Accessibility – Moderate
Height: 50′
Distance – 4.1 (out and back)
Beauty – 6
Photo rating – 5
Solitude – 5
GPS Info: LAT 35.90055 LONG -81.89813
Last updated – 12-26-2024
Home Alphabetical Listing Numerical Listing Location Listing Old NC105
Where to park: The Conley Cove Trailhead is located on Old NC105 just over 6 miles from NC183 and just over 10 miles from NC126. The trailhead GPS is: 35.89011, -81.90605. Old NC105 can be in pretty rough shape depending on how long it has been since the last grading and how much rain there has been.
The hike: The Conley Cove Trail departs from the right side of the road is facing toward NC183. Through a succession of switchbacks, the trail snakes it’s way from the parking area down to the river where it meets the Linville Gorge trail at a T intersection. It takes the trail 1.3 miles to reach the river and along the way it descended 1100 feet, meaning it’s going to be a long, uphill slog back to the car. Make a left onto the Linville Gorge Trail and follow it upstream for 0.7 miles. Cathedral Falls is on the other side of the Linville River from the trail. Depending on water level, it can be possible to cross, but I haven’t tried it so I can’t speak to the viability of crossing or where the best place might be. The view from river right is pretty good, and getting closer isn’t going to make it any easier to photograph.
