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Date Hiked: 2/17/90
Length: 6.1 miles
Type: loop
Difficulty: 3
Scenery: 3
Blaze: orange on Coldspring Branch Trail, blue on Jones Gap Trail, blue on Tom Miller Trail
Main Features: small waterfalls, partial views, over a dozen stream crossings, lush environment
Animals: deer, snails, woodpecker, chickadees, chipmunk, rabbit, blue jay
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". That's the trailhead.
Approximate Altitude Changes
Ascend 150 feet from parking lot to ridge top
Descend 1,150 feet from ridge top to Jones Gap Trail
Ascend 1,000 feet to parking lot
Total Ascent: 1,150 feet
Miles
0.0 parking lot
0.1 trailhead on left
0.3 end of ascent, partial views on left and right
0.6 turn right off of Mountain Bridge Trail
1.1 stream crossing on log
1.4 rock-hopping stream crossing
1.6 stream crossing
1.7 two rock-hopping stream crossings
1.8 rock-hopping stream crossing
2.0 stream crossing
2.1 stream crossing
2.2 remains of what may have been a still on the left
2.3 two rock-hopping stream crossings
2.4 rock-hopping stream crossing (potentially wet)
2.5 begin following edge of deep valley on right
2.7 cross Mountain Bridge Trail
2.8 two stream crossings
2.9 stream crossing
turn left on Jones Gap Trail (orange blazes end, blue blazes begin)
3.0 log stream crossing
3.2 begin views of cliff across valley on left (west)
3.4 two small stream crossings
3.5 stream crossing
3.7 campsite #13 on left
3.8 stream crossing
3.9 stream crossing
4.1 two stream crossings
4.2 stream crossing
campsite #14 on left
4.3 stream crossing
4.5 large cluster of boulders above trail on right, one overhang could
serve as a rain shelter
4.7 small waterfalls on left with good places to sit
beginning of switchbacks
5.1 two stream crossings
5.2 campsite #15 on left
5.3 two stream crossings
turn left on Tom Miller Trail (blue blazes)
stream crossing
begin ascent
5.9 gain top of hill
6.1 parking lot
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