Trip Report - Jones Gap, SC - Hospital R ock Trail

“Hike Report
Hospital Rock Trail - Side Trip to Symmes Chapel - Falls Creek Falls Trail
Jones Gap State Park, SC
Saturday, August 2, 2003
SCJack - Solo Day Hike

I went into work for a couple of hours and left shortly before 9:00am so I could get to Jones Gap State Park and meet Jeff by 10:00am. My Cell phone went off on the way and Jeff informed me that he would not be able to do the hike. I was looking forward to meeting the “newbie” and was sorry he could not make it, but I definitely appreciated the call. Since I am not opposed to a solo hike, I continued on to Jones Gap State Park, SC.

I hit the Hospital Rock Trail right at 10:00am. It starts off fairly easy; following a small creek with several nice cascades and passes by some nice campsites. It doesn’t stay easy for long. Once the trail passes under the power lines, the climbing begins. This is probably the most difficult trail in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. On the way into Jones Gap State Park, you can see Cleveland Cliffs to the North. This trail pretty much takes you up the side of the Cliffs and has some of the steepest sections of trail that I have ever been on.

About half way up, you pass Hospital Rock, a huge rock formation that forms a good-sized cave. After the rock, the next mile is killer. The many switchbacks help out a bid, but the climb is pure torture and I loved it! I am sure there are some nice views along the way, but both times I have hiked this trail it has been too foggy to see much.

Near the top of the hospital rock trail is the junction of the Cleveland Connector Trail. I wanted to see if I could get to Symmes Chapel (aka Pretty Place) from here, so that’s what I did. The Cleveland Connector is more of a dirt road than a trail, after about a half mile it meets another dirt road at a T-Intersection. I turned left here and followed the road, veering left at any major forks. Passed by a power line clearing which I am sure has some excellent views, but with the fog I couldn’t see more than 100ft or so. According to my compass and map, I was heading in the right direction and eventually hit a paved road. I turned left and arrived at Symmes Chapel a short distance later.

Again, the fog pretty much blocked any view, but I proved that you can easily get to the chapel from the Hospital Rock Trail with a 4-mile side trip (about 2 miles each way). After the strenuous climb up the Hospital Rock Trail, the nice level dirt roads are a real nice break. I returned the 2 miles back to the Hospital Rock Trail and continued on.

After a short climb, the trail levels out before descending down to Headforemost Creek. The next mile or so is probably the least interesting section of trail on this loop. It gets interesting again when it reaches Falls Creek and turns into the Falls Creek Trail. There is no marking of when the trail changes names and the blazes stay the same orange color.

This trail takes you along the banks of Falls Creek and through tunnels of Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel. At the top of the Falls it heads west to begin a series of switchbacks down a really steep section. You can’t see much of the falls, but the sounds of crashing water make you know they are nearby. After the steep descent it arrives at the base of Falls Creek Falls a spectacular sight! I highly recommend seeing the Falls yourself. Even if you don’t feel up to the full Hospital Rock Hike, you can make a 3-mile out and back trip (1.5 each way) from the Falls Creek Falls Trail head.

I took a bunch of pictures of the Falls, but you really got to see these firsthand. The cool mist as you cross the base of the Falls is very refreshing. A well placed cable and some rocks make the crossing fairly easy, but still a little scary. As the trail continues, you get a few more distant views of the Falls through the trees.

The last section of trail is mostly downhill with a few small creek crossings before ending at the Falls Creek Trailhead on Falls Creek Road. I finished up the hike by walking the last 3 miles on paved roads back to Jones Gap State Park.

Overall, another excellent day hike. I did not see a single other hiker on the trails. The fog took away from the views, but I still give this one an 8.0/10 on the trail quality/enjoyment rating and a 9.0/10 on the difficulty rating. The fog gives me an excellent reason to come back and try this hike again on a clearer day, probably sometime after the leaves fall.

Sorry you could not make it Jeff, but I am not sure if this would have been a good hike for a newbie anyway.

Total distance and time (approx. 14 miles - 5.25 hours)

Pictures from the hike can be viewed here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/83952350CnVulS?690

SCJack”

“Thanks for the trail description. I've never been there.”

“Hospital Rock is the hardest thing I think I've climbed! the uphill isn't very long but it is UPHILL! That is pretty amazing time also. I normally only do about 2 miles an hour on a hike. sounds like you had a great time”

“Great Report Jack. I will have to follow that loop next time. I did Hospital Rock last year during icy conditions, and you know I did Rim of the Gap... so this is a new loop. Sounds like fun.

Lunasc, I think Rim of the Gap is a little harder then Hospital Rock if I remember correctly. (been a while)”

“I've done them both and I think Hospital Rock is a tougher climb, but gets pretty easy once you are at the top.

Rim of the Gap stays challangeing the whole way through, but the initial climb is not quite as hard.”

“I like the pictures with the fog, and those mushrooms are so colorful. I've never seen a big blue mushroom.”

“yeah, we have done rim of the gap several times, including during the ice. rim of the gap is longer but I thought hospital rock was tougher. maybe it was just the heat when we did hospital rock also that made it seem worse. I think we have only done rim of the gap in the fall and winter.”

“Gemini..Hospital Rock is what I affectionatly..now call the Death March. I didn't think we would ever stop climbing..and when we did I was so disappointed to find we had barely climbed a mile!!!”