, including the most oft seen timber rattler… watch your step around here.