As it goes south through Avery County, it passes through the communities of Grandfather, Linville, Pineola, Crossnore and finally at Linville Falls. After entering Burke County at the community of Linville Falls, the river becomes the centerpiece of the Linville Falls and the Linville Gorge, an area referred to as "the Grand Canyon of North Carolina."
The river flows south through Avery County, passing through the villages of Grandfather, Linville, Pineola, Crossnore, and ending at Linville Falls. Once it enters Burke County at Linville Falls, the river becomes the main attraction in the Linville Falls and Linville Gorge area, which is nicknamed "the Grand Canyon of North Carolina."