Gorges State Park: 1 Day Itinerary

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Gorges State Park, located in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, has quickly become one of my favorite places to chase waterfalls. As you traverse the trails through the vibrant forest, you will encounter numerous cascades of all sizes along the Horsepasture River. The true standout, however, is the magnificent Rainbow Falls, which drops an impressive 150 feet over its rocky ledge. And on sunny days, this dazzling waterfall rewards visitors with a spectacular rainbow. If you’re seeking an awe-inspiring outdoor adventure, Gorges State Park should be at the top of your list. Let’s explore the details of this enchanting location and plan the perfect one-day itinerary to experience its breathtaking waterfalls!

Rainbow Falls

Entrance Fee:

FREE

Lodging:

There is one campground with 30 campsites (both electric and non-electric) and 5 cabins. Reservations for the campground can be made here- Camping at Gorges State Park.

There are no hotels or lodges within the park. For hotel options outside the park – as well as more camping and VRBO options- check out the city of Sapphire. We spent several weeks in this area the last time we visited and made Highlands our home base for the trip, so it is also an excellent option. Sapphire is approximately 10 min from the park; Highlands is approximately 40 min away.

Dining:

There are no food options within the park but there are shelters and picnic areas if you bring in your own food. The city of Sapphire will have your closest food options.

Personal Recommendations in Highlands:

Casual/Kid- Friendly: Ugly Dog, Blue Bike Café, BlackBear Breakfast and Lunch, Highlands Pizza Place, Highlands Smokehouse.

Fine Dining/NOT Kid-Friendly: Oak Steakhouse, Lakeside Restaurant, Ristorante Paoletti

Turtleback Falls

Know Before You Go:

Park hours vary by month. Check the park’s website here- Park Hours– before your visit. The park is open every holiday except for Christmas Day.
The Visitor Center is fantastic. It is open daily, 9 am- 5 pm.
Most of the trails are wet, rocky, and slick. Shoes with decent traction are recommended.
Dogs, on leash, are allowed on hiking trails.
I recommend downloading an AllTrails map for trails on this itinerary. (Want to check out AllTrails+? Use this link for a discount- AllTrails+.)
Please remember to follow Leave No Trace principles.

Stairway Falls

1 Day Itinerary

Stairway, Rainbow, Turtleback, Drift Falls

Distance: 4.7 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back with a spur trail to Stairway Falls

Trail Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous

Elevation Gain: +1000 ft

Trail Access: Park in the Rainbow Falls Lot via Gorges State Park Loop Road

Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash

Restrooms at Trailhead: Yes

Typically, I would recommend starting at the Visitor Center. However, since Rainbow Falls is very popular and the trail has significant elevation gain, it’s best to get an early start. The trail begins at the south end of the parking lot. From there, you will start your descent.

At 0.3 miles, you’ll encounter a trail junction with the Raymond Fisher Trail. Veer right to continue toward Rainbow Falls. Follow the wide path further down toward the water. In about another 0.6 miles, you will pass a sign indicating that you’re leaving Gorges State Park and entering Nantahala National Forest. Approximately 0.1 miles beyond that sign, there will be an unmarked path on your left; this is the spur trail to Stairway Falls.

You can choose to complete the spur trail now or on your way back. Even on weekends, Stairway Falls is likely to be less crowded, so I would recommend continuing toward Rainbow Falls and visiting Stairway Falls on your return. However, if you prefer to tackle the spur trail first, you can do that as well!

The portion of the trail from the beginning of the spur trail to Rainbow Falls is 0.6 miles. This segment of the trail features several viewpoints of smaller falls and incredible views of the Horsepasture River, so be sure to check them out! The view from the top of Rainbow Falls is spectacular; however, if you don’t mind getting wet, I highly recommend taking the spur trail (0.2 miles round trip) to the base of the 150-foot falls. This allows you to fully appreciate the water crashing over the rocky ledge onto the massive boulders below.

To reach the base of the falls, head past the fenced section and follow the path down to the overlook platform. The path beyond the overlook can be steep and very slick when wet, so please be cautious and know your limits— we witnessed many people lose their footing in this area.

After visiting Rainbow Falls, it’s just another 0.2 miles until you reach Turtleback Falls. Although Turtleback Falls is only 20 feet tall, when water levels are high, it can be over 30 feet wide, with water cascading over a smooth, curved rock, giving it the appearance of a turtle’s shell. There is a short path down to a large boulder where you can view Turtleback Falls up close. Continue along the main path a little further to get a better look at the top of the falls.

From Turtleback Falls, it is another 0.2 miles to the final waterfall in this section of the trail—Drift Falls. Just before you reach the falls, you’ll see a large sign indicating that it’s the end of the trail. Beyond this sign lies private property. Before reaching the sign, take the path on your left down to the water, where you will need to cross some large boulders to view the 80-foot falls. Be careful, as the rocks can be quite slick. We spotted some wildlife while rock-hopping, including a snake and several frogs, so keep an eye out!

After Drift Falls, retrace your steps back to the Stairway Falls trailhead—it’s approximately 1 mile back on the main path, just before you reach the Gorges State Park/Nantahala National Forest sign. The spur path to Stairway Falls is only 0.4 miles round trip, but it can take some time to navigate. This trail is narrow and overgrown, with several downed trees, so I highly recommend using the AllTrails app for this portion of the hike, as it’s challenging to follow and lacks signage.

To begin, follow the narrow path through the forest until you reach the water. At this point, the path splits; go left over a small creek. After crossing the creek, you’ll find an overlook with an obstructed view of the top of Stairway Falls on your right, while the main path continues to the left. Following the left path will take you to the base of the 60-foot falls. You will have to maneuver around several downed trees, most of which you will need to go under instead of over to reach the bottom. At the end, there are fantastic views of the cascading Stairway Falls. Take a moment to rest on the rocks at the base before heading back up to the main path to complete the 1-mile uphill trek to the parking area.

Visitor Center

Since your legs probably need a break before tackling Upper Bearwallow Falls, consider heading to the Visitor Center to learn more about the area. The Visitor Center is quite impressive, featuring numerous exhibits and a wealth of information. It also has restrooms, a gift shop, and the building itself is just beautiful. It has a large parking area, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a spot.

Upper Bearwallow Falls

Distance: 0.5 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: +150 ft

Trail Access: Park in the Upper Bearwallow Falls Lot via Gorges State Park Loop Road

Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash

Restrooms at Trailhead: Yes

For the last trail of the day, park in the Upper Bearwallow Falls parking lot, located near the Bearwallow Picnic Shelter. The trail begins on the east side of the parking lot. Please keep a close eye on young children and do not let them run ahead.

After descending a short set of stairs, you’ll need to cross the park road before starting a series of switchbacks that lead down to the observation platform. Although this trail is only 0.25 miles long, you will descend over 150 feet along the way.

Once you reach the observation deck, you will be rewarded with views of the 50-foot falls in the distance, as well as the surrounding gorge. After taking in the sights, retrace your steps back to your car. Remember to pace yourself on the way back up and exercise caution when crossing the winding park road.

Have an incredible adventure!

Looking for another waterfall itinerary? Check out our Buttermilk Falls State Park Itinerary!