Gorges, Mount Mitchell State Parks Officially Reopening

posted in: WNC Hiking, WNC Waterfalls | 0

Although Mount Mitchell’s new observation deck has been open for a while, the Park will hold a dedication on Saturday (May 9) which marks its official unveiling to the public. The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 11:00 AM at the summit. Go on up and enjoy the views before the summer haze sets in, as the wet weather of late has made for some spectactular, clear air. Just be sure to approach via the Parkway from the North – it is still closed at Craggy Gardens (although this section is set to reopen May 15 also).

And although Gorges State Park’s Frozen access has remained technically open, the Grassy Ridge entrance has been closed for construction. Unfortunately, it was where most of the park’s main attractions were reached and where visitors hiked to the nearby Turtleback and Rainbow Falls on the Horsepasture River. Fortunately, the Grassy Ridge area is scheduled to reopen Monday (May 11), with plenty of parking and new trailheads. This means we can FINALLY add Rainbow Falls and the other falls of the Horsepasture to this site, as up until this point, there was no reasonable and legal way to reach them!

Use the following links to get more information about Mount Mitchell or more information about Gorges State Park.

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