Jones Gap Trail Half Marathon

Jones Gap Half Marathon

Jones Gap State Park & River Fall Lodge

Upstate Race Series welcomes you to Jones Gap State Park and the Annual Jones Gap Half Marathon. We are excited to bring back the same great state park with an awesome 13.1 Mile route that views Rainbow Falls and a section of the rim of the gap trail and Little Pinnacle Mountain!

Visitors can find the unforgettable peace and repose of a deep mountain cove at Jones Gap State Park. Trails and 13,000 acres of pristine mountain woodlands join the park with Caesar's Head in what is known as the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. The Jones Gap State Park trails allow hikers to traverse between the two parks, as well as connect to a portion of the Foothills Trail and Palmetto Trail South Carolina hikers know and love. This course will showcase two scenic waterfalls, 18 back country campsites, over 60 miles of hiking trails, the scenic Middle Saluda River that runs through the park and over 13,000 acres of wilderness when combined with Caesar's Head to form the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. 

Upstate Race Series - Upcoming Events HERE

Join us for one of our 30 events throughout the year. With something for everyone we have races that extend throughout the Upstate of South Carolina. From Lake Hartwell through the Foothill Mountain Range. Locations that cover all of the State Park systems into the Streets of Anderson, Greenville, Travelers Rest, and Spartanburg. We have events that offer opportunity to every level of runner looking to take on their next challenge!

Donations & Club Membership Discount - 15% OFF

All club memberships to the Upstate Running Club and/or the South Carolina Ultra Marathon Club fund the Upstate Running Club Youth Team with over 200 members. The club provides FREE training services, training equipment, race uniforms, and comped race entries to our series throughout the year. All donations directly fund the club to help cover the costs of facility rentals, insurance, post practice snacks, team socials, and awards! The program is comprised of athletes of all abilities from ages 6-12 years old

• Upstate Running Club Membership - Sign Up Here
• South Carolina Ultra Marathon - Sign Up Here

Race Day Details

• What: Jones Gap Half Marathon

• Where: River Falls Lodge (based just outside Jones Gap State Park)

• When: Saturday September 16th 2023 @ 8am

• Packet Pickup: will be held at River Falls Lodge (Start/Finish Line) @ 7am

• Overall Awards will be given out at the conclusion of the top 3 finishers.

• Age group winners will be recognized and announced 1 hour after the event

• Our Events are 

  • Walker Friendly

  • Dog Friendly

  • Youth 8 & Under Race for Free

Volunteer for a FREE Race Entry or a Future Race Entry by Upstate Race Series - HERE

• Set-Up

• Packet Pickup

• Course Monitor

• Meal/Aid Station Prep

• Cleanup

• Parking

Participants Receive 

• Finisher Medal

• Custom Race Logo Sticker

• Upstate Ultra Sticker

• Camping is offered 

• Complimentary Race Photos

• Custom Race Bib

• Upstate Race Series Crew Socks

Timing, Results, & Race Awards

• Top 3 Male and Female will receive a custom hand made award!

• Each finisher will receive a finisher medal that will be branded with the race logo and custom lanyard.

• This event will be chip timed with a reusable timing chip attached with an ankle strap. The timing chip will correspond with your bib number at packet pickup. The chip will be read by our timing hardware at the finish line and timing software. Results will be updated online periodically throughout the event. Please return your timing chip & strap at the conclusion of your event. 

• We will also publish our age group results that will coincide with our Race Series.

• To learn more about our race series and awards please visit our results page here: HERE

  • 0-9
    
  • 10-12
    
  • 13-16
    
  • 17-19
    
  • 20-29
    
  • 30-34
    
  • 35-39
    
  • 40-44
    
  • 45-49
    
  • 50-54
    
  • 55-59
    
  • 60-64
    
  • 65-69
    
  • 70-79
    
  • 80+
    

Jones Gap Course Description

• Course Map HERE - 3000 Feet of Elevation Gain

The course will include a section of road leading to Jones Gap before ascending a series of single track trails. If the views do not take your breath away the uphill hiking most certainly will. We are excited to bring back the same great state park with an awesome 13.1 Mile route that views Rainbow Falls and a section of the rim of the gap trail and Little Pinnacle Mountain!

Address and Parking

Runners can park at the following address: River Falls Lodge Rd, Marietta, SC 29661. We advise all runners to carpool if possible. Packet pickup that morning will also be located there. 

Meal Options

Upstate Race Series will be offering a meal options for runners looking to grab some grub post run! We will not be selling meal tickets on race day due to pre-ordering enough supplies for our event staff, volunteers, and the runners who pre-ordered a meal. You can always come back to the "Meal Ticket" tab on the race website and purchase a meal ticket up to race day. If you would like to purchase multiple meals for yourself, your crew, or spectators please indicate the number in the quantity box. At packet pickup you will receive a meal ticket to be given to our volunteer cook during the designated serving timeframe.

• Specifically for Jones Gap we will be serving brunch from 11am to 2pm

Aid Stations

We will have an aid station at mile 2.2, 7.5, and 11.5. Items may include: pickles, cookies, chips, Little Debbie snacks, assorted candy, chicken/veggie broth, fig newtons, & pretzels. Liquids will include water, Tailwind Nutrition, coke, and ginger ale. If you would like to donate an aid station supply of something that we do not offer or that is homemade feel free! 

• Cup-less Event: Please provide your own hydration vessel for use at our aid stations 

Race Partners

Upcoming Events with Upstate Race Series - See Upcoming Races HERE

• 25 Annual Races with a wide variety of events including 5ks, Relays, Youth Events, and Ultra Marathons

Without Limits Coaching - Contact Our Coaches HERE

• Coaching Services that include training plans and/or race specific race plans and consultations for your next event

Upstate Running Club - Join & Donate for $5 OFF 100+ Local Races HERE

• Non-Profit club that funds the Youth Running Club in the upstate with a variety of events and club runs for adult

South Carolina Ultra Marathon Club - Join for 25% OFF Races HERE

• Trail & Ultra running club that helps support its members and races throughout the state of South Carolina

Jay Baker Photography Race Photos - See Photos HERE

• Complimentary race photos, music, and of course engagement with the crowd to bring you to the finish

Go Green Events Timing & Registration - More Info HERE

• Partnering with RunSignUp to bring you an easy registration process and accurate timing on race day. 

Refund Policy

• Our staff at Upstate Race Series, Upstate Ultra, and Go Green Events is proud to produce 28 events a year for the Upstate Running Club and the South Carolina Ultra Marathon Club. Any participants that are unable to attend, their registration will be donated to our Youth Running Program that offers free training services and racing opportunities for over 200 kids in the upstate.