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Jones Gap Caeser’s Head State Park

 

The Appalachian Mountains are some of the oldest in the world. Often thought to be the oldest, they are older than we can imagine- over a billion years old.  Older than dinosaurs even! They are eroded so they seem smaller than their counterparts, however at their prime they were just as large as any range we see today.  Their rolling mountain scapes have been changed over time, and still hold an unparalleled majesty today. Just north of Greenville, about a 30 minute drive from my side of town, is part of the Mountain Bridge Chain called Caeser’s Head and Jones Gap.  This has been one of my favorite places to explore since I moved here.  It’s an amazing day trip for a hike and a waterfall, or you can book camping spaces.

 

Ceaser’s Head itself is more of a lookout point.  There is a ranger station with a gift shop that I can’t help but buy things at every time I go, a view finder, and a few key points to check out while you’re there.  The ranger station has a 3d topographical map of the region and a small learning center.  Out of the gift shop, across the parking lot past the restrooms you’ll see a walkway leading to the overlook.  This view never fails- I have seen it likely 20+ times and even if I saw it 20 more I would still be impressed.  Looking out over the mountain range you can spot sights like Table Rock, Sassafras Mountain (the tallest mountain peak in South Carolina), lakes and reservoirs, birds of prey, and of course miles and miles of rolling mountain scape.  Take a few quarters for the view finder to zoom in, and make sure you take lots of pictures.  They ALWAYS look like postcards.  Just past the lookout point is The Devil’s Kitchen- a very narrow stone passage that is really neat to walk through.  That’s one of the things I love about this region: the giant rock formations and faces.  Take a left out of the parking lot and head toward your next destination!

 

There are many great hikes down the way in Jones Gap.  Depending on your level of fitness and how much time youhave you can enjoy a short hike to the Ravencliff Falls Overlook (the tallest waterfall in South Carolina), or even do the Dismal Loop which takes you miles through the woods, down cliffs, over rock faces, and even on a suspension bridge atop the waterfall! Other waterfalls include the Jones Gap Falls, and Rainbow Falls.  From this parking lot Rainbow Falls is a bit of a trek, so you might want to park in Jone’s Gap for that. Just make sure you put Jones Gap into your GPS and NOT rainbow falls because the latter will take you to the former trailhead which is about 45 minutes away from the new one!  However, on the side of the park nearest Ceaser’s Head there is plenty to explore!  Many winding trails take you by rivers and streams with lots of places to cool off and even have a dip, through dense forests and beautiful plant life, across magnificent rock formations, and if you’re lucky you might even catch sight of some wildlife!

 

Tips for these areas: know what trails you are planning on taking.  The rangers are always friendly and happy to make suggestions.  There are also registration stations with maps.  My recommendation is to take a picture of the map to take with you, and then put your phone on airplane mode so you can refer to the map and take as many pictures as you want to without your phone draining the battery as it searches for signal.  Make sure you have water.  It’s South Carolina- our summers are awful.  But I’ve even hiked these trails in the snow before and was still happy to have my water.  I recently purchased a life straw from Walmart, and it’s super neat. It filters any water to make it drinkable, so it eliminates the need for many heavy bottles in your bag.  Since many of these trails are around water, I take one bottle and my life straw for refills.  I also always bring a snack.  Some good glucose energy will make your hike more enjoyable, especially on those more difficult trails!  Remember, you are in the mountains so there will but elevation changes! Wear a good pair of shoes with support, and bring some essentials along such as a first aid kit, buy spray, a good hat is always nice, and I often bring my hammock and a good book so I can have a nice relaxing moment with an amazing view.  Maybe bring along a book to learn to identify the plants you will see along the way, or a history of the area.  It is rich in indigenous heritage!  Always make sure you register your hike, and tell someone where you are going.  I also have a walkie-talkie set and I leave one in my car and take one with me. That way if something happens my phone might not have signal, but my walkies have a 10 miles range and I can get help.  Also know your limitations: if you’ve never hiked before, take an easy trail or two and see how it goes. Do things safely, and at your pace.  You might even want to carry along a walking stick to help with stability.  There are many spots where you will be crossing creeks on rocks or long bridges, climbing ladders, and traversing steep hills.  Make sure you are ready. 

 

Prepare yourself for a great time any time you visit this area.  The plant and animal life, the landscape, the views and waterfalls make for a memorable day any day of the week.  Remember hiking is a wonderful active rest day, or even doing some trail running can be great cardio! And please, PLEASE remember to leave no trace- you are a visitor in someone else’s home. No litter, no rock stacking (that’s not art it’s habitat destruction), be courteous of others and do not play your music loudly- enjoy what nature is offering you, and don’t be rude in nature’s house.  Oh, and on your way home, stop by the Pumpkintown Mountain Opry for the BEST black cherry ice cream I have ever had!