Gorges

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.