Gorges State Park

As Richard R said, this is Gorgeous State Park.
My review is for the Rainbow Falls trail, which is accessed from the trailhead at the Grassy Ridge parking lot. You can get to this parking lot by driving either way around the loop road from the visitor center. Note that there is a section of the loop that is one-​way (not shown on the park map) just past Grassy Ridge if you’re driving CCW. So, to return to the visitor center, you must drive CW.
The Grassy Ridge parking lot is fairly good-​sized, not huge. There are no restroom facilities other than port-​a-​johns.
Rainbow Falls trail is actually mostly on national forest land, not in the state park. So you’ll see both state park and national forest information posted at the trailhead. The trail is a fairly strenuous 3 mile roundtrip and is mostly downhill going out. So expect to work harder coming back. A quarter mile or so from the start, the trail splits — Rainbow Falls to the right, Raymond Fisher trail and a campground to the left. Very clearly marked — you can’t get lost.
Footing is good where it’s dry but can be slippery when wet. At the falls, it is very wet. The trails has a bunch of steps to climb as you get near the falls and they can be treacherous when wet.
There are several falls on the trail — I overheard someone say four and that may be right. Rainbow Falls is the big one and, sure enough, there was a rainbow. Very scenic. But don’t stop there. Go further uphill to the top of the falls where you’ll find walkable rocks and can overlook the falling water. Great place for a picnic or just sitting and listening to the water. There are more, smaller falls just a bit further. I stopped and turned around at that next set of falls but noticed the trail went on. Next time.
Park maps need some work, and not just to indicate the one-​way road.
Recommended hiking destination.

I think Gorges State Park is extremely underrated! It was a bit out of the way for my stay in Asheville, but it was beautiful there! We did the rainbow falls hiking trail. It was a great hike! It was a bit more demanding than I would have imagined, but completely worth it. The waterfall is beautiful! Plus there is a great place to go swimming right below the waterfall. I was told that if you continue hiking a bit further, there is a sliding rock there too. There is a nice visitor center with good restrooms and water fountains as well. If you visit here, make sure to also check out Whitewater falls! It is a much shorter hike (not really a hike at all), but the waterfall is huge!

Beautiful park in a beautiful part of the country — WNC.
This is where you’ll hike to get to Rainbow Falls (though part of the hike is through Nantahala National Forest as well). It’s a 3 mile hike in total (there and back), and will definitely get the heart and legs pumping for the average visitor. Expect downhill most of the way out until the last 5^th or so an aggressive incline.
Once at Rainbow Falls, there are some very steep paths to get down to the swimming hole and jumping rocks at the falls. Don’t leave without taking a photo from the overlook — it’s easy to capture a rainbow here on a sunny day!

Gorges State Park should actually be renamed Gorgeous State Park, because it’s beautiful here. 90 inches or better of annual rainfall and the fact that it has a 2,000 foot elevation change in just over 4 miles makes for rain forest-​like conditions.
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ECOLOGY — RARE PLANTS & ANIMALS
Because of its unique climate, GSP is home to several endangered specimens of both plants and animals. The state’s highest concentration of amphibian Salamanders are found here. Many are rare. Swainson’s warbler, the turquoise darter, rosyface chub and redeye bass are some of the other rare creatures found inside the park boundaries. Several of the rare plants found here are ONLY found in tropical regions of the world, which baffles scientists. How have they taken root in an area so far from their natural known homes? Carolina star-​moss, Pringle’s aquatic moss, Gorge filmy-​fern, Appalachian filmy-​fern and dwarf filmy-​fern are also found near the parks waterfalls. They require constant moisture, which the waterfalls happily provide.
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THE VISITORS CENTER
The 7,100 square foot LEED Gold Certified Visitor Center was opened on October 12^th 2012. It’s open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. It sits on a ridge of the escarpment @ 3,372 feet. It’s wide open covered deck provides visitors with amazing views of the park and features a large exhibit hall, auditorium, classrooms and a wall of water just outside its entrance. Kids and adults alike get a kick out of it. There is also a gift shop with neat things to purchase including books about the ecology and waterfalls.
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LOTS TO DO
A true nature lovers paradise, there is much to see and do here for all experience levels and all ages.
ACTIVITIES
— Family RV campsites
— Family tent campsites
— Primitive campsites
— Group Campsites
— Picnicking
— Fishing/​Boating
— Casual hiking and rugged back country hiking
— Mountain biking and horseback riding (permit only)
EVENTS
Great events like National Trails Day, where you can meet with a park ranger and hike to the Bear Wallow Valley. Park history, ecology, and park species will be covered. There is also Gorges Gratitude Day, National Moth Week, Monarch Migration and Milkweed Seeds, and Skins and Skulls; the animals of the Jocassee Gorges. Check with the center for event dates/​times.
AMENITIES
— Overlooks
— Bath houses
— Restrooms
— Rain shelters
— Picnic shelters
— Maintained trails
— 20.6 miles of rivers and creeks
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WATERFALLS
Although there are approx. 23 waterfalls inside the park boundaries, many can only be accessed via old logging roads that have not been maintained. It is ill-​advised to try to hike to these falls on the miles of back country trails IF you are not an experienced hiker. I’ve read how people have gotten lost inside the park and because of the remoteness of these areas; chances are you will be on your own!
The names of waterfalls inside the park include:
WATERFALLS OF TOXOWAY RIVER
— Toxaway
— Twin
— Wintergreen
— Eel Line
— Chub Line
— Fisher Hole
— Step Around
WATERFALLS OF BEARWALLOW CREEK
— Upper Bearwallow (2 falls)
— Indian Camp
— Split Rock
— Chute
— Paw Paw
— Ted’s
–Lower Bearwallow
— Long
— 4 unnamed falls
WATERFALLS OF AUGER FORK CREEK
— Auger Hole
— Auger Fork Creek
— Double Drop
Maple Springs Branch Falls (2 falls)
* The names of waterfalls accessible only through the park (but are outside the boundaries) are:
WATERFALLS OF HORSEPASTURE RIVER
Rainbow Falls
Turtleback Falls
Stairstep Falls
Windy Falls
Drift Falls (private property — no trespassing)
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THE VERDICT
This is an easy day hike within 2.5 hours drive of Atlanta, Athens, Asheville, Charlotte & Knoxville. The Sapphire/​Cashiers area of North Carolina is beautiful and would make for an excellent weekend getaway, especially if you love exploring hiking trails that lead to waterfalls. Make plans to visit… you’ll be happy you did.