Jones Gap State Park facts for kids

Jones Gap State Park is a beautiful South Carolina state park located in the northern part of Greenville County. It's close to the town of Marietta. This large park covers about 3,964 acres (1,604 hectares). It's special because it includes the very beginning, or headwaters, of the Middle Saluda River. Jones Gap State Park works together with Caesars Head State Park. Both parks are managed by the state and are part of a larger protected area called the Mountain Bridge Wilderness.

Park History: How Jones Gap Was Formed

Building the Old Jones Gap Road

Long ago, from 1840 to 1848, a man named Solomon Jones built a road through this area. He taught himself how to build roads, which was amazing! This road was a toll road, meaning people paid to use it. It connected Caesars Head in South Carolina to Cedar Mountain in North Carolina. People used to tell a story that he found the path by following a sow (a female pig) with a hatchet. The old Jones Gap Road was mostly abandoned by 1910. It was the only direct way between Greenville County and Transylvania County, North Carolina for a long time. Later, in the 1930s, a different route was chosen for the Geer Highway (U. S. Route 276).

Protecting the Land for Future Generations

In the early 1950s, a man named Henry Ware remembered traveling through the Gap as a young boy. He encouraged his cousin, a businessman named E. Ervin Dargan, to buy 2,000 acres of land in Jones Gap. They bought it from the Saluda Land and Lumber Company. By 1976, both men were worried that new buildings and more cars would harm the natural beauty of the area. So, they decided to sell and donate their land to the state. They wanted it to become a park for everyone to enjoy.

Around the same time, a lawyer from Greenville named Thomas Wyche had an idea. He wanted to create a large protected area called the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. In 1973, he started a group called the Naturaland Trust. This group worked to buy and protect nearly 10,000 acres (4,047 hectares) of private mountain land. This land included Jones Gap. In 1978, the state began to buy properties for the park. Much of the money came from a federal program called the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Jones Gap State Park officially opened in January 1989. Even after the park opened, Naturaland Trust and The Nature Conservancy continued to buy smaller pieces of land in Jones Gap into the 21st century.

Natural Wonders of Jones Gap State Park

Jones Gap State Park is a wild, forested area. Its elevation ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 feet (305 to 914 meters) above sea level. This park is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. You can find over 60 types of mammals here, like deer and bears. There are also more than 600 kinds of wildflowers, which are beautiful to see. Over 160 types of songbirds live in the park, filling the air with their songs. Some of the trees you'll see are usually found in colder places like Pennsylvania or Maine.

The Middle Saluda River flows through the park. This river is very special because it was the first river in South Carolina to be named a state-designated scenic river. This means it's recognized for its natural beauty and importance. The park also has the Eastern Continental Divide running through it. This is an imaginary line where water on one side flows towards the Atlantic Ocean, and water on the other side flows towards the Gulf of Mexico.

Fun Things to Do at Jones Gap State Park

Exploring Trails and Camping

Jones Gap State Park has more than 30 miles (48 kilometers) of hiking trails. Many of these trails lead to beautiful waterfalls, which are perfect for photos. If you love camping, you can find special backcountry trailside campsites. These are great for a quiet night under the stars.

Other Activities and Learning

Besides hiking and camping, there are many other fun things to do. You can go fishing in the Middle Saluda River. Bird watching is also very popular, as there are so many different kinds of birds to spot. If you like treasure hunts, you can try geocaching in the park.

The park also has a Learning Center. This center has a classroom where you can learn about nature. It also has an aquatic ecology lab, where you can learn about the plants and animals that live in the water. There's even a small gift shop where you can buy souvenirs. Jones Gap is also home to the partially restored Cleveland Fish Hatchery. This was South Carolina's very first fish hatchery. It operated between 1931 and 1962, helping to raise fish for the state's waters.

Images for kids

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  Solomon Jones, 1802-1899

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  Vista from the Rim of the Gap Trail in late October.

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  A beautiful waterfall on the Jones Gap Trail.

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  The Middle Saluda River flowing through Jones Gap State Park.