The Coveted State Park Every South Carolinian Needs To Visit At Least Once

South Carolina boasts 47 state parks and state historic sites, all under the stewardship of our fabulous South Carolina State Parks system. Within our state parks, you can discover miles of undeveloped sandy beaches, hundreds of miles of hiking trails ranging from coastal to mountainous, and a variety of protected areas worth exploring again and again.

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But those who've had the joy of exploring Jones Gap State Park will likely agree it's one of the most special parks in the system, even if it's imperative to get there early or be turned away by a ranger when the lot is full.

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Miles and miles of trails traverse the 3,900+ acres in this pristine wilderness, and a bona fide scenic river, the Middle Saluda, passes right through the park with its signature creek bottom filled with large smooth boulders.

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Adventurous backpacking awaits for visitors who want to stay in one of the 18 coveted hike-in-only trail-side campsites. Some are even next to the Middle Saluda River.

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In November 2017, some great news was announced by the Nature Conservancy. The non-profit group had just closed a deal on 955 acres of land adjacent to Jones Gap State Park — and announced a plan to transfer it all to the South Carolina State Parks! Once complete, the transfer will increase the park's size considerably and add some much needed flat terrain that can be utilized for additional parking.

In response to the announcement, South Carolina park director, Phil Gaines, said of the Nature Conservancy's donation, "Its 955 acres include flat land that is ideal for more parking, facilities, trail heads and other visitor amenities. This property can help the Park Service meet its vision for expanding visitor service and making this wilderness area accessible to more South Carolinians."

That's fantastic news, and we are excited for the upcoming expansion of this coveted park that, during the summer months, can be difficult to get into.

Have you visited Jones Gap State Park recently? We’d love to know!

Jones Gap State Park is located at 303 Jones Gap Road, Marietta, SC 29661. Hour for this park are seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time and 9:00 .m. to 6:00 p.m. the remainder of the year. Trails close one hour before dark, year round. Admission is: $5 adults; $3.25 SC seniors (age 65 & older); $3 children ages 6-15; ages 5 and under, free. Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Learn more on the official website for South Carolina State Parks.