![]() | GorgesFact Sheet |
Fact Sheet of Gorges State Park (SP) in North Carolina. Published by North Carolina State Parks.
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Gorges
State Park
976 Grassy Ridge Road
Sapphire, NC 28774
828-966-9099
gorges@ncparks.gov
GPS: 35.097, -82.9522
Activities
Location
Education and Events: Rangers hold regularly scheduled educational and
interpretative programs covering a variety of topics about Gorges State Park.
Programming is open to the public, special groups and schools. Contact
the park office to arrange learning opportunities for your group or class.
Visitor Center: The gold level LEED certified 7,100 square foot-building
opened in October 2012. Perched at 3,372 feet, it provides visitors with
spectacular views of the park. Featuring a large exhibit hall, auditorium,
classroom and observation decks, it is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Camping: Gorges State Park offers primitive camping in vastly
different natural environments. A favorite park for backpackers
who are looking to get away from the beaten trail, campers will
find solitude after the strenuous hike. Campsites are only available by
reservation, for a fee.
Picnicking: Picnic tables in the midst of the forest make Gorges
State Park a pleasant spot for lunch or dinner after an exhilarating
hike. Some picnic tables are wheelchair accessible. Visitors must
carry out what they bring into the park. Recycling stations are located
throughout the park.
Hiking: Offering rugged terrain that will challenge any outdoors
enthusiast, visitors who traverse the steep, backwoods trails of
Gorges State Park will be rewarded with views of dazzling waterfalls. However, some of the more secluded areas of the park are not
recommended for casual hiking. One of the park’s most popular pathways
is the Foothills Trail, which winds along the southern portion of the state
park and wraps around Lake Jocassee, where primitive campsites are available. The trailhead is located at the Frozen Creek access area in Rosman on
Frozen Creek Road. This area provides parking, picnic areas and trailheads.
Mountain biking and horseback riding: Horses and mountain
bikes are permitted on the Auger Hole Trail from the Frozen Creek
access area to Turkey Pen Gap on the western boundary of Gorges
State Park. The Frozen Creek access area in Rosman provides a picnic area and trailhead for the equestrian and hiking trail. Horses
and mountain bikes are not permitted beyond Turkey Pen Gap.
Fishing and Boating: Rainbow trout, brown trout and smallmouth
bass can be found in the waters of Gorges State Park. Regulations
of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission apply. Anglers
should exercise caution and stay away from waterfalls. No swimming is allowed in rivers, creeks or ponds. Boat access is available
at Devil’s Fork State Park in South Carolina.
Gorges State Park is located in Transylvania County and
joins the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. The park
is approximately 45 miles southwest of Asheville.
Park Hours
North Carolina State Parks are open every day, with the
exception of Christmas Day. Park hours vary with the seasons.
Please visit the North Carolina State Park website or contact
the park office for the most current information about
seasonal hours, activities, alerts, camping fees, programs
rules and weather.
www.ncparks.gov
Make a reservation online at ncparks.gov
or call 1-877-722-6762.