Tucked into the rugged mountains of southwestern North Carolina near the North Carolina and South Carolina border, Gorges State Park protects one of the most spectacular and biologically diverse landscapes in the state. The park sits along the Blue Ridge Escarpment, where elevations drop more than 2,000 feet over only a few miles. Combined with more than 80 inches of annual rainfall, this dramatic terrain creates a temperate-rainforest environment filled with steep gorges, rushing rivers, rocky cliffs, and an extraordinary concentration of waterfalls. The park is home to numerous rare plants and animals and is recognized as one of the most significant natural areas in the eastern United States.
The land has a fascinating human history as well. Mountain families once hunted and farmed the area, while the Singer Sewing Machine Company logged portions of the property during the 1920s and 1930s. Duke Energy later acquired the land for its potential hydroelectric resources and, beginning in the late 1970s, increasingly restricted access to protect its ecological values. In 1999, North Carolina purchased approximately 10,000 acres from Duke Energy, creating Gorges State Park and adjacent game lands.
A highlight for first-time visitors is the Gorges State Park Visitor Center at the Grassy Ridge entrance. The Gorges State Park Visitor Center opened in 2012. The impressive 7,100-square-foot facility was designed specifically for its mountain setting and features museum-quality exhibits interpreting the area’s natural and cultural history, along with an auditorium, classroom, and educational displays. Its sustainable design incorporates solar and geothermal systems, rainwater collection, and water-saving features.
The visitor center is an ideal starting point for exploring the park, offering orientation and educational resources before visitors head onto the trails. From Grassy Ridge, visitors can explore waterfalls and scenic trails, while the Frozen Creek entrance provides access to quieter backcountry experiences, multiuse trails, and the Foothills Trail. For anyone visiting Gorges State Park, a stop at the visitor center provides both context and inspiration for experiencing this remarkable corner of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Waterfalls are among the defining features of Gorges State Park, where steep terrain, abundant rainfall, and numerous creeks create an extraordinary concentration of cascading water. Most people drive straight past the visitor center to the trailhead of the most well-known waterfalls: Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls. Rainbow Falls is the dramatic centerpiece of this popular waterfall hike, where the Horsepasture River plunges roughly 150 feet over a broad rock face, creating spectacular mist and rainbows in the sunlight. The 1.5-mile, one-way Rainbow Falls Trail descends from Gorges State Park into the gorge before continuing onto Pisgah National Forest land. Just beyond Rainbow Falls, hikers can continue along the river to Turtleback Falls, a distinctive, rounded cascade known for its smooth rock formation and natural swimming-hole setting. Visitors should use extreme caution around the falls, as wet rocks, swift currents, and steep drop-offs can be hazardous.
An often overlooked waterfall in Gorges is named Bearwallow Falls. This waterfall can be viewed by a hike directly from the visitor center (approximately 1 mile each way), or by driving to the Bearwallow Picnic Shelter. The official Bearwallow Falls Trail is only 0.2 mile one way from the parking lot of the shelter. If hiking from the visitor center, follow the trail signs to the picnic shelters, then to the Bearwallow Shelter. The hike descends through the forest toward Bearwallow Creek and the falls, with the terrain becoming steep in places. It’s a moderate, well-maintained trail with sections of gravel and roots. Keep in mind that it’s mostly downhill going in, and uphill coming out, with a few places to sit down along the way. The reward is a scenic view of Upper Bearwallow Falls.
It’s easy to spend a day exploring the visitor center, trails, and waterfalls of this remarkable state park. Pack a lunch and enjoy the beauty of western North Carolina.
Visit ncparks.gov/state-parks/gorges-state-park.
photos courtesy of NC State Parks, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
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