Gorges State Park
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed6-ft leash
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins, glamping or camper cabins
- Official site
- ncparks.gov(828) 966-9099
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Gorges State Park is a park in Transylvania County, about 16 miles southwest of Brevard.
Things to do include horseback riding, biking, fishing, hiking, and picnicking. Overnight options include 2 camping areas, with RV sites with full hookups and tent sites. There are also cabins and camper cabins or similar shelters for rent.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other — January | Daily | 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. | — |
| Other — March | Daily | 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. | — |
| Other — May | Daily | 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. | — |
| Other — November | Daily | 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. | — |
| Park | The park is closed on Christmas Day. The park is open during all other holidays. | ||
| Other — January | Daily | 7 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. | — |
| Other — March | Daily | 7 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. | — |
| Other — May | Daily | 7 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. | — |
| Other — November | Daily | 7 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. | — |
| Visitor center | Daily | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
Official wording
January: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
February: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
March: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
April: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
May: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
June: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
July: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
August: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
September: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
October: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
November: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
December: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The park is closed on Christmas Day. The park is open during all other holidays.
January: 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
February: 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
March: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
April: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
May: 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
June: 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
July: 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
August: 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
September: 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
October: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
November: 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
December: 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The park is closed on Christmas Day. The park is open during all other holidays.
Visitor Center: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
Free entry at most parks ('Most state parks are free to enter'); per-vehicle day-use fees at the reservoir SRAs (Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, Kerr Lake) and fees for swimming, boat launches, rentals, ferries and camping.
Statewide fee rule from North Carolina's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
North Carolina park passes
- Annual Pass for Reservoirs — $70 Details
- Annual Pass — $100 Details
- Annual Pass with 4WD Beach Access — $200. Annual Pass benefits plus four-wheel-drive beach access Details
From the North Carolina state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (northcarolinastateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Phone
- 1-877-722-6762
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 6 feet
Pets are allowed at the park and at campsites. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tent, Trailer, and RV Camping – Some Full Hookups – The following sites are accessible for people with limited mobility or disabilities: Cabins: #1; Electric hookup: #017; Non-electric: #008 | — | — | |
| Camper Cabins The park has five camper cabins located in the family campground.
These camping cabins sleep six people in two rooms, one with a double bed and one with two sets of twin-sized bunk beds.
Campers must bring their own pillows and sleeping bags or linens, as these are not provided. Each cabin has electrical outlets and a heating and air-conditioning unit. There are no restrooms inside the cabin, and campers must use the nearby bathhouse and water spigots. Outside each cabin, there is a picnic table, charcoal grill, and a fire ring. There are also Adirondack chairs by the front door.
Cabin #1 is… | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Camping
- Camper cabins
- Tent sites (including backpacking)
- Trailer and RV sites (some with electric, water, and sewer hookups)
- Showers
- Firewood
Tent, Trailer, and RV Camping – Some Full Hookups
The campground has a bathhouse with toilets and hot showers available to all campers. There are also potable water spigots around the campground for campers to use. There are dumpsters for direct trash disposal. Firewood is available for purchase from the camp host.
The following sites are accessible for people with limited mobility or disabilities:
- Cabins: #1
- Electric hookup: #017
- Non-electric: #008
Park gate is locked daily at posted closing hours. Vehicle access after gate closing and before opening is restricted, except in an emergency. Vehicles left overnight in a parking lot or trailhead require parking permits which visitors can get at trailheads or the VC.
Book Now
Camper Cabins
The park has five camper cabins located in the family campground.
These camping cabins sleep six people in two rooms, one with a double bed and one with two sets of twin-sized bunk beds.
Campers must bring their own pillows and sleeping bags or linens, as these are not provided. Each cabin has electrical outlets and a heating and air-conditioning unit. There are no restrooms inside the cabin, and campers must use the nearby bathhouse and water spigots. Outside each cabin, there is a picnic table, charcoal grill, and a fire ring. There are also Adirondack chairs by the front door.
Cabin #1 is accessible for people with limited mobility or disabilities. Please do not reserve an accessible site if no one in your group needs it, unless it is the only site left available when you are making your reservation.
No smoking, cooking, or open flames are allowed inside any of the cabins. Animals are not allowed in the cabins or cabin area, with the exception of service animals. Each cabin has parking space for two vehicles.
Book Now
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
HikingBikingHorseback ridingFishingPicnickingCamping
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bearwallow Falls Trail | 0.2 mi | Strenuous | 0.2-mile one way; Blaze: blue trianglesHiking only |
| Bearwallow Valley Trail | 1.15 mi | Moderate | 1.15-mile one way; Blaze: red trianglesHiking only |
| Picnic Connector Trail | 0.4 mi | Easy | 0.4-mile one way; Blaze: white trianglesHiking only |
| Rainbow Falls Trail | 1.5 mi | Strenuous | 1.5-mile one way; Blaze: orange circlesHiking only |
| Auger Hole Trail | 7.2 mi | Strenuous | 7.2-mile one way; Blaze: orange squaresBikingBridleHiking |
| Canebrake Trail | 5 mi | Strenuous | 5-mile one way; Blaze: yellow squaresHiking only |
| Foothills Trail | 6.7 mi | Strenuous | 6.7-mile one way; Blaze: white slashesHiking only |
| Heath Pine Ridge Trail | 0.4 mi | Easy | 0.4-mile one way; Blaze: red squaresHiking only |
| Indian Camp Trail | 1 mi | Moderate | 1-mile one way; Blaze: green squaresHiking only |
| Lime Kilns Trail | 0.25 mi | Easy | 0.25-mile one way; Blaze: white squaresHiking only |
| Winter Green Trail | 1.1 mi | Moderate | 1.1-mile one way; Blaze: blue squaresHiking only |
Trail descriptions from the park
Hiking Trails: Open
Bike & Bridle Trails: Open
Bearwallow Falls Trail (0.2-mile one way; Blaze: blue triangles), Strenuous, Hiking only
Bearwallow Valley Trail (1.15-mile one way; Blaze: red triangles), Moderate, Hiking only
Picnic Connector Trail (0.4-mile one way; Blaze: white triangles), Easy, Hiking only
Rainbow Falls Trail (1.5-mile one way; Blaze: orange circles), Strenuous, Hiking only
Auger Hole Trail (7.2-mile one way; Blaze: orange squares), Strenuous, Biking/Bridle/Hiking
Canebrake Trail (5-mile one way; Blaze: yellow squares), Strenuous, Hiking only
Foothills Trail (6.7-mile one way; Blaze: white slashes), Strenuous, Hiking only
Heath Pine Ridge Trail (0.4-mile one way; Blaze: red squares), Easy, Hiking only
Indian Camp Trail (1-mile one way; Blaze: green squares), Moderate, Hiking only
Lime Kilns Trail (0.25-mile one way; Blaze: white squares), Easy, Hiking only
Winter Green Trail (1.1-mile one way; Blaze: blue squares), Moderate, Hiking only
Fishing
Fishing
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Restrooms: not available (stated by the park)
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Sewer hookups
Lodging
- Cabins
- Glamping or camper cabins
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- Frozen Creek Road
Brevard, NC 28712 - Nearest town
- Brevard — about 16 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 35.0960, -82.9510
- Phone
- (828) 966-9099
- gorges@ncparks.gov
Entrances
- Grassy Ridge Access and Visitor Center — 976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire, NC 28774
- Frozen Creek Access — Frozen Creek Road, Brevard, NC 28712
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- North Carolina State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- NC State Parks 'Catalog: Find a State Park Access' (paged Drupal view, ?page=0..6)
- Wikidata
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology