Gorges State Park in the Western North Carolina Mountains
Plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls and one of the greatest concentrations of rare and unique species in the eastern United States are found within Gorges State Park. An elevation that rises 2,000 feet in only four miles, combined with rainfall in excess of 80 inches per year, creates a temperate rain forest and supports a collection of waterfalls.
Although you might feel removed from civilization while walking deep into the Gorges wilderness, evidence of past human interference with the environment surrounds you.
One of the most damaging interferences to the Gorges environment occurred in 1916 when the dam containing Lake Toxaway the largest private lake in the state broke. Record amounts of water gushed southward down the river, destroying the communities in its path, scouring the gorges and leaving piles of debris 15 to 20 feet high. These debris piles still remain.
After the flood, local citizens eventually sold large land tracts in the Gorges to Singer Sewing Machine Company, which logged most of the land. Then, in the 1940s and 1950s, Singer sold the land to Duke Energy Corporation. The corporation purchased the land for its steep topography and high rainfall, which offered opportunities for development of hydropower projects. Crescent Land and Timber Corporation, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, managed the land, closing some roads and limiting human access to protect the environment.
Conservation studies began in the area in the late 1970's, and in 1982 nearly 275 acres of land that is currently in the park was placed on the NC Registry of Natural Heritage Areas because of the numerous rare species. In the late 1990s, Duke Energy determined that it no longer needed large portions of the Gorges for future hydropower and offered the land for sale to natural resources agencies in North and South Carolina. The NC Division of Parks and Recreation stepped up to create, with the support of local citizens and the General Assembly, the newest state park.
On April 29, 1999, thanks to a unique partnership of industry, the environmental community and the state of North Carolina, 10,000 acres of the Jocassee Gorges in Transylvania County were placed in public ownership to be preserved for future generations of North Carolinians. The property was purchased by the state from Duke Energy Corporation, and the transaction created a 2,900-acre game land managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and a 7,100-acre state park — North Carolina's newest state park and our first state park west of Asheville.
With an ample supply of rainbow and brown trout, as well as small mouth bass, the waters of Gorges State Park beckon fishermen to try their luck. All streams and rivers in the park are designated Wild Trout Waters. Regulations of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission apply. Although the park contains a variety of fish habitats, fishermen should exercise caution and stay away from waterfalls. Due to the rugged nature of the park and swift water currents, no swimming is allowed in rivers and creeks. Lake Jocassee, a deep lake straddling the North and South Carolina border, is a haven for trout and bass fishermen. Boat access is available within Devil's Fork State Park in South Carolina.
Camping
Gorges State Park offers primitive camping in vastly different natural environments. At the Grassy Ridge Access area, hikers can backpack into the Ray Fisher Place campground. This hike to the campsites is approximately 2.7 miles from the parking lot, and the trail is blazed with green circles. Six primitive campsites are available. Each contains a picnic table, fire ring and lantern hook. The campsites also have an accessible pit toilet. Campers must sign in at the registration area located at the Grassy Ridge parking lot trailhead.
Primitive camping is also available near the southern boundary of the park along the Foothills Trail. There are designated backpack sites along the trail within the park boundary. Access to the Foothills Trail is at the Frozen Creek parking lot. Follow the yellow square markers to the trail. For additional information on the Foothills Trail, contact the Foothills Trail Conference.
Fishing and Boating Access
With an ample supply of rainbow and brown trout, as well as small mouth bass, the waters of Gorges State Park beckon fishermen to try their luck. All streams and rivers in the park are designated Wild Trout Waters. Regulations of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission apply. Although the park contains a variety of fish habitats, fishermen should exercise caution and stay away from waterfalls. Due to the rugged nature of the park and swift water currents, no swimming is allowed in rivers and creeks. Lake Jocassee, a deep lake straddling the North and South Carolina border, is a haven for trout and bass fishermen. Boat access is available within Devil's Fork State Park in South Carolina.
Hiking Trails
Offering rugged terrain that will challenge any outdoors enthusiast, visitors who traverse the steep, backwoods trails will be rewarded with views of dazzling waterfalls or perhaps an encounter with one of the numerous rare species of the park. 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. Established by Duke Energy, the trail 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 currently permitted on the Auger Hole Trail from the Frozen Creek Access to Turkey Pen Gap on the western boundary of the park. Hiking is also allowed on the trail. The Frozen Creek Access in Rosman provides a picnic area and trailhead for this multipurpose trail.
Waterfall Overlook
This overlook is accessible from the Grassy Ridge Access. The trail begins 1/2 mile hike from the trailhead located at the Bearwallow Picnic Area and is marked with blue triangles. The trail leads to a small observation platform overlooking a long cascade on Bearwallow Creek.
As the park undergoes evaluation, additional hiking trails may be developed. Existing trails in sensitive habitats may close due to concern for natural resource protection.
To minimize human impact on the park, Gorges does not contain any trash receptacles. Visitors must carry out what they take into the park. Please exercise caution while hiking near waterfalls. Not only are the rocks slick and the risk for injury high; many rare species thrive in the misty atmosphere created by the falls, and human contact can be detrimental to the plants survival.
Picnicking
Picnic tables make Gorges State Park a pleasant spot for lunch or dinner after an exhilarating hike. In the midst of the forest, picnic tables provide a comfortable setting for a meal or snack. Some of the picnic tables are wheelchair accessible.
Ecological Information
Gorges State Park is located along the Blue Ridge Escarpment, an area where five streams carry water to the ocean from the divide between the Tennessee Valley drainage and the Atlantic drainage. The upper reaches of the escarpment mountain streams gradually descend, but near the state line the water plunges over waterfalls and rushes through steep-walled gorges.
With such a rugged and contrasting topography contained within a small area, the park includes 21 of the 44 natural community types known in the mountain regions of North Carolina. Nearly 125 rare plant and animal species that occur in the mountain counties of North Carolina are found in the park, in addition to 12 endangered or threatened plant and animal species.
From the rock outcrops of the peaks, to the high-elevation forests, to the spray cliffs surrounding the waterfalls, to the streams themselves, this ecologically rich region has been identified as being of national ecological significance by the state's Natural Heritage Program.
Several plant species more typical of the tropics thrive where the constant spray from the park's numerous waterfalls and plunging whitewater streams showers the sheer rock walls and talus slopes with mist. Scientists are unsure how these species came to grow so far from the tropics. One theory is that spores blew north from the tropics and settled in the region. Or perhaps the species remained in the region from tens of thousands of years ago when a warmer climate existed in North America.
While few larger plants can establish a hold on the steep, slick rocks surrounding the spray cliffs of the gorges, a rich community of ferns, mosses and liverworts grows in the moist, moderate temperatures of the region. Rare species found clinging to the spray cliffs include Carolina star-moss, characterized by its dark green rosettes. The moss is known in the Dominican Republic and also survives in the southern Appalachians. Pringle's aquatic moss, another rare species, attaches itself to rocks under running water. Pringle's moss is found in Mexico, but in the United States it is solely found in the southern Appalachian escarpment region.
Gorge filmy-fern, Appalachian filmy-fern and dwarf filmy-fern, plants with leaves that are only a single cell thick, are also found in the Gorges. The ferns require constant humidity, which is provided by the continuous spray from the waterfalls.
The gorge filmy-fern grows only in the southern Appalachian gorge region. The gorge bottoms are constantly wet with spray, but the steep slopes leading to the rocky, mountain ridges rapidly drain moisture from the terrain. The land supports oak and pine communities typical of dry mountainous regions, but the high rainfall also supports several rare species.
Abundant species include rhododendron and mountain laurel, along with white pine, hickories and red oak. Oconee bells — also known as shortia — are rare flowering plants that also occupy some of the same territory. The plant is most abundant in the gorges region of North Carolina, and because so few populations of the plant are known, Oconee bells are considered to be an endangered species. The plant has single-stalked, white flowers, which stand above the evergreen leaves that form low patches along Escarpment streams.
While the popular animal species of the region include black bear, wild turkey, fox, coyote, wild boar and deer, as well as a variety of squirrels, North Carolina's largest known population of green salamander occurs in the gorges. This secretive salamander hides in the damp, shaded crevices of cliff faces.
The forests of the gorges also provide abundant habitat for neotropical migratory birds, including the largest North Carolina mountain populations of Swainson's warbler. Three fish species — turquoise darter, redeye bass and rosy face chub — have their only North Carolina populations in the park's rivers that are part of the Savannah River drainage. In addition, the nearby Horsepasture River is both a designated federal Wild and Scenic River and state Natural and Scenic River.
Rules and Regulations
Make your visit a safe and rewarding experience. The following rules and regulations are in effect throughout the park for the protection of our visitors and our natural resources. A complete listing of rules is available at the park office and at the Transylvania County Courthouse. The removal or destruction of any plant, animal, artifact, rock or mineral is prohibited.
All areas managed by the NC Division of Parks and Recreation are wildlife preserves. Hunting and trapping are prohibited.
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission boating and fishing regulations are enforced.
Firearms and fireworks are not permitted.
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.
Camping is permitted in designated areas only.
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.
Directions
From Atlanta, GA: reach the park from I-85, taking South Carolina exit 2 onto SC 11 and traveling north toward Walhalla, SC. Turn north on SC 130, which becomes NC 281 at the North Carolina state line. Continue north on NC 281. The Grassy Ridge Access (west side of the park) is approximately seven miles north of the state line on the right. To reach the Frozen Creek Access (east side of the park), turn east on NC 64 in Sapphire. Travel toward Brevard approximately eight miles and turn right on Frozen Creek Road. The east entrance is three miles on the right.
From Charlotte, NC: reach the park by traveling on west on NC 74 to I-26. Turn west on I-26, traveling toward Hendersonville. Take exit 18 to NC 64 and travel west through Brevard toward Sapphire. To reach the Frozen Creek Access (east side of the park), turn left onto Frozen Creek Road, which is approximately two miles past NC 178. The east entrance is three miles on the right. To reach the Grassy Ridge Access (west side of the park), turn south on NC 281 in Sapphire; the western park entrance is .7 miles on the left.
From Greenville, SC: reach the park by traveling on US 276 north to SC 11. Take SC 11 south toward Walhalla, SC, and turn north on SC 130, which becomes NC 281 at the North Carolina state line. Continue north on NC 281. The Grassy Ridge Access (west side of the park) is approximately seven miles north of the state line on the right. To reach the Frozen Creek Access (east side of the park), turn east on NC 64 in Sapphire. Travel toward Brevard approximately eight miles and turn right on Frozen Creek Road. The east entrance is three miles on the right.
Park Hours
November-February, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
March and October, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
April, May, September, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
June-August, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Closed Christmas Day
Park office hours
8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Closed on State Holidays
for more information:
PO Box 100,
Sapphire, N.C. 28774-0100
828-966-9099
gorges@ncmail.net |
