Copyright © 2010 - N2 Ventures, Inc.  All Rights Reserved

Affiliates And Sponsors

Dog Hikes
Guided Hikes
My Hikes
Your Hikes
Long Trails
Trail Favorites
Trail Books
Trail Gear
Trail Hikers
Trail Maps
Trail Photos
Trail Tales
Trail Talk
Site Agreement
Site Contacts
Site FAQ
Site Feedback
Site Links
Site Outfitter
Site Sponsors

Special Offers:

REI-Outlet 60% off or more on Top Brands!

Altrec.com Deal of The Day: 20-50% Off One Product, for One Day, Everyday

Rocky Mountain Trail Clearance Sale: The North Face, JanSport, Dakine & more: Save up to 60%!

GUM GAP

LOCATION:  Northwest South Carolina
HIKE STARTS:  US 276
HIKE ENDS:  US 276
TOTAL DISTANCE:  ~8.5 Miles
HIKE TYPE:  Roundtrip, Loop Hike
HIKE DIFFICULTY:  Moderate to Difficult
TRAILS USED:  #11, 12, 13, 14
TRAIL TRAFFIC:  Moderate to Heavy
TRIP TYPE:  Day or Overnight Hike
MANAGEMENT:  Caesars Head State Park

HIGHLIGHTS:  There are over fifty miles of hiking trails in the Caesars Head area and the park is also an access point to the Foothills Hiking Trail via the Gum Gap Trail. This hike to Gum Gap is a popular one and you need a permit if you plan to camp overnight. The Matthews Creek hike has some nice campsites that are located right on the water. However, no fires are permitted in Caesars Head State Park. If you are the type that likes a campfire, plan on shooting for Gum Gap for the night. It's just out of the State Park boundaries where campfires are legal. On this hike, you'll still have the great views of Raven Cliff Falls, cross a wire cable over Matthews Creek, and walk across a suspension bridge over the falls.

The hike to Matthews Creek is a roundtrip loop hike that can be done in either direction, but a counter-clockwise loop hike is profiled here. It begins at the trailhead off US 276, which is 1.1 miles north of the Visitor’s Center at Caesars Head State Park. The blue-blazed Gum Gap Trail shares the first 1.4 miles of the route with the red-blazed Raven Cliff Falls Trail. The path heads west through a forest of hardwoods, where there is very little elevation change over the first few miles. When the blue and red blazes split at the 1.4 mile mark, turn right and follow the blue-blazed Gum Gap Trail for another 1.5 miles until it meets the pink blazed Natureland Trust Trail.

    Best Hikes With Dogs Georgia And S.C.     Hiking South Carolina

MORE DETAILS

bullet click to see trail photos from this hike to Gum Gap: April 17, 1999
bulletclick to see a trip summary for this hike in Caesars Head State Park: April 17, 1999
bullet click to view a detailed trip report for this hike along Matthews Creek: April 17, 1999 (password required)
bullet click to view a brief trip report of this hike to Gum Gap: April 17, 1999
bullet click to view hiking and backpacking maps: area map, detailed map (password required), profile map
bulletclick for more information on the Foothills Trail
bulletclick for Foothills Trail hiking and backpacking books
bulletclick to access the guidebook Best Hikes With Dogs Georgia And South Carolina which has details on this destination
bulletclick for South Carolina hiking and backpacking books
bulletclick for the Long Trail discussion forum
bulletclick for the Southeastern Destinations discussion forum
bulletclick for other hikes on the Foothills Trail in South Carolina 
bullet click here to add your hike, trip report, or feedback for this destination 

Although every attempt is made to provide the most accurate data possible, weather and trail conditions can vary without notice and these changes may not be reflected at n2backpacking.com.  Therefore, the use of any information provided by N2 Ventures, Inc. is entirely at the viewers own risk.  Please read the User Agreement for more details and to understand the Terms of Use for this website.