Palmetto Trail – Middle Saluda Passage (Part One)

After completing the Mountains-to-Sea Trail 40 Hike Challenge, I decided to take a brief break to explore some other trails nearby. I have also been curious about the Palmetto Trail, South Carolina’s state trail that eventually will extend from the mountains to the coast. It is exciting to discover new trails not far from home and to realize that the mountains do not stop at the state line. This weekend I hiked part of the Middle Saluda Passage in Jones Gap State Park in South Carolina. There are a variety of trails in the Park with many interesting areas to explore along with several impressive water falls.

The Palmetto Trail will eventually be approximately 500 miles when completed. Currently, over 380 miles of trail miles have been finalized. Made up of backcountry trails, greenways and bikeways, it extends from Oconee county in the mountains to Charleston, SC. The Palmetto is made up of 30 sections or ‘Passages’ which range in length from less than 1.5 miles to almost 50 miles. Each Passage also has its own personality, not just in topography but also in the type of trails and usage allowed. Some are hiking only while others may be multi-use for biking and equestrian.

Being a life long resident of North Carolina and having spent a lot of time on the Mountains to Sea Trail, understanding the Palmetto Trail has been a learning experience for me. Some of the Palmetto is not complete, similar to the MST- however, some of the currently Passages do not connect. The best resource is the Palmetto Trail website – Palmetto Conservation. From this website, you can see the details of each Passage with length, access points and use. Also available from the website is the ability to download a map via the Avenza Maps APP.

The simplest access point for the Middle Saluda Passage is Jones Gap State Park. The Middle Saluda River runs through the State Park as well as the Eastern Continental Divide. From the Park, there is access to many waterfalls including: Falls Creek Falls, Jones Gap Falls, Rainbow Falls, Dargans Cascades and Silver Steps Falls.

Please note that if you are planning on visiting the Park, they have limited parking and they require online parking reservations ahead of time. They are easy to reserve and can be done so here. Also, like most of the SC State Parks and the associated parking areas, an admission is required. If you are planning on visiting many of the SC State Parks I highly recommend purchasing a SC “Park Passport”. They are good for a year, cover everyone in your car and come with several other added benefits.

My goal for this day was to explore the Palmetto Trail via the Jones Gap Trail and to also take a detour up to Rainbow Falls. Rainbow Falls is included in the Carolina Mountain Club 100 Waterfall Challenge, which I am also attempting to complete. It is an intriguing challenge because each of the hikes are unique with varying degrees of mileage and difficulty, and it forces me to see areas I have never explored.

The Jones Gap Trail parallels the Middle Saluda River for the majority of the time. We had received a heavy snowfall a few weeks before followed by some heavy rains, therefore the river was roaring. The sound of the rushing river provided a peaceful backdrop for a beautiful cool day of hiking.

The trek up to Rainbow Falls is listed at 1.6 miles one-way with an elevation gain of 1200 feet. It is a well marked trail (as are all of the trails within the Passage) with red rectangles. A lot of work has been done to maintain the path in the excellent shape that it was in with many, many steps made either of logs or rock. With all the rain, as expected, many areas had water in the path, but it was always passable.

Standing at the base of Rainbow Falls, it is easy to see how it gets its name. The water drops from such a long distance, that by the time it reaches the rocks it becomes a fine mist and with the morning sun, provides a perfect setting for rainbows. There are many boulders and ideal places for a lunch near the base. There are also some steps that lead closer to the first falls. However, to reach these steps, you must cross a deep pool with only a few places to step. It is extremely slippery here and I did witness another hiker slip and take a seat in the cold February water. She was uninjured, but obviously cold.

After leaving Rainbow Falls, I continued east on the Middle Saluda Passage via the Jones Gap Trail and eventually passed by Jones Gap Falls, paralleling the river for the entire hike. Eventually, the Middle Saluda Passage crosses 276 near Caesar’s Head State Park and continues on to Raven Cliff Falls.

The Middle Saluda Passage is 11.1 miles in length and extends from Standingstone Mountain and Hospital Rock to just beyond Raven Cliff Falls. I am intrigued with the Palmetto Trail and have therefore decided to attempt the Palmetto Trail 22 Hike Challenge. I will be back to the Middle Saluda Passage soon and cannot wait to see what is around the next bend.

40 Hike Challenge Blue Ridge Parkway Conserving Carolina Hickory Nut Gorge Hiking Lake Lure Linville Gorge Mountains to Sea Mount Mitchell North Carolina Trails