Learn about the wild and scenic Horsepasture River

Originally published by the Transylvania Times on June 26, 2023. Written by Kinley Cook. View the original article here.

Western North Carolina is a region bursting at the seams with public land and the specific area that Gorges State Park calls home is no exception.

Bordered by Pisgah National Forest (managed by the United States Forest Service) and Toxaway Game Lands (managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission), Gorges State Park frequently works with various public land management agencies to understand the basics of how these entities operate and better serve and educate our visitors.

In addition to local agencies and their functions, the various land and water designations that surround our park and their meanings are also helpful to know.

One such label is the designation of the Horsepasture River as a part of the National Wild & Scenic Rivers system.

While this river does not technically run through Gorges State Park, it does house one of the primary reasons people visit: Rainbow Falls. Gorges State Park provides the only legal access to these falls by way of the Rainbow Falls Trail.

The Wild & Scenic Rivers system was established via the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 to preserve designated free-flowing rivers for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations. North Carolina has five designated wild and scenic rivers: the Chattooga River, Lumber River, New River, Wilson Creek and Horsepasture River.

There are three classifications that Wild & Scenic Rivers can fall under based on the characteristics of the rivers at the point in time that the designation is made. These specific designations (wild, scenic and recreational) are important to denote the important features of the river and affect the types and amount of future development. A river can have any combination of these three labels or can have a solo designation.

At 4.2 miles, the designated section of the Horsepasture River is the second shortest in the entire Wild & Scenic system. Three point six of those miles are labeled as scenic (meaning that this section’s shoreline is still largely primitive and undeveloped, but is accessible in places by road) and .6 of a mile is labeled as recreational (meaning that this section of river is readily accessible by road and that there is some development along the shoreline).

The section closest to Gorges is labeled recreational due to the proximity of the river to North Carolina Highway 281, the Rainbow Falls Trailhead parking area and Chestnut Mountain Road (the state-owned four-wheel drive road that divides Gorges State Park property from the Toxaway Game Lands property).

Another thing to note is that in order for a river to be considered for Wild & Scenic River classification it must also possess ORVs- Outstandingly Remarkable Values. An ORV must be a river-related value that is a rare, unique or exemplary feature on a regional or national scale.

The Outstandingly Remarkable Values identified for the entirety of the Horsepasture’s designation section are scenery, recreation, geologic and botany.

Because of the Horsepasture River’s designation, Gorges staff can better manage the land entrusted to the state and further understand the importance of this natural treasure.

The Wild & Scenic classification is also another way for park staff to sell the value of this slice of Southern Appalachia while also connecting it to the NC Division of Parks and Recreation’s mission of conservation, recreation and education for generations to come.