Parking at Gorges FULL
All parking areas are full at Gorges State Park as of 7:40 a.m. The gate is now closed. If you are already inside the park, you will be assisted with parking by staff.
Posted on: Monday, August 21, 2017 - 7:52amTrails
Park Maps and Brochures:
Park Factsheet- 221 Access Area Drive-to Campground
- Park Map
- 221 Access Area Trail Map
- 221 Access Area Walk in/Canoe in Campground
- Alleghany Access Area Trail Map
- Riverbend Access Area Campground - Canoe-in Only
- Wagoner Road Access Area - Walk in/Canoe in Campground
- Wagoner Road Access Area Trail Map
- Paddle Trail Map
- Alleghany Access Area Campground Map
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, August 26, 2017 - 10:00am
Saturday, August 26, 2017 - 2:00pm
Sunday, August 27, 2017 - 2:00pm
Firewood Alert
Please don’t bring firewood with you to the park. If you find or buy wood from the park, please don’t take any back home with you. Burn it all or leave it for other campers. Foreign pests can travel with wood, and carrying firewood from one area to another can be detrimental to the local forest. We have firewood to purchase, or you can collect wood/ kindling from dead and down trees.
Because of the seriousness of a potential infestation from the Emerald Ash Borer, we are requesting that no firewood be brought into New River State Park.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a destructive invasive exotic beetle that feeds on ash trees. Park campgrounds and picnic areas are the most likely areas for EAB introduction into the park. We appreciate your help in protecting the natural resources of New River State Park and our State Park System.
Posted on: Monday, March 27, 2017 - 3:53pm Solar Elcipse Viewing WILL BE AT Mt. Jefferson State Natural Area
All Solar Elipse Viewing events that were at New River State Park will be redirected to Mt Jefferson State Natural Area.
Posted on: Wednesday, August 2, 2017 - 4:26pmTrails
The many trails of the New River State Park will meander from the river’s edge to the top of the rolling hills of North Carolina’s High Country. To the left under 'Park Maps and Brochures' you will find maps for all of the trails at each of the three main accesses of the New River: Wagoner Access Road, Highway 221, and Alleghany.
221 Access Area: Dogwood Trail
Location: US Hwy 221 Access
Description: This one-eighth-mile out-and-back trail starts near the picnic shelter. It is handicap accessible and goes to a wooden platform overlooking the river.
Point of Interest: River view
Length:
0.12 miles
One-way
0.12 miles
One-way
Difficulty:
Easy
Easy
Blaze:
Yellow
Yellow
221 Access Area: Hickory Trail
Location: US Hwy 221 Access
Description: This moderate one mile trail begins on the east side of the park and traverses along side of the ridge above the river. The view is mostly of the contours of the land. This trail crosses the road and follows through a forest of Montane Oak, Hickory, Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron. It connects to the Campground Spur Trail. To get your TRACK Trail adventures, please visit the trailhead kiosk located just outside the entrance of the Park’s Visitor Center.
Point of Interest:
Length:
1.00 miles
Round Trip
1.00 miles
Round Trip
Difficulty:
Moderate
Moderate
Blaze:
Red
Red
221 Access Area: New River TRACK Trail
Location: US Hwy 221 Access
Description: The New River State Park TRACK Trail was superimposed upon the Park’s Hickory Trail. The trail begins on the side of the visitor center (left side if facing the front); intersects with the Campground Spur Trail and continues as a 1.0-mile long loop trail that has a short out-and-back spur that will deliver you to the edge of the New River. The trail passes through an oak-hickory montane forest, down to the river’s edge, up through a mountain meadow and back to the visitor center through a pine thicket. To get your TRACK Trail adventures, please visit the trailhead kiosk located just outside the entrance of the Park’s Visitor Center.
Point of Interest:
Length:
1.20 miles
Round Trip
1.20 miles
Round Trip
Difficulty:
Moderate
Moderate
Blaze:
Blue, White, & Red
Blue, White, & Red
221 Access Area: River Run Trail
Location: US Hwy 221 Access
Description: The trail winds through the forest down the mountainside, past an old home site, and finishes on a grassy path by the river’s edge which leads you to river access.
Point of Interest:
Length:
1.40 miles
One-way
1.40 miles
One-way
Difficulty:
Moderate
Moderate
Blaze:
Orange
Orange
221 Access: Campground Spur Trail
Location: US Hwy 221 Access
Description: Branches off the Hickory Trail and winds through the forest behind the Visitor Center and connects to the Drive-to Campground.
Point of Interest:
Length:
0.25 miles
One-way
0.25 miles
One-way
Difficulty:
Moderate
Moderate
Blaze:
White
White
Contact:
New River State Park
358 New River State Park Road
Laurel Springs, NC 28644Phone336-982-2587
new.river@ncparks.gov
Latitude: 36.467680
Longitude: -81.340350
Park Hours:
Wagoner Access & US 221 Access
December - February: 7am - 7pm
March, April, October: 7am - 9pm
May - September: 7am - 10pm
November: 7am - 8pm
Closed Christmas Day
Visitor Center & Office
8am - 5pm week days
10am - 4pm weekends
Closed Christmas Day
Kings Creek Access
Closed November 1st thru March 31st. Re-opens April 1st.
Hours of operation are:
April, October: 8am - 8pm
May - September: 8am - 9pm