Date: 02/07/2023
Name: Gorges State Park Waterfalls Trail near Sapphire, NC
Distance: 7.3
Difficulty: Difficult
Total Climbing Elevation: 1,742
Type: Out and Back
Notes: This was one of our more challenging but rewarding hikes with a concentration of several large waterfalls in a hike. We visited four large waterfalls: Windy, Staircase, Rainbow and Turtleback Falls. The Horsepasture River is impressive with high flows and massive boulders creating almost continuous scenic cascades and rapids. The main trails within the park are heavily used and quite wide with gravel used extensively to control erosion. The trail section leading down to Windy Falls has a recent application of 2-3 inch granite rocks which in combination with a heavy leaf cover made for very uncomfortable, if not, slippery walking. Once outside the park along the northwestern section of the Rainbow Falls Trail, the trail transitions to a narrower, wetter and more rooty bed. Accessing Windy and Staircase Falls requires careful footing down even steeper and narrower trails. We did not attempt to reach the base of Windy Falls which, by later research, is extremely dangerous. This was a difficult, but rewarding hike with some long and steep climbs and descents on less than ideal trails. However, it was worth the long drive and extra effort. As a footnote, NC Park Service states this park has the largest concentration of 20 waterfalls, the most of any of its parks.
AllTrails Link: Gorges State Park Waterfalls Trail near Sapphire, NC
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