Gorges State Park Campground, near Sapphire, North Carolina, is a fantastic destination for those who love the great outdoors. This campground is known for its pristine environment, featuring clean sites and easy access to numerous hiking trails and stunning waterfalls.

The campground offers a mix of tent and RV accommodations, with some sites boasting full hookups. Visitors rave about the immaculate bathhouse and the well-maintained facilities, making it a comfortable place to unwind after a day of adventure. One camper noted, “The park has a great visitors center, lots of trails for hiking and seeing waterfalls, campground is pristine.”

For those who enjoy hiking, you’re in luck! The area is packed with trails leading to breathtaking waterfalls, including the famous Rainbow Falls. Reviewers have highlighted the peaceful atmosphere, with one stating, “The peace and quiet from being out in these woods was wonderful.” 

While the campground is primarily a hike-in location, it’s worth the trek for the tranquility and natural beauty that awaits. Whether you’re looking to relax by the fire or explore the surrounding wilderness, Gorges State Park Campground is a great choice for your next outdoor adventure.

Gorges State Park Campground

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The Best Camping Near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

Was not clearly marked, if at all that these campsites are a 2 mile hike from parking. Would have packed differently had we known! Once we got over the shock and set up, it ended up being one of the most peaceful and scenic sites that I have ever been to. There is no immediate water access but plenty of hiking trails that led to beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes.

Hike in sites only. 

This is one of North Carolina’s best waterfall parks. Rainbow Falls, Turtel Back Falls and Bust your Ass Falls. The Visitors Center has free parking for RV’s and Vans theirs numerous primitive sites and I found a Gem of a site about 2 miles from the parking lot. 

More than just a campground

We loved this place. It is a hike-in campground so know that before you go, probably 1.5 mile hike so nothing crazy. Once there the sites are nice and cozy with decent space between you and your neighbors. The peace and quiet from being out in these woods was wonderful. Each site has a fire pit and a picnic table. The hikes to the waterfalls are easily accessible and totally worth it. If you aren’t into primitive camping this might not be for you.

Peace, quiet and beautiful waterfalls

We visited this park on Saturday, October 22, and discovered this was the day that reservations were going live to begin reserving the brand-new developed campground(Grassy Ridge Access) for dates starting on October 29. The campground will have five primitive cabins, 16 tent and 14 FHU sites. We were not even allowed to see the campground on this day. 

  

Frozen Creek Access will continue to offer first-come, first-served tent sites free of charge. These are not reservable. There are six designated backpack sites along the Foothills Trail near the southern boundary of the park. Dispersed primitive tent camping is available in Pisgah National Forest along the Rainbow Falls Trail. Access to this trail is from the Grassy Ridge entrance to the park. These sites are not reservable and are free of charge, but you must register at the visitor center or the trailhead. 

  

The Visitor Center is beautiful– not sure when it was completed. There is also a large picnic shelter near the Bearwallow Valley Trail. 

  

We only had time to hike the short trail to Upper Bearwallow Falls but would like to return to camp here and hike to Rainbow Falls so this park is on our return list for sure!

UPDATED INFORMATION!

Great experience at end of May, 2023. The park has had primitive camping for years, but this year is the first season with an area for RVs/trailers and a separate area tent campers. All sites are level with concrete pads, except for the tent site. Fire pit is on bricks. Bathhouse is immaculate. The park has a great visitors center, lots of trails for hiking and seeing waterfalls, campground is pristine, and non-tent sites have full hookups. The park covers 7,000+ acres and hosts the start of the trail into Pisgah National Forest to the famous Rainbow Falls. We have a 17' Casita and stayed in a site with full hookups. Activities in the surrounding area include lots of waterfalls, hiking, mountain biking, golf, shopping and dining in the Highlands, and some great restaurants.

Pristine, quiet, and waterfalls

Very nice ...FULL HOOK UP!♡

This is a great State Park campground. New, clean, lots of hikes and waterfalls. It doesn’t get any better than this !!

Great place to be :

**General:** Newer campground (opened November 2022) with a mix of electric and tent sites plus primitive cabins. 

  

**Site Quality:** All sites have a paved camper pad, a large gravel tent pad, a very generous-sized picnic table, and a fire ring. The tent site camper pads can easily accommodate two cars. Be aware, however, that camper pads on the odd-numbered tent sites (5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15) are **not** level, but Sites 1 and 3 plus the even-numbered sites have level parking pads. This is only a concern if, like us, you are in a campervan; tents would have no problem. 

  

**Bath/Shower house:** Extremely clean. It is a bit of a hike from the tent sites to the bathhouse, which is ¼ mile from Site 6. The shower was one of the best campground showers we’ve experienced– nicely tiled, long bench, several hooks, immediate warm water, and nice water pressure. Since the bathhouse was so far from the tent sites, it would have been nice to have a vault toilet in this area. 

  

**Activities:** There are several trails in this park, however, they are a bit of a distance from the campground, so unless you want a longer hike, you need to drive to the trailheads. The best one is to Rainbow and Turtle Back Falls, a somewhat challenging 4-mile round trip hike, but well worth it. 

  

We had planned a return to this campground specifically to hike to Rainbow Falls. Our stay was very pleasant (despite periodic downpours!), and Connie, the camp host, was one of the best we’ve encountered in a campground.

Photos of Gorges State Park Campground

Real photos from real campers