Jumping Off Rock - Jocassee Gorges views (North: activity, yard)

[Tupperpatr]

Has anyone done the drive to Jumping Off Rock? I googled it and found an article with great directions written by Greg Lucas. My husband thinks I am crazy after he read the directions. I would love to get up there to take pictures this fall. It looks so beautiful.

If you have done the drive what kind of vehicle did you drive? Greg said in his article that you do not need a 4 wheel drive but not to take anything with a low clearance. We have a GMC Arcadia that I think would make it just fine.

I look forward to hearing from the experts!!

[p2y2r7o]

Originally Posted by Tupperpatr

Has anyone done the drive to Jumping Off Rock? I googled it and found an article with great directions written by Greg Lucas. My husband thinks I am crazy after he read the directions. I would love to get up there to take pictures this fall. It looks so beautiful.

If you have done the drive what kind of vehicle did you drive? Greg said in his article that you do not need a 4 wheel drive but not to take anything with a low clearance. We have a GMC Arcadia that I think would make it just fine.

I look forward to hearing from the experts!!

Well, I had never really heard of this before! I'm glad you posted though because it seems like a lot of fun. If I go up it will probably be in my jeep cherokee...shouldn't be much of a problem hopefully. The views look amazing!

[SCSKier]

I made the trip up to Jumpoff Rock last year. It is a long 9.8 miles of gravel road once you turn off of Hwy 178. (Allow atleast 1 hr each way) The gravel road is curvey and very hilly and extremely bumpy. . I made the trip in a 2WD Ford F-150 and didn't have any problems. A GMC Arcadia would definitely not have a problem getting to the top. Their is only one real bad uphill and it is at the intersection of Laural Fork Gap road. The road is only open from March 20-May 1 and September 15 through Janurary 1st. I had planned on making the trip in April but Horsepasture road was closed because of some nesting Pergerine Falcons on Jumpoff rock. If you have any questions feel free to ask, it is definitely worth the trip! Anyway here are some of my pictures

Looking North into North Carolina. Lake Jocassee is below.



Looking West toward Oconee/NC

[Pat Grissinger]

SCSkier--your pictures are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing them.

[Tupperpatr]

SCSkier:

Thank you so much for your reply! I cannot wait to make this day trip! I will post another reply after I make the trip.

Your pictures were amazing! Now we probably will create a traffic jam going up!

This past Sunday we did Dupont State Park and I took some beautiful pictures of Triple Falls. The trees need another couple weeks before they reach their peak color.

Thanks again for the response.

[g-man430]

I absolutely love that place during fall.

[SCSKier]

Originally Posted by Tupperpatr

SCSkier:

Thank you so much for your reply! I cannot wait to make this day trip! I will post another reply after I make the trip.

Your pictures were amazing! Now we probably will create a traffic jam going up!

This past Sunday we did Dupont State Park and I took some beautiful pictures of Triple Falls. The trees need another couple weeks before they reach their peak color.

Thanks again for the response.

I went to Dupont State Park Sunday as-well. We hiked from Fawn Lake Trailhead to Bridal Veil Falls about 7 miles total. We had a great time and are planning on going back in 2 weeks when all the leaves change colors. There are some beautiful waterfalls in Dupont State Park and Triple falls and Hooker falls are some of the best. One fact to remember about the trip to Jumpoff rock is the area you will be traveling in has the highest concentration of black bears in South carolina and possibly outside the smokies. You will more than likely see some type of "bear activity" whether it be a actual bear or some paw prints, scrapes on trees, etc.

[p2y2r7o]

Originally Posted by SCSKier

One fact to remember about the trip to Jumpoff rock is the area you will be traveling in has the highest concentration of black bears in South carolina and possibly outside the smokies. You will more than likely see some type of "bear activity" whether it be a actual bear or some paw prints, scrapes on trees, etc.

Thanks for that info, bears scare me. Not that I've actually seen one but every time I'm in woods I get really paranoid about accidentally walking up on a bear. And I'm pretty sure I would never lay down and play dead...whether I should or not. I'd be running faster than Usain Bolt.

[Tupperpatr]

SCSkier:

I wanted to see Bridal Veil Falls, but the one trailhead was blocked off. Can you share with me how to find the Fawn Lake Trailhead? I agree with you, in another 2 weeks the trees will be peak. Being a Vermonter I am hard to impress with fall colors, but I think that area should come close!

[SCSKier]

Originally Posted by Tupperpatr

SCSkier:

I wanted to see Bridal Veil Falls, but the one trailhead was blocked off. Can you share with me how to find the Fawn Lake Trailhead? I agree with you, in another 2 weeks the trees will be peak. Being a Vermonter I am hard to impress with fall colors, but I think that area should come close!

Using this map I turned off HWY 276 onto Cascade Lake Road. Then 100 yards later take the first right called Reasonover Road. I traveled down this road about 2-4 miles and their was a big Parking area on the left that had a huge Dupont State Forest sign. On this map the parking area was the Green "P" at the bottom of the map.