Gorges State Park is located in Transylvania County, North Carolina. The land, along Jocassee Gorges, was purchased by the state from Duke Energy Corporation in 1999. It is North Carolina's westernmost state park and one of the state's newest. The park is adjacent to part of the Pisgah National Forest and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Toxaway Game Land. Gorges State Park provides the principal access to the Horsepasture River on these adjoining public lands.
Guide to North Carolina State Parks. Published by North Carolina State Parks.
Gorges SP
https://www.ncparks.gov/gorges-state-park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorges_State_Park
Gorges State Park is located in Transylvania County, North Carolina. The land, along Jocassee Gorges, was purchased by the state from Duke Energy Corporation in 1999. It is North Carolina's westernmost state park and one of the state's newest. The park is adjacent to part of the Pisgah National Forest and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Toxaway Game Land. Gorges State Park provides the principal access to the Horsepasture River on these adjoining public lands.
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.
GPS: 35.096000, -82.951000
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.
Contact Information:
N.C. Division of
Gorges State Park
Parks and Recreation
976 Grassy Ridge Road
Dept. of Environment and
828-966-9099
Natural Resources
Sapphire, NC 29774
1615 Mail Service Center
gorges@ncparks.gov
Raleigh, NC 27699-1615
www.ncparks.gov
919-707-9300
Make your visit a safe and rewarding experience. Some of our
regulations are posted for the protection of our visitors and our
park. A complete list is available at the park office.
The removal or destruction of any plant, animal, artifact,
rock or mineral is prohibited.
Hunting and trapping are not permitted.
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission boating and fishing
regulations are enforced.
Fireworks are not permitted.
All firearms and weapons are prohibited in visitor centers
and park offices.
Camping and fires are allowed in designated areas by
permit only.
The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages
is prohibited.
Swimming is permitted in designated areas only.
Pets must be on an attended leash no longer than six feet.
Horses and mountain bikes are permitted on designated
trails only.
Unlicensed motor vehicles are prohibited.
Please stay on designated trails. Many rare plants live on
thin soils and wet rocks, and they are vulnerable to damage
from climbing, trampling and scraping.
Allow plenty of time for a hike so you won’t be caught
by darkness.
Venomous snakes, ticks and poisonous plants may be
encountered in some areas. Be watchful and use caution.
Remember that all plants and animals are protected.
Go to the visitor center or the Division’s website for a full listing
of Rules and Regulations at www.ncparks.gov
Pettigrew State Park
South Mountains State Park – 2018 Park of the Year
Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve
North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation manages more
than 234,000 acres of iconic landscape across our state in our
parks, recreation areas and natural areas with a mission dedicated
to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system
welcomed more than 19 million visitors in 2017.
Discover More with a Ranger
Across North Carolina, state park rangers are proud of our parks
and eager to welcome you and your family. Come to our parks
to marvel at our state’s most beautiful natural resources, enjoy
your favorite outdoor activities and learn about the rich science,
culture and history that make our parks great.
Fun facts about North Carolina State Parks
■■ There are 41 places to visit, including 34 parks, four
recreation areas and three staffed state natural areas.
■■ The Division manages four state rivers, seven state lakes
and six state trails.
■■ There are about 581 miles of trail to explore in our parks.
■■ The
first state park created was Mount Mitchell State Park
on March 3, 1915. Fort Macon State Park was the second.
■■ The Division celebrated 100 years of being Naturally
Wonderful in 2016.
■■ Parks that welcome over 1 million visitors annually include:
Jockey’s Ridge, Fort Macon and William B. Umstead state
parks and Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake state
recreation areas.
■■ The Division employs over 1,000 people across the state.
■■ Some
www.ncparks.gov
M N P Q
Roy Cooper
Governor
unique activities you can do in our parks include:
wind surfing and hang gliding at Jockey’s Ridge State Park,
cross country skiing and snow shoeing at Elk Knob State
Park, driving on the four-wheel-drive beach at Fort Fisher
State Recreation Area and rock climbing at Chimney Rock,
Crowders Mountain, Hanging Rock, Pilot Mountain and
Stone Mountain state parks.
Susi H. Hamilton
Secretary
75,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $10,707.92 or $0.14 each. 03/18
Did you know that many plants atop Mount Mitchell are rare
in North Carolina but common in Quebec? That the giant
sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge are constantly moving? Do you
know how to safely hold a crayfish? From fishing lessons to
astronomy programs and tree identification hikes to guided
paddles, parks offer programs for all ages. Visit our website for a
list of upcoming programs at each park.
Junior Rangers
The Junior Ranger program offers educational and skill-based
activities to encourage children to explore the outdoors. Children
can complete activity guides, geared for ages 6-12, and attend
ranger programs to earn a junior ranger patch unique to each
park. Ask about the program at a park office or download the
guide at: www.ncparks.gov/junior-rangers.
Environmental Education Learning Experiences
Parks have their own curriculum guides that are correlated to
the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Competency goals
in science, social studies, mathematics and English/language
arts are available. Each program includes pre-visit, on-site and
post-visit student activities that have measurable objectives,
background information, vocabulary, references and step-bystep activity instructions.
Passport Program
How many state parks can you visit? Use your passport as a guide
and collect stamps, earn prizes and make “Naturally Wonderful”
memories! Pick up your passport at a state park near you.
North Carolina State Parks 100-Mile Challenge
Can you hike, bike or paddle 100 miles in
a year? Join the N.C. State Parks’ 100-Mile
Challenge and log your miles online to earn
digital badges and redeem prizes as you reach
various milestones! This is a great way to get
outside, get moving and keep track of your
activity. Visit www.nc100miles.org to sign up.
■■ Several parks have educational trails, called TRACK trails, that
include activities for children to complete along the way.
William B. Umstead State Park
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Friends Of State Parks
Join the Friends of State Parks to help support, promote
and advocate for the parks system as a whole, or join the
friends group of your favorite park. The group helps provide
funding for Junior Ranger and Youth in Parks – Environmental
Education programs, as well as grants for state parks projects.
You can also make a donation to help keep our parks around
for future generations. Learn more at www.ncfsp.org or
www.ncparks.gov/support-your-parks.
Merchandise
Want to show your N.C. State Parks pride? Visit the online
webstore and purchase products such as coffee mugs, prints,
t-shirts, pins, patches and Christmas ornaments. This exclusive
merchandise makes a great gift for special state parks fans,
including yourself. www.ncparkstore.com
N.C. State Parks License Plate
Show your support for state parks every time you drive your
vehicle! Purchase an N.C. State Parks license plate through the
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicl