Plan A Camping Trip To This East Coast State Park For Incredible Outdoor Adventures
Disconnecting from the hectic hustle and bustle of everyday life is essential every once in a while. A camping trip is one of the best ways to do exactly that. Staying overnight in the wilderness is wonderful enough, but being able to wake up and fill your day with outdoor adventures will turn your nature retreat into the ultimate camping trip. A fantastic place to do this is at Gorges State Park in North Carolina.
This North Carolina park has a variety of beautiful gems. An incredible natural reserve, the area boasts an abundance of campsites and ample opportunities to get active outdoors. Whatever activity you're looking for, regardless of skill level, you'll be able to find it at Gorges State Park. If you're looking for a camping trip that will keep you busy with a long list of attractions to see and activities to do, Gorges State Park is the right destination for you.
What to do at Gorges State Park
Take a break from city life and head to the beautiful East Coast campgrounds at Gorges State Park. Found in Transylvania County in the Southeastern region of North Carolina, this park was established as a public space relatively recently in 2009. The space offers 8,000-plus acres of rugged, mountainous terrain. Getting around 90 inches of rain every year, the area is considered a temperate rainforest. Here, you can expect to come across wild black bears, turkeys, foxes, coyotes, wild boar, deer, and more roaming the landscape.
From its majestic waterfalls to its backcountry trails, the park is packed to the brim with natural attractions to explore. Visitors arrive yearly to hike the famous Rainbow Falls Trail, fish trout in Bearwallow Creek, and go mountain biking or horseback riding the Auger Hole Trail. Whenever guests need a break from all that physical activity, the park offers plenty of picnicking sites to post up at and refuel.
Planning your trip to Gorges State Park
Before you head to Gorges State Park, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your trip goes smoothly. First, you'll want to make sure you make a campground reservation before you pitch any tent. You must obtain a permit and set up camp in an official location designated by the state park. This will be to your benefit, as these spaces offer fire rings, picnic tables, lantern hooks, and even bear-proof storage bins.
While your campground will require you to pay a fee, entering the park is free of charge. You can enter the state park 7 miles south on Hwy 281 off of Hwy 64 in Sapphire, North Carolina. While the park is open year-round (save Christmas), be sure to check out the weather forecast before leaving and visit the park website for status updates on trail safety. Whatever your weather app may say, bring waterproof gear to stay prepared amidst the ever-unpredictable rainforest climate.