Gorges

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