Gorges State Park in North Carolina is a prime example of the state’s wild and rugged landscapes. The park is filled to the brim with gorgeous waterfalls, relaxing hiking trails, flowing rivers braided with gorges, and peaceful wooded campsites.
After my three-day visit, I knew I’d have to write about the best things to do at Gorges State Park!
In this guide, you’ll read about the best things to do at Gorges State Park, important information about the two distinct park sections, and sample itineraries to help you plan your trip.
So if you’re ready to head to North Carolina and chase some waterfalls, camp in the backcountry and/or hike some beautiful wooded & river-laced trails, continue reading to find out the can’t-miss things in Gorges State Park!
Where Is Gorges State Park?
Gorges State Park is located in western North Carolina.
Tucked between Pisgah National Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Nantahala National Forest, and seated at the tripoint of South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina’s state lines, Gorges State Park is a popular hub for a variety of outdoor recreation.
Which Side Of Gorges State Park Should You Visit?
There are two sides of Gorges State Park that can be accessed via two separate entrances. You cannot access both sides without leaving the park and re-entering the park from the other side.
So which side is worth the visit? Below I break down who should visit, what can be accessed from this entrance, and where exactly they’re each located.
Grassy Ridge
- Address: 976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire, NC 28774
- Who Should Visit: Frontcountry campers and day hikers
- What Is Accessed From This Entrance: The campground, visitor center, and main waterfall trails. The trails on this side are shorter and easier than those on the Frozen Creek side.
Frozen Creek
- Address: Frozen Creek Road, Brevard, NC 28712
- Who Should Visit: Backpackers
- What Is Accessed From This Entrance: The longer trails, a portion of the Foothills Trail, and all of the backcountry campsites.
Quick Facts About Gorges
- There is no fee to enter the park.
- Pets are allowed at the park, on the trails, and at campsites but must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.
- The visitor center is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.
- The park’s gates open at 7 AM every day and close between 7 PM and 10 PM, depending on the season. You can find monthly hours on the Gorges State Park website by scrolling down to the “park hours” section.
Best Things To Do At Gorges State Park
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks so much for your support!
Hike To Rainbow Falls
- Distance: 3 miles
- Type of Trail: Out & back
- Elevation Gain: 400 feet
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Pet Friendly: Yes
Rainbow Falls is the iconic trail inside Gorges State Park! The ranger I spoke to at check-in recommended this trail to us above all of the others. While I had already done my research and knew that this was indeed the premiere trail, it was nice to get it validated by someone who works inside the park.
The Rainbow Falls trail starts by winding through a forest above and away from the river. About halfway through the trail, you will cross over from the state boundary to federal land. You will see a sign that you are leaving Gorges State Park and entering Pisgah National Forest.
The last half of the trail is my favorite! It’s here that you will reach the river. You will follow the Horsepasture River downstream, passing raging gorges filled with mini waterfalls and traversing two river crossings.
Soon the crown jewel, Rainbow Falls, will come into view. And all 150 feet of it are spectacular!
Don’t stop at the first sighting of the falls. Continue to the viewing platform and then take the cut trail all the way down to the bottom of the falls. You’ll feel like the waterfall is in your face! If the sun is angled just right, you’ll see beautiful rainbows arching below the falls.
⚠️ Use caution when hiking this trail! Much of the trail has dangerous cliffs where deadly falls have occurred. The downhill trail beyond the viewing platform gets very slippery from the waterfall’s powerful spray.
IMPORTANT: Swimming in and around Rainbow Falls is not allowed. The currents can get extremely swift, so rangers prohibit all water activities surrounding the falls.
Hike To Turtleback Falls
- Distance: 4 miles
- Type of Trail: Out & back
- Elevation Gain: 770 feet
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Pet Friendly: Yes
Turtleback Falls can be reached about 0.5 miles from Rainbow Falls.
Once you see Rainbow Falls, instead of continuing on to the base of the falls, you’ll take the steep-looking trail off to your right. This path gradually leads to Turtleback Falls, a 20-foot drop over a curved rock.
While the waterfalls in this area are famous for cliff jumping and swimming, we saw many signs around the park announcing that these activities were prohibited. This is due to the strong, unpredictable river currents.
Venture To Whitewater Falls
- Distance: 1 mile
- Type of Trail: Out & back
- Elevation Gain: About 62 feet without the stairs
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pet Friendly: Yes
The park ranger stationed at the visitor center lit up when she told us about Whitewater Falls. She insisted that this waterfall, which is the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies, was a “must-see” in the area. Surprisingly, this wasn’t something that I had come across in my research, so I was excited about the bonus adventure.
This waterfall is not inside Gorges State Park, but I added it to this list because it’s close by and I don’t want anyone to miss it like we almost did. Whitewater Falls is located about 8 miles outside of Gorges State Park.
The GPS directions are usually wrong. To access the viewing area, you’ll need to exit Gorges State Park and turn left. Continue about 8 miles until you see a sign on the right for Whitewater Falls Scenic Area. The sign doesn’t indicate which way to turn or whether or not you should continue straight, so it’s important to turn left as soon as you see this sign. To avoid missing your turn, drive slowly around the windy, tight turns from Gorges State Park leading to Whitewater Falls, especially when you’ve traveled about 7 miles. (Keep track of your distance with your vehicle odometer).
Once you turn left at the sign, you’ll reach a large parking lot that is suitable for many cars and RVs. If you don’t have an America the Beautiful Pass, you’ll need to pay for parking at the pay station. If you have your annual pass, make sure to display it on your dashboard.
The hike to the falls is short and sweet. The sign at the trailhead indicated that the first overlook was 0.5 miles away, but it felt much shorter.
The first viewing area is mediocre. The trees obstruct the waterfall views, so continue on the trail down the wooden steps. There are about 154 steps to the second overlook, and it is at this point that you’ll see the best views of Whitewater Falls.
Hike To Upper Bearwallow Falls
- Distance: 0.4 miles
- Type of Trail: Out & back
- Elevation Gain: 157 feet
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Pet Friendly: Yes
AllTrails and Gorges State Park both listed the Upper Bearwallow Falls hike as strenuous, so I felt obligated to keep it uniform on my blog. While the trail is semi-steep, it’s so short that I’d hardly say that the trail is difficult.
After parking in the Upper Bearwallow Falls lot, you’ll cross the road leading to the campground and head into the forest. You will be ensconced in the trees for the entire trail until the viewing platform comes into view. It’s there that the trees pull back like curtains and reveal a unique waterfall.
Upper Bearwallow Falls is viewed from a distance and while it’s not as impressive or “in your face” as Rainbow Falls, it’s worth the short journey. The waterfall is unique because it descends down a smooth rock face, cascading in a gradual decline, instead of a vertical drop or series of rocky cascades.
Since Upper Bearwallow Falls is not as popular as other falls in the park, you’ll find more solitude on this trail! We had the trail all to ourselves when we hiked it at around 6:00 PM.
Go Camping
While you can certainly see the highlights of the park in a day (many people do), it’s worth it to secure a campsite for one or two nights. Because unless you’re local, you’ll need a place to crash if you want to spend an entire day – sunrise to sunset – at the park.
The campground at Gorges State Park is beautiful! It’s small and quiet; the grounds have 16 established tent sites and 14 RV sites. (There are 5 cabins as well, but I’ll mention those later!) The amenities include very clean bathrooms with showers and flush toilets, potable water, and firewood available for purchase from the camp hosts.
To check in, you’ll head to the visitor center, which you’ll pass before you enter the campground anyway. The visitor center hours are 9 AM to 5 PM daily, so if you arrive after hours, just make sure to check in the next morning right when they open.
After checking in, you’ll get your vehicle parking tag, the ranger will probably give you a spiel on what to explore in and around the park, and then you’ll be on your way!
PRO TIP: Tent site 16 is the BEST tent campsite at the campground. It is tucked away from the rest of the sites, so the privacy is outstanding. The site is massive, secluded, and close to a potable water spout. It is also the closest site to the clean bathrooms that are right around the bend (directly across from the cabins).
Stay In A Cabin
A cabin in the woods makes for an enjoyable stay no matter the time of year! If you’re not quite ready to spend the night under the stars in a tent, consider staying in one of these cabins.
Cozy up in one of these five cabins featuring two bedrooms, four comfortable beds, air conditioning, heat, and an exterior pad with a fire pit and picnic table.
Since there are no kitchens or bathrooms inside the cabins, you’ll feel as though you’re “roughing it” without being exposed and vulnerable to the elements. You’ll find flush toilets, showers, and potable water conveniently located directly across from the cabins.
Thru-Hike the Foothills Trail
6.7 miles of the Foothills Trail snakes through the Frozen Creek side of Gorges State Park!
The entire thru-hike, marked with white slashes, is 77 miles long, and it traverses through upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina.
With multiple trailheads and access points, including one in Gorges State Park and another one at Whitewater Falls, day hikers, backpackers, and thru-hikers can all take advantage of the trail.
If you’re interested in thru-hiking or section hiking the Foothills Trail, visit the trail conservancy website.
1-3 Day Itineraries For Gorges State Park
I’ve written some itineraries to help you plan your trip! Adjust times as needed depending on your arrival and departure.
Best 1-Day Itinerary For Gorges State Park
7:00 AM: Arrive right when the park opens (or as close to opening as you can get).
7:15 AM: Begin hiking Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls Trail. Spend ample time at both falls.
12:00 PM: Have lunch in the picnic area.
1:00 PM: Drive to Whitewater Falls (about 8 miles outside the park). Hike the short trail to the two viewpoints.
3:00 PM: Hike the Upper Bearwallow Falls trail.
4:00 PM: If you have time in your day, venture to the Frozen Creek Entrance and hike a section of the Foothills Trail.
Best 2-Day Itinerary For Gorges State Park
DAY ONE
7:00 AM: Arrive at the park. Arrive right when the park opens (or as close to opening as you can get).
7:15 AM: Begin hiking Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls Trail. Spend ample time at both falls.
12:00 PM: Have lunch in the picnic area.
1:00 PM: Check into your campsite. Get settled in and rest if needed.
3:00 PM: Hike Upper Bearwallow Falls.
4:00 PM: Drive to Whitewater Falls (about 8 miles outside the park). Hike the short trail to the two viewpoints.
DAY TWO
7:00 AM: Start your day early by driving to the Frozen Creek entrance.
7:30 AM: Hike the portion of the Foothills Trail that is in Gorges State Park.
12:00 PM: Have lunch in the picnic area.
1:00 PM: Hike the Auger Hole Trail.
Best 3-Day Itinerary For Gorges State Park
DAY ONE
7:00 AM: Arrive right when the park opens (or as close to opening as you can get).
7:15 AM: Begin hiking Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls Trail. Spend ample time at both falls.
12:00 PM: Have lunch in the picnic area.
1:00 PM: Drive to Whitewater Falls (about 8 miles outside the park). Hike the short trail to the two viewpoints.
3:00 PM: Hike the Upper Bearwallow Falls trail.
4:00 PM: Spend the remainder of your evening cozying up at your campsite or cabin.
DAY TWO
7:00 AM: Start your day early by driving to the Frozen Creek entrance.
7:30 AM: Hike the portion of the Foothills Trail that is in Gorges State Park.
12:00 PM: Have lunch in the picnic area.
1:00 PM: Backpack the Auger Hole Trail and backcountry camp.
DAY THREE
7:00 AM: Backpack the rest of the Auger Hole Trail and/or another one in the Frozen Creek section like Canebrake or Winter Green!
Leave No Trace
As always, make sure you are following Leave No Trace principles.
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate Of Others
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
