4 months after Helene, Upstate SC state park to reopen
Downed trees at Jones Gap State Park soon after Tropical Storm Helene hit the state. (Provided/SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism)
Jones Gap State Park, a popular hiking destination in the Upstate, is set to reopen Saturday after a four-month closure because of storm damage.
When Hurricane Helene hit the state as a tropical storm in September, the power outages and property damage it brought caused the agency to close 28 of its 48 state parks. Most reopened in the following weeks, but Jones Gap, which extends to the North Carolina border, was hit particularly hard.
Helene did nearly $200 million in damage to SC forests, report says
'The damage to Jones Gap was extensive, and visitors who are familiar with the park will find that many areas look strikingly different,' the state parks department said in its Monday announcement. 'Helene's heavy rains and powerful winds uprooted countless trees and led to destructive landslides that shifted the landscape in parts of the park.'
Some of the damage remains. Every trail except those leading to Jones Gap Falls and Rainbow Falls, the park's two waterfalls, remain closed. Of the 18 campsites, 14 will remain closed.
The visitor center, restrooms and historic fish hatchery are accessible by foot only, the agency said.
The vehicle bridge leading to the visitor center, which the storm destroyed, is expected to be replaced later this year, according to the department.
Weekend visitors can reserve a parking spot online ahead of time. The department encouraged people to book those spots early, since officials anticipate the park will sell out on the weekends during spring and early summer. Spots will be up for grabs starting at 1 p.m. on sold-out days, though they will be first-come, first-served.
The agency does not take parking reservations on weekdays, according to the announcement.
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