Hiking in Gorges State Park

Overview

This state park may as well be called "Gorgeous" State Park due to its unique collection of waterfalls, rugged river gorges, sheer rock cliffs and one of the greatest concentrations of rare and unique species in the eastern United States. It's located on the Blue Ridge Escarpment - in an area where elevations rises 2,000 feet in only four miles. Here, moisture is squeezed out of the atmosphere during a southerly flow, to create rainfall in excess of 80 inches per year. This is enough rain to qualify the unique environment as a temperate rain forest.

Hiking Trails

From the Grassy Ridge parking area, the Rainbow Falls trail leads down to the Horsepasture River and out of the park onto National Forest lands. This is now the legal, easiest, and best way to access the falls and the river. Several other falls can be found on the river too, including Turtleback and Drift Falls (above Rainbow Falls) and Stairstep and Windy Falls (below Rainbow Falls). Windy Falls is nearly impossible to reach, but the rest are all easy to see from the trail.

The Auger Hole trail is a long, multi-use trail (hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding) which leads down into one of the "gorges" for which the park is named. The Canebrake winds its way down to the Foothills Trail, a long-distance trail that lies in both North and South Carolina (part of which passes through the park). It provides access to Lake Jocassee and some backcountry campsites. The other trails in the park are currently closed, pending completion of construction activities.

This is only an overview of the hiking trails available. For details on each individual trail, visit the Grassy Ridge or Frozen Creek Trails pages.

Amenities

At this time, the Grassy Ridge access area on the West side of the park has been reopened, but construction is still underway. When finished, this main access area will including the building of a permanent park headquarters, campgrounds, a visitor center, and several more trail access areas. The Grassy Ridge trailhead parking area is already open, with signs and the new Rainbow Falls trail, which leads to the Horsepasture River. Ample parking and an informational kiosk are available at this parking area, but there are no facilities.

Three trails are available at the Frozen Creek Access on the East side of the Park as well.

History

Quoted from the State Park's official guide:
"On April 29, 1999, thanks to a unique partnership of industry, the environmental community and the state of North Carolina, 10,000 acres of the Jocassee Gorges in Transylvania County were placed in public ownership to be preserved for future generations of North Carolinians. The property was purchased by the state from Duke Energy Corporation, and the transaction created a 2,900-acre gameland managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and a 7,100-acre state park - North Carolina's newest state park and our first state park west of Asheville."

Places to Stay

Camping/Lodging

There is no developed camping within the park as of yet (this should be coming soon). However, backcountry campsites were available after a 5 mile hike at Ray Fisher Place (closed indefinitely due to construction and implementation of the park's Master Plan). Each had a picnic table, fire ring and lantern post as well as a pit toilet. It is unclear whether these campsites will reopen.

There are also a few primitive campsites still open and available near the Southern border of the park (at Lake Jocassee) along the Foothills trail.

Lodging is available in the nearby towns of Brevard, Lake Toxaway, Sapphire Valley, Cashiers, and Highlands.

Directions

To the Frozen Creek Access (East Side - Map Point B)

From downtown Brevard, it is 9.8 miles on US Hwy. 64 West to Frozen Creek Road - turn left. From Highlands, it is 28.7 miles on US Hwy. 64 East - turn right. The parking are is on the right after 3 miles on Frozen Creek Road.

To the main Grassy Ridge Access (West Side - Map Point C)

From downtown Brevard, it is just over 18 miles on US 64 West to the intersection with NC Hwy 281 South - turn left. From Highlands, it's just over 20 miles on US 64 East, thru Cashiers, to NC 281 South - turn right. Go 0.9 miles South on NC 281 from US 64 to the park entrance road on the left. It's about a mile to the main parking areas - a loop road to other parking areas will be constructed soon.