Linville Gorge

The Mountains to Sea Trail climbs the double-topped Dobson Knob on the southern edge of the Linville Gorge, and the Overmountain Victory Trail also crosses Dobson Knob, which provides a key corridor between Woods Mountain the Linville Gorge. Dobson Knob contains steep, rugged hollows threaded by wild creeks like the Black Fork and Yellow Fork of Paddy Creek. On the east side of Linville Gorge, extending protections to the Chimneys and Pinnacle areas would protect old-growth forests there. The Chimneys extension is near Shortoff Mountain and the Mountain to Sea Trail, and it would protect the views, creeks, and recreational opportunities there.