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Upcoming Events:
On June 27, Duke Energy will begin repairing the Toxaway River pedestrian bridge located on the Foothills Trail between the Laurel Fork and Cane Brake trail heads. While the upgrades and repairs are underway, the bridge may experience temporary closures during daylight hours. Known full day (approx. 8am – 4pm) bridge closures will be posted below. Additionally, the bridge will be limited to no more than 20 people crossing at one time. The upgrades and repairs to the bridge are scheduled to be complete by the end of September.
Last updated on: Thursday, June 27, 2019A section of the Auger Hole trail is closed to all traffic until further notice due to a massive landslide that has taken out all access not only to the public but to park staff.
The Auger Hole is open from the parking lot at Frozen Creek Entrance to where the Wintergreen trail breaks off Auger Hole Trail to the right. From that point on to Turkeypen Gap, the trail is closed and will remain closed until the trail is fixed.
The trail closure will be lengthy as park staff are evaluating and developing options to resolve the closure. For more information or updates call the park office at (828) 966-9099.
Last updated on: Thursday, May 9, 2019
Gorges State Park is located in Sapphire, NC in Transylvania County. The park is approximately 45 miles southwest of Asheville. Follow Hwy 64west out of Brevard until you reach Sapphire, turn left on Hwy 281south, the park entrance is .7 miles on your left. The Visitor Center is located .5 miles inside the park on Grassy Ridge Road.
From Asheville, reach the park from I-26, taking exit 40 onto NC 280 and traveling west toward Brevard. Turn west on US 64 and travel 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 Atlanta, GA, reach the park from I-85, taking South Carolina exit 1 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, reach the park by traveling west on NC 74 to I-26. Turn west on I-26, traveling toward Hendersonville. Take exit 49B 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.
Get directions from Google.
976 Grassy Ridge Road
Sapphire, NC 28774
828-966-9099
gorges@ncparks.gov
GPS: 35.096000, -82.951000
General Park Hours
7am to 9pm
Picnic Areas
8am to 7:30pm
Visitor Center
Monday - Sunday
9am to 5pm