The Linville River is a river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

 in western North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

. The river begins in the slopes of Peak Mountain

Peak Mountain (North Carolina)

Peak Mountain is a mountain in the North Carolina High Country, near the town of Seven Devils. It is wholly in the Pisgah National Forest. Its elevation reaches ....

, Sugar Mountain

Sugar Mountain (North Carolina)

Sugar Mountain is a mountain in the North Carolina High Country and wholly in the Pisgah National Forest. Its elevation reaches 5,236 feet and is split along the Eastern Continental Divide, generating feeder streams for the Linville, Elk, and North Toe rivers...

 and Flattop Mountain

Flattop Mountain (North Carolina)

Flattop Mountain is a mountain in the North Carolina High Country, at the village of Sugar Mountain. It is wholly in the Pisgah National Forest. Its elevation reaches...

, in the Linville Gap (area also known as Tynecastle). As it goes south through Avery County, it passes through the communities of Grandfather

Grandfather, North Carolina

Grandfather is a village in Avery County, North Carolina, United States; named after Grandfather Mountain. The village is a fully gated community within Grandfather Golf and Country Club, located along NC 105...

, Linville

Linville, North Carolina

Linville is a community centered just south of the US 221 and NC 105 intersection in Avery County, North Carolina. The community -- at times known as Clay or Porcelain -- was founded in 1883 and designed by Samuel T. Kelsey of Kansas, it was named for William and John Linville, who were killed by...

, Pineola

Pineola, North Carolina

Pineola is an unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina; generally spanning out in a three mile radius from the intersection of US highway US 221 and NC 181. The area was originally known as "Saginaw" until the early 20th century....

, Crossnore

Crossnore, North Carolina

Crossnore is a town in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 242 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Crossnore is located at ....

 and finally at Linville Falls

Linville Falls, North Carolina

Linville Falls is an unincorporated community at the junction of Avery, Burke, and McDowell counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The community is named after Linville Falls, a nearby waterfall in the Linville Gorge Wilderness.- Attractions :...

. After entering Burke County at the community of Linville Falls, the river becomes the centerpiece of the Linville Falls

Linville Falls

Linville Falls is a waterfall located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in the United States. The falls move in several distinct steps, beginning in a twin set of upper falls, moving down a small gorge, and finally culminating in a high-volume drop. It is named for the Linville...

 and the Linville Gorge, an area referred to as "the Grand Canyon of North Carolina." After approximately 30 miles (48km), the river ends at Lake James

Lake James

Lake James is a large reservoir in the mountains of Western North Carolina which straddles the border between Burke and McDowell Counties. It is named for tobacco tycoon and benefactor of Duke University, James Buchanan Duke. The lake lies behind a series of 4 earthen dams, and was created by...

 and the Catawba River

Catawba River

The Catawba River is a tributary of the Wateree River in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river is approximately 220 miles long...

; the original confluence with the Catawba River has been flooded by the creation of the reservoir in 1923.

In 1975, North Carolina designated 13 miles of the river as Linville State Natural River, including it in the state's Natural and Scenic Rivers System.