Coldspring Branch Trail, Bill Kimball Trail, Jones Gap Trail, and Tom Miller Trail - Member Hike

Hike Name: Coldspring Branch Trail, Bill Kimball Trail, Jones Gap Trail, and Tom Miller Trail
Country: United States
State: South Carolina
Nearby Town: Greenville
Rating: 3 stars
Directions: Drive north from Caesar's Head State Park, on highway 276. After 1.1 miles there's a parking lot on the right. The entrance is at the far end. Park. Walk back up highway 276 toward the park headquarters for about 0.1 miles until you come to a gated road on the left. There's a sign that says "Coldspring Branch Loop". The trail follows that road.

Driving Directions:
From Greenville: Take Hwy. 276 W. for about 30 mi. Park is located at the top of the mountain right off the Hwy. The North Carolina border is 3 mi. away.

MILES TO:
Charleston, SC: 247
Columbia, SC: 138
Florence, SC: 219
Greenville, SC: 37
Charlotte, NC: 102
Raleigh, NC: 240
Atlanta, GA: 165
Augusta, GA: 149
Total Hike Distance: 6.70 miles
Hike Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Permit Required: No
Hike Type: Roundtrip, Loop Hike
Hike Starts/Ends: Raven Cliff Falls parking lot
Trails Used: Coldspring Branch Trail, Bill Kimball Trail, Jones Gap Trail, and Tom Miller Trail
Backcountry Campsites: No
Backcountry Water Sources: Streams, Springs
Management: State Park Service
Contact Information: CaesarsHead@scprt.com

Admissions: Trail access fee: $2 adults; $1.25 SC seniors; age 15 & younger free
Office Hours: 9am-5pm
Days and Hours of Operation: M-Su 9am-6pm (extended to 9pm during daylight savings time). During daylight savings time the trails close one hour before sunset.

8155 Geer HWY
Cleveland,SC 29635

Phone: (864) 836-6115
Fax: (864) 836-3081
Best Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Users: Hikers
Road Conditions: Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary: Map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=8155+Geer+HWY&city=Cleveland&state=SC&zipcode=29635


Blaze: orange on Coldspring Branch Trail, pink on Bill Kimball Trail, blue on Jones Gap Trail, blue on Tom Miller Trail

Main Features: El Lieutenant (300-foot granite face) on Bill Kimball Trail, cascades along Jones Gap Trail

Animals: vultures, crows, millipede, pileated woodpeckers, rufous-sided towhee, chipmunk

Location: Caesars Head State Park, South Carolina

Drive north from Caesar's Head State Park on highway 276. After 1.1 miles there's a parking lot on the right. The entrance is at the far end. Park. Walk back up highway 276 toward the park headquarters for about 0.1 miles until you come to a gated road on the left. There's a sign that says "Coldspring Branch Loop". The trail follows that road.

Approximate Altitude Changes
Ascend 150 feet from parking lot to high point at 0.4 miles
Descend 200 feet to junction with Bill Kimball Trail (5) at 0.7 miles
Ascend 50 feet to high point at 0.8 miles
Descend 1,100 feet to stream crossing at 3.1 miles
Ascend 1,150 feet to high point at 6.4
Descend 50 feet to parking lot
Total Ascent: 1,350 feet

Miles
0.0 Raven Cliff Falls parking lot
Coldspring Branch Trail (3) blazed orange
(the trail starts at the exit end of the parking lot)
0.2 turn left on road by gate
0.4 high point
0.5 partial views on both sides
0.7 continue straight onto Bill Kimball Trail (5) blazed pink
(Coldspring Branch Trail turns right here)
0.8 high point
0.9 follow ridge with deep valley on right
1.1 descend from ridge
1.6 steep descent on stairs and switchbacks
1.7 low point
begin following base of rock called "El Lieutenant", over 300 feet high
2.4 cross stream
2.5 cross stream
cross stream
2.9 cross stream
3.0 cross stream
cross stream
turn left on Coldspring Branch Trail (3) blazed orange
3.1 cross stream
cross stream on two-log bridge
3.2 cross stream
turn left on Jones Gap Trail (1) blazed blue
3.3 cross stream on two-log bridge
3.6 cross stream
3.9 cross stream
4.2 cross stream
4.3 cross stream
4.5 cross stream
4.6 cross stream
4.8 cross stream
5.6 cross stream on one-log bridge
5.8 cross stream
cross stream
turn left on Tom Miller Trail (2) blazed blue
6.4 high point
6.7 car

Hiker:

Tree Top Flyer


26,350 points


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