Rainbow Falls at Jones Gap Will Earn Every Step
The trail map says five miles round trip. The 1,200 feet of elevation gain doesn't mention itself until you're already in it. Welcome to Jones Gap State Park.
- Located in the SC Upstate, about an hour from Greenville and Asheville.
- The waterfall at Rainbow Falls drops over 100 feet on fractured granite, creating an unreal mist; photos rarely capture the scene.
- At Jones Gap State Park the trail is strenuous and rocky; heed Ron Joner and pace yourself, especially in summer heat.
- Best seasons are fall, winter, and spring; if visiting in summer go early and bring extra water.
- Bring plenty of water and sturdy shoes; trail needs solid footing, not suited for limited mobility, but Rainbow Falls rewards the effort.
Located in the SC Upstate, about an hour from both Greenville and Asheville, Jones Gap is the kind of place that doesn't advertise itself loudly. It doesn't need to. The people who know it, know it — and a lot of them keep going back.
The destination is Rainbow Falls, a waterfall that drops more than 100 feet down fractured granite walls. At normal water levels, it comes off the rock face as a thin, concentrated sheet before it breaks apart into spray on the way down, hitting the pool below in a mist that gives the whole scene an almost unreal quality. Photos don't quite get it right. You need to be standing there.
Plan on roughly three hours total, though that number moves around depending on your fitness level and how often you stop. And you'll probably stop.
Know Before You Go
This hike is strenuous. That word gets thrown around, but here it applies. The elevation gain is real, the terrain is rocky, and if you show up in July expecting a casual afternoon walk, the heat will have a few things to say about that.
Ron Joner, who commented on the park's Facebook page, put it plainly: “I'm 65. I do that hike more than a dozen times a year. Just to let you know, unless you're in super condition in this heat, that's a difficult hike. Just got to pace yourself because of the heat.”
That's the voice of someone who's done the work. Listen to it.
Fall, winter, and spring are the recommended seasons. The trail doesn't get easier in summer — it just gets hotter. If you're going between June and August, go early, bring more water than you think you need, and understand what you're signing up for.
This hike is not suited for people with limited mobility. The trail demands solid footing and a working set of lungs. If you're in reasonable shape and looking for something with actual payoff at the end, you'll find it here.
The Logistics
- Park admission: $6
- Distance: 5 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: approximately 1,200 feet
- Time on trail: roughly 3 hours, depending on pace
- Location: Jones Gap State Park, SC Upstate
- Closest cities: Greenville, SC and Asheville, NC (about 1 hour from each)
- Best seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring
Six dollars gets you into a park where the main attraction plunges over a granite cliff into a rocky pool and leaves you standing there in the spray wondering why you don't do this more often. That's a reasonable trade.
Bring water. Wear real shoes. Pace yourself. The falls will wait.
Photo credit: Scott Oves on Flickr
