Five-Star Trails: South Carolina Upstate: Your Guide to the Area's Most Beautiful Hikes

Product Info

Author: Jackson, Sherry

Brand: Menasha Ridge Press

Binding: Paperback

Number Of Pages: 208

Release Date: 12-11-2013

Part Number: B&W photos throughout, 33 maps, 15 chart

Details: Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Caesars Head State Park: Raven Cliff Falls Scenery: 5 stars Trail Condition: 4 stars Children: 3 stars Difficulty: 3 stars Solitude: 2 stars Key Information GPS Trailhead Coordinates: N35" 06.943' W82" 38.291' Distance & Configuration: 4.0 mile out-and-back Hiking Time: 3.25 hours Highlights: Magnificent views, creeks and a waterfall Elevation: 2,866 elevation at the trailhead and 3,165 elevation about a mile into the hike. Access: 9a.m.-9p.m., daily during daylight saving time. 9a.m.-6p.m., daily the remainder of the year. Trails close one hour before dark, year round. There is a $2.00 per person hiking fee payable at the visitor center or via honor system at the parking area. Maps: USGS Table Rock, South Carolina Parks, Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area Facilities: Restrooms at the Visitors Center. Wheelchair Access: No Comments: Pets are allowed but must be leashed. On weekends the parking lot can get full quickly. There are no trash cans so you must pack out what you bring. Contacts: Caesars' Head State Park, 8155 Geer Highway, Cleveland, SC 29635, Phone: 864-836-6115 Overview Caesars Head is one of South Carolina's most famous natural landmarks with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. The Raven Cliff Falls trail is part of the 10,000-acre Mountain Bridge Wilderness trail system and Foothills Trail, and is one of the most popular hikes at Caesar's Head. The moderately difficult trail leads to an overlook where you can view the 420-foot Raven Cliff Falls in the distance. Route Details A granite gneiss (a major metamorphic rock) outcropping atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment is what gave Caesars Head State Park its name. It's worth stopping at the Visitors Center to not only pay the $2.00 per person hiking fee but also to take in the amazing views from the outlook areas. If visiting during Hawk Watch (Sept 1 through November 30) you can watch migrating raptors soar above the trees. If the Visitors Center is not open, there are envelopes available on an honor system at the parking area to pay the hiking fee. You can either park at the Visitors Center or across the street in the Raven Cliff Falls parking area. If parking in the Raven Cliff Falls parking area, after parking you must first cross Highway 276 to get to the trailhead. The trailhead begins at the top of the trail at the Highway. The beginning part of the trail is actually on old buggy road so it is quite wide and graded. Several other trails also begin from this location so make sure you are following the red trail blazers. You immediately begin a downhill descent and the air suddenly seems to get cooler and takes you through a forest of ferns. At the Caesars Head Water Company Building the trail will veer to the right. Here the trail becomes narrower and you can begin to hear the sound of rushing water from the small creek that you will be passing over. Tree roots begin to encroach on the dirt trail as it starts to wind around and begin an uphill approach as you follow along the edge of the mountain. As you make your way alongside the mountain, you will begin to catch glimpses of the magnificent views through the trees. As you start a gradual descent, you will lose the sound of the Highway and begin to hear the rushing of the falls in the distance. At about 6/10 of a mile you'll turn to the right, away from the mountain edge that you have been following. Since you have been climbing in elevation, you will begin to notice more pine trees. As you make your way across some rocks (don't worry-they are mostly flat and easy to walk on) you will come to a set of stairs. At this point you are about halfway. The trail turns back towards the left as the descent gets steeper; the tree canopy gets higher and less light filters in. There will be a lot of up and downs in the trail as you begin to walk along a small creek deep in the forest. Soon though you'll be at the top of the mountain again and you start t

EAN: 9780897324458

Package Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches

Languages: English