There are a couple entry points to this state park. This review is based on the Grassy Ridge entry point on the north side of the park. I did the Rainbow Falls hike early in the morning. It's not terribly difficult. The return is toughest because it's uphill, but nothing too strenuous. Rainbow Falls is one of the better waterfalls in West Carolina. It's taller than the pictures make it look and you can easily access it from different views. At the base, there are some decent swimming pools. At the top, there are some nice rock overlooks, just be careful. The next falls is Turtleback Falls. This is a popular swimming hole but not a terribly spectacular waterfall. The big draw is sliding down the rock, but it seems a bit questionable on the safety end. The last fall on the trail is not on the map because it falls just inside private property. Whoever owns this area, downed a bunch of trees to discourage hikers. You can still kind of see it. It's fine, but not worth the short hike over to see it. On the way back, there were tons of people hiking down to the falls. I have no idea how they were all going to fit in the fairly small swimming holes. I'd avoid a midday visit if you can. I also took a peek at Bearwallow Falls. This is a short hike but not worth it. The fall is unimpressive and at a distance. Rainbow Falls is well worth the trip, but go early and avoid the hoards.

Gorges State Park can be accessed from Rt 281. The entrance road is long and winding and takes you to the Visitors Center which has restrooms and maps. The park is very large with with multiple campgrounds and we saw they are building a new one. The park offers hiking trails mostly moderate to difficult to cliffs and waterfalls. The trail to Whitewater Falls is easy.

A perfect way to spend a Friday during a Pandemic. We got on the trail at 9am and hike to Rainbow Falls and Turtle Back Falls, passing less than 3 people. It did get busier when we headed back to the parking lot at the end of our hike. Most hikers were very courteous about keeping their distance and friendly. We also passed a few hikers with dog on leash. The hike is definitely challenging if you go to both Rainbow Falls and Turtle Back Falls, appx 5+ miles round trip. There several nice spots on the rocks along the stream for resting and breakfast. The ranger station before you get to the trail has very clean bathrooms and trails map. We would highly recommend this trail for anyone who want to hike challenging trail with views of waterfalls.