Hike Through A Rain Forest Filled With Waterfalls At Gorges State Park In North Carolina
Spend a day in the depths of a lush rain forest in the Tar Heel State when you visit Gorges State Park near Sapphire. With an average annual rainfall of 80 inches, this unique locale gets nearly double the average rainfall of 45 inches the rest of the state receives. If you’ve always wanted to explore a rain forest, then here’s your chance!

The massive precipitation here is a direct result of what's called an orographic lift. Essentially, the park's terrain rises more than 2,000 feet in less than four miles. The swift elevation gain causes air masses to rise quickly to pass up and over the mountain peaks and ridges. As the air rises, a rapid cooling takes place. Cooler air masses can't hold humidity like warm masses can, so the resulting affect of the quick rise is a huge amount of precipitation.







You can learn more about Gorges State Park’s trails and other amenities here. And when you’re ready to hike the many trails be sure to check them out in detail (including difficulty levels, elevation gains, and more) by visiting our friends at AllTrails.
Address: 976 Grassy Ridge Rd, Sapphire, NC 28774, USA