Camping permit at Linville

Heard thru grapevine the rangers are issuing fines $150 for camping without permits. I am not clear on details, here is some info to call and get reservations. Website says the permits are only needed weekends and holidays. Nice lady on phone told me 2 nites 3 days only.

THE PERMIT SYSTEM -
Permits are required for camping only on weekends and holidays during the period May 1 through October 31. Permits will not be required during the period November 1 through April 30. Permits will not be required for visitors who do not stay overnight. Free permits may be obtained at the District Ranger's Office in Marion, North Carolina, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Walk-in permits, for the current week only, are available at the Linville Gorge Information Cabin, located on Kistler Memorial Highway. The cabin is open April-October, seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 pm. Reservations are taken on a first come, first serve basis, beginning the first working day of each previous month. For example, reservations for wilderness camping permits for the month of July will be accepted beginning the first working day of June, etc. And don't forget to get your pepermint treat!
For permits contact:
District Ranger-U.S. Forest Service
Route 1, Box 110-A
Nebo, NC 28761
(828) 652-2144

If I remember right, you only need these on the west side of Linville and not on the east side (road to Hawksbill, Table Rock, Shortoff...), I'm not sure about this though, so don't take my word for it.

I mean.. I dont want to be flamed but...most people in Linville do not have permits...

Camp responsibly, or camp down the road, you"ll probably be OK. Be especially responsible with fires. This was the advice I got on my last trip to Carolina.

If they had better hours or an online permitting system i could understand. But thats just silly to fine people. I've never even seen a ranger in linville over the last three years!

I hadn't worried about permits either, nor had I ever seen a ranger in several visits.
But 2 weeks ago an acquaintance told me a ranger was walking the trails checking permits. He had one but the intent was to enforce the rule. I can't be sure anyone else got checked or what penalty may have followed. Maybe they are trying to generate some revenue since all the government departments are stressed financially. I called for a permit and they are supposedly mailing it to me. I personally would have slept in my truck in the parking lot or used the roadside as less pleasant alternative if no permit was available. Maybe there are other options--does anyone know? Could just camp and hope for the best.

Yikes... in my experience they typically sell out of permits pretty early in the season (this was my experience last year). If you're planning on camping near the Table Rock parking lot, there's plenty of sites along the road that you can use with no worries about the permits.

I was under the impression the permits were mainly to keep track of traffic trends more than anything else. If you're camping a ways off the main MTS trail I can't imagine you would meet up with a ranger, but who knows, maybe there's an enthusiastic new ranger or something.

Rangers in Linville? Granted I spend most of my time on the south side, Shortoff normally. Rarely do I go north of Table, too many people.

I've never seen a ranger.

Secondly, I never knew you needed a permit to camp in a Wilderness area, what the hell? Are the rangers cracking down in Shining Rock, Middle-Prong, etc?

lol.

Linville Gorge Permit Regs

The permits are free, btw. This has been the same way forever. But in the 60 or so nights I have spent somewhere between Table Rock and Shortoff in the past dozen years, I have never once seen a ranger, and I have never bothered with a permit. If this is true, it'll catch quite a few people off guard.

In the 20 or so years I've been going there I've never heard of any such thing. Where was your friend camped? Shortoff? Table Rock? What trails was this ranger walking? Mountain to Sea? Linville River? Sounds kinda vague to me. Sounds like one of those southern scare 'em away styled myths, lol.

Sorry info is vague. I'll try to get specifics. Ranger activity may have been a one time thing. DON'T avoid the gorge it's an amazing place for all activities including climbing, camping, hiking, bouldering even fishing. Now is an ideal time to visit. I'll be there next weekend. Ill scope out the ranger situation and try to post update

I have been backpacking Linville Gorge since the 70's and there has always been permits,this is nothing new, (One of the reasons I go during winter months, with a lot less people!) 

Weekends and holidays only during spring, summer, and into fall if I recall correctly. This is only for LGW designated areas. Table Rock is not included in that area. Camps along the old highway on the west side of the gorge are not in this area, however, if you are not on the highway camping and are in the gorge, (rock Jock, lost, LG trial) then you need one.  You are also only allowed to camp in lgw for no more than 2 nights. 

They do enforce permits when applicable. There is only one ranger for Linville. There were two, but one was shot and killed in 2014. Camp outside the wilderness area if you're concerned about it.

If I understand this correclty you have to go make an appearance to get a free permit (and there's an unlimited number of them available).

What the hell is the point?  Other than exerting control simply because they can?

Stagg54 Taggart wrote: If I understand this correclty you have to go make an appearance to get a free permit (and there's an unlimited number of them available).

What the hell is the point?  Other than exerting control simply because they can?

My understanding is you only need a permit for wilderness areas. At least the last time we talked to a ranger in the spring when we were looking at going down to wonderland and camping that is what we were told and it is mostly to try to prevent damage to these areas. You don't need one for table rock but do if you camp anywhere outside of the table rock campground area (so if you hike down towards the amphitheater and camp on the side of the trail etc).

If they have decided to change it that will really be annoying.

This image shows where you need a permit to camp. The table rock campground is just on the border with the area and I guess they could change where they consider it is located. Table rock the peak and all the climbing routes are not in Linville Gorge Wilderness area btw. The wilderness area is only considered the gorge so maybe just make sure to camp on the east side of the trail where it starts going down hill the opposite side of the gorge and you can just argue with the ranger that you aren't in the wilderness.

Stagg54 Taggart wrote: If I understand this correclty you have to go make an appearance to get a free permit (and there's an unlimited number of them available).

What the hell is the point?  Other than exerting control simply because they can?

They are limited. I've learned this. In fact, some times you need to get them a month in advanced or you'll be out of luck. 

The Gorge is a Wilderness, while at the same time, it has become increasingly popular. The permit system applies during peak visitor times and is intended to cap the number of campers to 1) reduce  the negative impact of many visitors on the Wilderness 2) try and maintain the "Wilderness feel" for those who visit. During non-peak times a permit is not required. Places like Tablerock will be swarming with summer camp kids every day, during the summer, so don't bother. Do yourself a favor, visit during the winter, on a weekday (no permit required), and have the entire east rim to yourself.  I did the Gorge Loop on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, summer 2017, and there were very few people...permit, I didn't get one. Forest Service Ranger? On the Trail? In the Wild? Do they exist? I have never seen one.