There’s nowhere I’d rather be in the fall than where the leaves are changing colors, and one of the most beautiful color shows I’ve ever seen is in Burke County, North Carolina.
I happened to visit Morganton and the Linville Gorge area on a press trip at peak leaf-peeping time last October and it was awe-inspiring.
Best Ways to Experience Fall Colors in Burke County NC
Tandem Hang Gliding in the Foothills
After successfully tackling dune hang gliding in the Outer Banks, I was psyched to try hang gliding in the foothills of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It was an experience too good to pass up! I arrived at Thermal Valley Hang Gliding on a beautiful day and weather conditions were perfect for flight.
At Thermal Valley Hang Gliding, all you have to do is relax and enjoy the view. You’ll ride tandem with an USHPA certified aero-tow tandem hang glider instructor with 28 years of experience and a huge personality. Lying tummy down in a harness, you’re free and encouraged to fly like Superman as you ride the thermal waves and soar through the air for about 9-14 minutes.
The instructor will teach you how to turn the glider if you’d like, or just relax and enjoy the long views to Grandfather Mountain, Hawk’s Bill and Table Rock.
Another huge perk to hang gliding at Thermal Valley is that you don’t have to land on your feet. The gliders are set up with wheels so you roll in for a landing!
It was an exhilarating ride and I highly recommend it!
Linville Falls Hike
Burke County’s Linville Falls is the most famous waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains because it’s right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. (Take Spur Road at Mile Post 316 to the Visitors Center.) Visitors can choose from several trail options to hike to Linville Falls; the main trails are Erwin’s View, Linville Gorge and Plunge Basin.
We took the Erwin’s View Trail to Erwin’s View Overlook, a moderate .8 mile hike.
From the visitor’s center, we crossed a bridge over the Linville River and could already see magnificent fall colors!
After winding through a beautiful old-growth hemlock forest, we reached the overlook and Linville Gorge was ablaze with color.
What a view from 3,330 feet up!
With fall colors at their absolute peak in Burke County NC, it was a magnificent hike and the vibrant hues of Autumn were spectacular beyond belief.
If you want to get close to the thundering water and you’re up for a more challenging hike, take the Linville Gorge Trail from the visitors center as it takes you down into the gorge and to the base of the waterfall.
If you’re driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, I highly recommend making a pitstop to hike to Linville Falls.
Table Rock Hike
I’d been warned that our 2-mile round-trip hike to the summit of Table Rock (3,930 feet) would be the most strenuous hike we’d make on our press trip while visiting Burke County.
The distinctive rock formation appears flat from a distance but it’s actually a rocky ridge top and a popular spot for rock climbers.
The trail was rated as moderate, but I’d categorize it as moderate-strenuous. It was a tough hike … and I had to stop to catch my breath, drink some water and let my muscles rest more than a few times along the relentlessly steep and rocky climb. The elevation gain was intense and the trail was uneven and full of rock steps, roots and boulders. In several areas, a bit of rock scrambling was necessary.
But, it was worth it! SO worth it.
The fall foliage views along the ridge trail were magnificent, making the ascent more gratifying!
When you reach the summit, you’ll enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view you’ll never forget.
Tip: When you get to the top, use the PeakFinder app to help you spot the Chimneys, Grandfather Mountain, Sugar Mountain and Hawksbill. It works without internet!
Recommended for this hike:
Wear layers, shoes with good traction, bring plenty of water and use a good hiking stick.
Look for the Brown Mountain Lights at Brown Mountain Overlook
A series of unexplainable ghostly lights have been seen intermittently for hundreds of years in the area around Brown Mountain and people come to Burke County from all over in the hopes of spotting them.
The best viewing location is at the Brown Mountain Overlook (Highway 181 between mile markers 20 and 21) in the evening hours, but the lights have been spotted from other vantage points as well. Maybe you’ll be lucky and catch a glimpse of this unexplained phenomenon. (Many songs and books have been written about it.)
Not into the unexplainable? The Brown Mountain Overlook is also just a beautiful place to stop during the day. Mountain views never get old.
Take the Fonta Flora State Trail Walk
Burke County’s new Fonta Flora State Trail is the perfect way to spend a couple of hours outdoors if you’re looking for less of a hike and more of a nature stroll.
Open year-round, the natural surface trail is mostly level with a few gentle grades and offers hikers and bikers stunning views of Lake James.
The well-cut trail wanders through the woods so keep an eye out for birds, plants and wildlife.
I loved how mushrooms were growing up the curving branches of the footbridges.
The trail eventually approaches the shores of Lake James and the scene looked especially beautiful with the Autumn backdrop of red, gold and russet leaves.
But the best view was yet to come. Breathtaking!
The completed section of the Fonta Flora State Trail we hiked is just a small portion of a long-term 100-mile plan to connect Morganton to Asheville.
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For more info on the area, visit discoverburkecounty.com.
Comments & Reviews
The pictures of the foliage and trails look so awesome and I wish i was on that hike. I need to go to NC some day to see that nature up close.
Oh my gosh, I need to go here. I just LOVE fall colors so much. These photos are incredible. Texas doesn’t have as many fall colors, which makes me sad.
Wow-what a place to explore and that view from all the way up just WOAH. I bet getting to see everything from a hang glider is just incredible as well. Not sure I would be brave enough though.
This looks like a wonderful experience. I can’t wait to plan a trip to North Carolina.
A good walk through the woods during the Fall sounds amazing. I would love to experience the Fall colors from the air via hang gliding sounds extremely fun!
STUNNING!!! I have got to visit North Carolina. I was in Asheville once for a quick conference, but that’s it. Look at that foliage. Amazing. Also I can’t believe you tandem hang glided. I have to do that. I am blown away by this. It is like my dream adventure.
Fall is my favorite season but I won’t lie – this post makes me super sad because the next season coming out way is Spring and I HATE Spring… And don’t even get me started about summer, lol!
What beautiful foliage and scenery! This looks like an awesome area to explore. My friend just moved to NC, and we will have to check out these places when we go to visit her.
Wow! It looks like you had an amazing trip! I would like to hang glide at least once. It looks like a lot of fun!
I love fall colors! This certainly does look like an excellent way to experience Burke County, NC fall colors 🙂
The Tandem Hang Gliding in the Foothills looks sooo exciting and fun! But I will definitely go with the Table Rock Hike. The view is so stunning and really jaw-dropping!
Wow. What a beautiful place to see! It’s so worth it.
That sure sounds like a lot of fun. I would love to see this in person. What a beautiful place to visit.
Wow, these are some amazing photos. It looks like so much fun too. I absolutely love going out in nature and capturing photos.
Wow this part of NC is so beautiful. I would love to visit this area one day. My family and I were actually thinking of visiting NC next summer.
Burke Country’s fall color looks picturesque and fresh. Your post inspires me to visit someday.
Looks like a great adventures you had there. I can say it’s a perfect recommendation of outdoor activities looks so much fun!
Beautiful it is like nature is painting its canvas. Here is in Texas you can’t experience this. Good hike is always fun. Look like the gliding is little adventurous too.
The hang gliding sounds fun! I don’t think I can do it though 🙁 I really love fall colors, so pretty.
That hike is so beautiful. Send some of those colors my way. It’s so grey and dead here. Even when it snows, it’s just blah!