Gorges State Park Photo: Honeybadgerhiking (Wikimedia Commons) / CC BY-SA 4.0
United States › North Carolina

Gorges State Park

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Size: more than 8,000 acres (32 km²)
  • Waterfalls: 26, including Rainbow Falls on the Horsepasture River
  • Trail link: a portion of the Foothills Trail
  • Gateway: Sapphire and Brevard
  • Managed by: NC State Parks

The landscape

Gorges State Park lies on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, where the mountains drop sharply toward the Piedmont. Rivers such as the Horsepasture and Toxaway plunge through gorges in waterfalls, and the heavy rainfall supports a temperate rainforest with rare plants. The park reaches the northern shore of Lake Jocassee. Black bears and many salamanders live here.

Best time to go

Spring and fall are ideal. Summer is warm and humid, with frequent storms. Winter is quiet, with occasional ice.

We have no photo gallery for Gorges State Park yet. If you have been, share a photo and we will credit you.Sign in to share a photo

Getting there and around

US 64 reaches the park at Sapphire, where the visitor center and Grassy Ridge area sit. Trails descend steeply into the gorges toward the waterfalls and Lake Jocassee.

Things to do

The Rainbow Falls trail is the most popular hike. Backpackers use backcountry campsites and the Foothills Trail. Horse riders and mountain bikers have their own trails.

Staying safe

Never climb on or near waterfalls: wet rock is extremely slippery, and people have died here. Heavy rain can raise streams quickly. Trails into the gorges are steep, and the climb out is hard. Store food from bears and leave a trip plan.

Know before you go

This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm current conditions and reservations with NC State Parks before you go.

Navigation
Coordinates
35.0897, -82.9172
Magnetic declination
6.7° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

40 places in Gorges State Park

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

Getting there 3

Park entrances

Ranger station

On the trail 7

Route

Campgrounds

Sights 30

Waterfalls

Lake

Peak

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeCar campingWeekend backpackingMulti-day/expeditionBackcountry

Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →

Terrain
ForestRiversMountains
Key hazards
Waterfalls and slippery rock (deaths have occurred)Flash floods and heavy rainSteep gorge trailsBlack bearsVenomous snakes
Best seasons
Spring, Summer, Fall (foliage)
Difficulty
Moderate to strenuous
Access / trailheads
US Highway 64 at Sapphire, in Transylvania County near where North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia meet.
Water
Streams; treat all water.
Cell / satellite coverage
Patchy; none in the gorges.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911.
Permits & regulations
Day use is free. Fees apply for camping, including backpacking sites, reserved through NC State Parks.
Leave No Trace
Stay on trails and off wet rock near falls, camp only at designated sites, and pack out all waste.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high65°F(18°C)18°C(65°F)
Average low45°F(7°C)7°C(45°F)
Rainfall6.7 in(169 mm)169 mm(6.7 in)
Daylight, mid-month11 h 22 minSunrise 7:36 a.m., sunset 6:58 p.m.

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

Plan a trip here →

Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Lake Toxaway station, 2 miles (3 km)3 km (2 miles) away at 3,275 feet (998 m)998 m (3,275 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

Looking for somewhere closer to home?
See every park and monument within a day’s drive of where you are.

Destinations near me →