Caesars Head State Park

8155 Geer HWY
Cleveland, SC 29635
Phone: (864) 836-6115
Fax: (864) 836-3081

Caesars Head State Park is located in northern Greenville County, SC, only three miles (5 km) from the North Carolina border. Along with Jones Gap State Park, the park forms the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area.

The park is popular for hiking, trailside camping and picnicking. Fishing in the park for brook, spotted and rainbow trout takes place in the Middle Saluda River and the Julian and Matthews creeks. Each Autumn, the park is a temporary home to thousands of hawks migrating south for the winter.

One popular hiking trail in the park leads to the 420 foot high Raven Cliff Falls, where a suspension bridge overlooks the falls.

Welcome to Caesars Head State Park

Caesars Head State Park has long been a must-see in the South Carolina Upstate. A granites gneiss outcropping atop the dramatic Blue Ridge Escarpment, it offers breathtaking views year-round, especially when fall sets the hardwoods ablaze.

Another annual highlight is the Hawk Watch program each fall, timed to allow visitors to marvel at the unforgettable sight of hundreds of soaring, swirling migrating raptors – hawks, kites, falcons, eagles and more – from the park visitors’ own perch at 3,200 feet above sea level.

Hiking trails ranging from easy to challenging circle and traverse Caesars Head and adjoining Jones Gap state parks, which together form the Mountain Bridge Wilderness, about 11,000 acres of pristine southern mountain forest.

One of the most popular trails at Caesars Head leads to 420-foot Raven Cliff Falls, where a suspension bridge offers one of the two publicly accessible overlooks to the falls as they splash deep into the mountain cove below.

Picnicking and wilderness trailside camping also are highlights. The park, easily accessible with its headquarters on U.S. 276 just shy of the state line, also leads to some prime trout fishing areas in the state-designated scenic Middle Saluda River.
Activities:

FISHING

Fishing Information: Enjoy fishing in the Middle Saluda, Matthews and Julian creeks for brook, rainbow and brown trout. A valid South Carolina fishing license is required. Artificial lures/flies only.

THINGS TO DO

Picnic Area and Shelters: A picnic shelter is available free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Park Store/Gift Shop: The park store includes a variety of gift and souvenir items.

• Fishing: Yes
• Birding: Yes

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Visitor Centers: The Visitors Information Center/Gift Shop houses exhibits of area attractions, a relief map of the Mountain Bridge trail system, hawk displays and a variety of gift and souvenir items. Open year-round 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., closed on Christmas Day.

TRAILS

Hiking Trails: A network of easy to strenuous hiking trails in the Mountain Bridge Recreation Area links Caesars Head and Jones Gap state parks. Registering with the park before using these trails is mandatory.

During daylight savings time the trails close one hour before sunset.

Detailed trail maps are available for sale at the park headquarters.

• Bill Kimball #5 (2.1 miles)
• Coldspring Branch #3 (2.6 miles)
• Coldspring Connector #7 (0.5 mile)
• Dismal #12 (1.5 miles)
• Falls Creek #31 (1.7 miles)
• Frank Coggins #15 (0.8 mile)
• Gum Gap #13 (3.3 miles)
• John Sloan #21 (0.9 mile)
• Naturaland Trust #14 (5.8 miles)
• Pinnacle Pass #20 (10 miles)
• Raven Cliff Falls (2 miles)
• Rim of the Gap #6 (4.3 miles)
• Tom Miller #2 (0.7 mile)

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