The trail is 1.9 miles from the trailhead to the falls, making it a nearly 4-mile out-and-back hike. #4 - Hospital Rock to Falls Creek Falls Trail, #5 - Jones Gap and Coldspring Branch to Bill Kimball Trail. You can use my travelog to discover fun places to visit and then use my interactive map to navigate there. Would your family be up for a hike up to Rainbow Falls? Jones Gap State Park is located in northern Greenville County, SC at the end of Jones Gap Road (also labeled as River Falls Road or County Road 97 on various maps). Raven Cliff Falls - the highest in South Carolina! If you shop through any Amazon link on this website, you support me at no cost to yourself. Plenty of streams, creeks, and waterfalls throughout the hike. Your email address will not be published. Naturaland Trust, a land conservancy started by environmentalist Thomas Wyche, acquired the land to form Jones Gap State Park in 1979. This route can done as either a point-to-point or an out-and-back. The view of the falls are BEAUTIFUL! The intermittent climbs are mostly moderate except for a few technical areas, including the climb down to the base of the waterfall. Reserved parking spaces will be held until 2 p.m. Starts off easy when you enter the trailhead, but will quickly get steep as you walk up a lot of stairs. The trail starts on Oil Camp Creek Road, which is paved all the way, but it becomes narrow and one-lane near the end. The trail actually starts with an unforgiving uphill climb. There are several trails, the Jones Gap trail goes along the River, up to a waterfall and beyond. It's a 2.3-mile hike (one way and relatively strenuous) to the waterfall, but the reward is a 125-foot waterfall and frequent rainbow colors when the sun hits the cascading water. You have to travel through the Palmetto Bible Camp to find it. One of the great attractions in the green sanctuary of Jones Gap State Park is Rainbow Falls. Learn more. Gap State Park. Explore the most popular waterfall trails in Jones Gap State Park with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. This 50ft beauty is an easy waterfall to visit as the trail is only about 1 mile one-way, has minimal elevation change, and parallels the gorgeous boulder strewn Middle Saluda River almost the entire hike. Several pools in the river provide wading opportunities and salamander hunts. An alternative to hiking the strenuous Rainbow Falls trail, this in-and-out hike follows Jones Gap Trail and then the 0.1mi Jones Gap Falls Trail to a 50ft waterfall on a tributary to the Middle Saluda for a 2.6mi round trip. I would rate this hike a moderate-to-difficult. This beautiful trail takes you through forested areas along Oil Camp Creek, eventually reaching Pinnacle Pass. Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Park closes at 6 p.m. during daylight savings time. #hiking, A post shared by Chad Chandler (@chad.chandler) on Apr 28, 2018 at 10:07am PDT. Jones Gap is just 1 of 47 State Parks in South Carolina. It’s an easy, scenic pathway alongside the Middle Saluda River and is child- and pet-friendly. Zero spam. When it comes to angling-especially trout fishing-South Carolina really shines. Parking is just a couple of hundred yards up on the right. Nov 13, 2019 - Explore South Carolina State Parks's board "Waterfalls in SC State Parks", followed by 2032 people on Pinterest. Rim of the Gap is beautiful but strenuous, and can be icy in the winter. The unforgettable peace and repose of a deep mountain cove. It’s very similar to nearby Rainbow Falls Trail, except this trail has no switchbacks to help you manage the elevation. Parking spot reservations may be made here: https://reserve.southcarolinaparks.com/mountain-bridge Date of experience: November 2019 Ask Becky S about Jones Gap State Park Dogs are also able to use this trail. Several thousand different plant and animal species. Hikes. Having reached the highest point of the hike, there are several areas on the way down where one might just have to be on all fours (around the rock walls which are beautiful!) There is a great waterfall about a mile in, and many smaller cascades along the way. Much of the hike to Rainbow Falls, which begins at Jones Gap State Park (seen here at the start of the trail on the right side of the map), follows along the Middle Saluda River. I had a 4-month old puppy with me, so I couldn’t cross the water with him. I'm not sure if the waterfall is on Camp Greenville property or is now part of Jones Gap State Park, but this is now the official trail to the waterfall. #7 - Gum Gap Trail - Foothills Trail Extension: Jones Gap to Sassafras Mountain, #8 - Pretty Place and Rainbow Falls via Hospital Rock and Jones Gap Trail [PRIVATE PROPERTY], Jones Gap and Coldspring Branch to Bill Kimball Trail, Gum Gap Trail - Foothills Trail Extension: Jones Gap to Sassafras Mountain, Pretty Place and Rainbow Falls via Hospital Rock and Jones Gap Trail [PRIVATE PROPERTY]. Jones Gap State Park, Marietta Picture: waterfall - Check out Tripadvisor members' 213 candid photos and videos. I'm a digital marketing specialist by trade and an avid weekend explorer. The trailhead is not in the main part of the park. There are several trails, the Jones Gap trail goes along the River, up to a waterfall and beyond. Jones Gap State Park, Marietta Picture: waterfall - Check out Tripadvisor members' 206 candid photos and videos. There’s no swimming hole at the falls and no flat ground to really enjoy the view. Located in the Upstate of South Carolina in the 4,000 acre pristine woodlands of Jones Gap State Park, is the namesake waterfall of the park - Jones Gap Falls. Falls Creek Falls is a waterfall in Jones Gap State Park that features a 50-foot cascade that breaks over several stages. From the parking lot, hike toward the park buildings on a short trail that crosses the Middle Saluda River. Eventually the water from Rainbow Falls makes its way all the way down the mountain to join the Middle Saluda River as it runs through Jones Gap State Park. #Outdoors #Waterfall #SCStateParks #Nature #Waterfall #Photography #Mountains #Hiking #ComeOutAndPlay Another .6 miles down and the trail to the Jones Gap Falls will be on the right. It can be hard to take in the scope of the cascade because it’s so steep and the canopy is so dense. I should add that the trail crosses the creek and continues on the other side. It is a little steeper (moderate) leading up through forested areas. The Jones Gap State Park trails allow hikers to traverse between the two parks, as well as connect to a portion of the Foothills Trail and Palmetto Trail South Carolina hikers know and love. #6 - Oil Camp Creek to Pinnacle Pass Trail. The trail follows the Middle Saluda River, making for a beautiful hike along the way. There is roadside parking for … Rainbow Falls, located in Jones Gap State Park, is a moderately difficult hike but offers incredible views of the 100 ft waterfall. Rainbow Falls (Jones Gap State Park) (Rating: 5 /5, 3 Votes) Most people who visit Jones Gap State Park stroll the gently ascending Jones Gap Trail to Jones Gap Falls. Jones Gap State Park Visitor Center Starting from the visitor center, blue-blazed Jones Gap Trail gentle rises upstream alongside the Middle Saluda River. It's just a couple of hundred feet long and worth taking a look. 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