Linville Gorge Wilderness was named in remembrance of William Linville, who along with his son, was ambushed and scalped by Indians over 200 years ago. An act of Congress established it as a national wilderness area in 1964.

Linville Gorge is formed by the rushing whitewater rapids of the Linville River, which drops 2000 feet to the Catawba Valley. At the beginning of the 12-mile-long gorge is Linville Falls.