A new Master Plan was produced and approved by State Parks Division in 2003. Money has been approved to begin Phase I of the Master Plan, which will involve the design in 2005 and construction of roads, sewer, water and electric lines in 2006. [Note: During Phase I construction the Park parking lot on NC281 will be closed at least part of the time. Check with Park staff, as parking on NC281 is forbidden and will lead to fines.] Phase II will see the construction of visitor facilities and campground. Completion is not expected for all facilities before 2010, even assuming money is allocated promptly. See Plan
You can express (and are encouraged to do so) your opinions about Park Management by writing to:Gorges State Park
PO Box 100
Sapphire, NC, 28774-0100 email: gorg@citcom.netMeanwhile, interim parking facilities for 80 cars off of NC 281 near the Horsepasture River, and a smaller one off of Frozen Creek Road where the Auger Hole Road begins are now open. The NC281 parking area connects with a small picnic area with portajohns and a short nature trail. This lot is locked from dusk to dawn. Those camping overnight on Forest Service or State Gameland along the Horsepasture must register with the Park to leave a car in the lot.
To get to the Horsepasture it is necessary to walk out on the highway west a short distance to the old road to Turtleback Falls and follow this to the river. No parking is permitted along NC 281 at all. The old access point from the Horsepasture Bridge down past Drift Falls is now owned by the McNeely quarry and any trespassing is strictly forbidden. But see Note above for the situation in 2006.
The main Park can be accessed on foot via either the Auger Hole Road from Frozen Creek, or the Grassy Ridge/Chestnut Moutain Road from the NC281 parking area. Camping (primitive only, no facilities) is allowed currently in the Park only along the Foothills Trail in designated sites, and at the Raymond Fisher Place area off the Grassy Ridge Road.
The Frozen Creek parking lot is open 24 hours per day since it is the primary access for backpacking trips along the Foothills Trail (reached via the Cane Brake Road). Campers must register with the Park.Volunteers Needed! The Park is now using volunteers to help with trail and office work. Call the Park at 828-966-9099 if you are interested, or email at gorg@citcom.net.
Sierra Club has published a "Guide to the Jocassee Gorges - Horsepasture, Bearwallow and Toxaway Region". It includes the best trail map of this area available anywhere, plus pictures and short writeups on history, both natural and cultural. It is sold in local stores in the Brevard and Hendersonville area for $5.00 (Highland Books, Backcountry Outdoors, Diamond Brand, Black Dome). It can be ordered from the Sierra Club, 112 S. Blount St., Raleigh, NC, 27601. Price from Sierra Club is approximately $6.50 including mailing.