• During the green and warmer months, these sites are usually occupied, so you don’t want to infringe on their privacy. The ranger was nice and helpful. what you know about this area! 3,318' Up At 0.6 miles in, you'll find a trail split to the right for Rainbow Falls Trail, which is 1.6 miles one way and rated very strenuous by the state park. The start of the Jones Gap Trail is located to left of the wooden bridge that crosses to the Ranger Station from the upper parking area. There is no water or electricity provided at the campsites. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts. When you reach the trail sign for the falls, head uphill away from the river. Navigating the rocks is the most difficult part. See the photos below. Kings Gap State Park has over 16 miles of well-maintained hiking trails that offer a wide variety of hiking experiences. Accessing Rainbow Falls via the trail above requires a paid admittance to Jones Gap State Park. 1,681' Up But for this hike, take the left fork, blue blaze. The Friends of Kings Gap play an important role in maintaining the trails and funding trail improvements. Spam? 54.47 m Up 111 Miles 178 Kilometers of Trail 5 Recommended Routes ... Greenville Wayside Park. Short Hike: Parking in Jones Gap Park, follow Jones Gap Trail for about 1.5 miles, about a 3-mile round trip or add in Rainbow Falls Trail for a longer hike to both falls. They tend to hang out along the river near the Visitor Center. 3,319' Down Starting Point: Visitor Center parking area at Jones Gap State Park, SC. Are there any campsites at Caesars Head State Park or Jones Gap State Park? High . There are 4-5 campsites alongside the trail and the river that make excellent vantage points for views upstream. A rough trail map of the area can be found on www.sctrails.net, but I would recommend stopping by the Caesars Head Park Store and purchasing a trail map for $2.10. Posted by Jeff on Feb 20, 2020 @ 9:55 am in Hiking, Hiking Blog, Mountain Bridge Wilderness, Rated Easy Hikes, South Carolina, Water Hikes | 0 comments | Last modified: February 20, 2020 . Summarizing, unfortunately the condition of the Jones Gap Trail has really deteriorated since my initial visit in 2012. ISSN 2324-6057, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by Wordpress | Logo by Design Aspirations, Want a free Meanderthals Hiking sticker? Wild trout, including the rare, native brookie. Posted by Jeff on Jan 16, 2012 @ 5:12 pm in Best Hike, Hiking, Hiking Blog, Mountain Bridge Wilderness, Rated Difficult Hikes, South Carolina, Water Hikes | 9 comments | Last modified: February 20, 2020 . Create Recommended Route or The plan was to take Jones Gap Trail up the Middle Saluda River to Jones Gap Falls and beyond, then return. • The daily park entrance fee is $5 for adults; $3.25 for South Carolina seniors (age 65 & older); $3 for children ages 6-15; and admission is free for ages 5 and under. Hiking Trails: A network of easy to strenuous hiking trails in the Mountain Bridge Recreation Area links Caesars Head and Jones Gap state parks. The addition of the 1,077 Ritter Tract in 2011 will add many more miles of trails. • Several pools in the river provide wading opportunities and salamander hunts. Therefore, it is not recommended for … An example view from one of the trailside campsites. Fly fishing the Middle Saluda River can be both fun and rewarding. A big portion of the hike seems like an old creek bed. When you cross the river to a campground on the north side, you are almost there. We went up another quarter mile or so, found a nice cascade along the river, and discovered what I call Smiley Rock. Family Friendly: This is not as steep of a climb compared to Rainbow Falls , and you can get up close with a little pool at the base. Unfortunately, it will be very expensive to repair the drainage problem. J ones Gap State Park sits on the Blue Ridge Escarpment in upstate South Carolina very near the state line with its neighbor to the north. Caesars Head/Jones Gap State Parks. Continue approximately 1.5 miles and turn right onto River Falls Road (Greenville County S-23-97), which changes to Jones Gap Road, and continue to Jones Gap State Park. Take a moment to look at the kiosk and fill out the registration info. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The other end of the 5 mile Jones Gap Trail starts near here so you could stop in there and ask if they have any info. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. 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