Day 3 started only 4.8 miles from Bad Creek, where I was meeting my friend the next day. I got to meet several interesting and nice people that were making the short hike to Lick Falls. 13.1 miles total for the day! To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. Cold nights in 30s and pleasant days in 50s. We planned on hiking to Drawbar Cliffs and making camp there so we would only have a 5 mile hike on our final day. Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail. Terms under which this service is provided to you. I could not have asked or hoped for anything better. PO Box 3041 Jessica Lane. Streams, creeks, and engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. The trail is strenuous throughout. Foothills Trail Conservancy Facebook group, Official Foothills Trail GuidebookHiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch. Sign up for our email newsletter. Tougher than expected but had a great time. Foothills Trail Conservancy We reached the end of the section by 5:30 PM. Waterfalls abound, their distinctive rush mixes with sounds of wind and wildlife. The Art Loeb Trail is a 30-mile point-to-point trail in North Carolina that offers jaw-dropping 360- degree views of the Southern Appalachians. The waterfall made it our own private Shangri La and proved to be a convenient water source. Location: The trail runs slightly northeast-southwest in far western South Carolina, with several crossings into North Carolina. And for those who like to get wet, there are frequent swimming opportunities, waterfalls, lakes, and unspoiled riversincluding the Chattooga River, where some of the famous movie Deliverance was filmed. gain approximately 10,900 feet of elevation, while north/eastbounders (NEBOs?) A very special place to wander and enjoy!!! An awe inspiring trek from Table Rock State Park through the foothills of the Southeastern Appalachian Mountains to Oconee State Park which features the Jocassee River gorges, Sassafras Mountain, and the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River. Exclusive to the state of Florida, its dirt and paved paths can be hiked in 60-90 days. Table Rock State Park offers a myriad of amenities from camping to cabins, swimming to fishing. Trail is well maintained - thanks. I passed up a chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and I regret not doing so. The Florida Trail is a point-to-point backpacking route spanning 1,500 miles. This is a week that will stay with me forever. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. It looks like a small pool of water but it is the top of the falls. Lake Jocassee (mile 48.5): The rocks beneath the bridge over the Toxaway River make an excellent spot for lunch, rest, or drying out your gear. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging hike through classic Southern Appalachian terrain. Both State and Federal agencies have taken over management responsibilities in recent years, and this section of South Carolina has some of the best backcountry wilderness in the Southeast with numerous waterfalls, suspension bridges, and streams. More. 2.1 miles 600 feet: 34.1370,-118.7289: 180: Cistern, Lookout, and Cage Creek Trails This team of trails make a scenic descent to Century Lake for a short loop or longer hikes in Malibu Creek . We camped at Bear Creek (not bear camp creek) and actually did have a bear sighting. This middle section of trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls. 54.36.118.98 Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 58 min to complete. Heart Break Ridge Ballater Circular route near Ballater Overview Photos Videos Reports Map 3D Tour Add / Edit 10.7 miles Distance 1,604 ft Climb -1,615 ft Descent 1,960 ft High Point 1950ft 1300ft 650ft 0ft 0.00miles 3.50miles 7.00miles 10.50miles A circular ride from Ballater taking in Heart Break Ridge Detailed Description Local Trail Association North/eastbound hikers start with a gentle descent to the Chattooga River and make the mere 2,000-foot climb to Sassafrass after several days of hiking. Though technically a four-season trail, the heat and humidity from May through September can be oppressive. 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. I tackled the Foothills Trail during a three day two night fastpack in early January. I actually JUST FINISHED the Bartram Trail. Trailhead begins inside the Old Fort Picnic Area with incredible views of Kitsuma Peak at trail end. Along the sandy banks of the Chattooga River and just above Laurel Fork Falls are two of many excellent camping spots on the trail. This alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections. Living in Greenville, the FHT is just a few miles away. Death Valley Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop, CA, Smoky Mountains National Park Loop, NC / TN, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Total elevation gain is 10,000-11,000 feet, depending on direction, Sustained climbs of more than 2,000 feet; some short, very steep sections, Heat and humidity can be a challenge from late spring through early fall, Dispersed camping allowed along most of the trail. This is a worthy trail in its own right, but many hikers use the Foothills Trail as a kind of shakedown, warm-up, or training-wheel expedition for an AT thru-hike. But theres more to love about this trail than the wilderness it passes through. Great campsites, I went off roading Sunday and I left my Sony nex-6 camera. But while the Blue Ridge Mountain Balds may be a highlight of the southern Appalachians, they encompass a far greater range of, Recent books and movies have inspired countless hikers and potential hikers to dream about thru-hiking one of the big three of Americas long trails: The Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or the Continental Divide Trail. The Foothills Trail climbs gently out of Oconee State Park on a wide, flat trail that becomes increasingly tight before transforming into traditional single track. The Foothills Trail proper ends at Table Rock State Park, about ten miles from Sassafras Mountain. If you enjoyed the Foothills Trail you should check out http://www.ultimatehike.org. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. It was very strenuous and not for the out-of-shape. On our first day we hiked 8.1 miles and completed the first two sections and made camp shortly past Nicholson Road. For safety's sake, you can almost always get a cell phone signal with Verizon also. Thanks for your support! To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. Scenery: Mostly forests, dominated by rhododendron, mountain laurel, oak and pine, with occasional panoramic views, rivers, waterfalls, and the summit of South Carolinas highest peak. Go to Join Now to join for the first time or to renew your membership. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. There I set up camp. It was a good call since it kept us on the trail longer and we ended up with another awesome site. The trail is well-marked and well-graded. Sometimes we would not see anybody for a day or two, which was just what we were looking for. The FTC could improve their map by adding to it some trails that intersect or at least some labels/notes regarding the other trails. 70, Old Fort, NC, 28762 Fitness Trail consists of 7 stations, two exercises per station on a 1/4 mile jogging path. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. The Toxaway River flows into Lake Jocassee along the Foothills Trail. Cross Bear Creek campsite is nice but you have to hang your own bear line. It is my favorite trail for many of the reasons you noted. Unlike the tall and unforgiving crests of the great range, the foothills are alive and lush. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but dont let that fool you. Length 11.0 miElevation gain 3,188 ftRoute type Out & back. Photos (139) Directions. There is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section. The Foothills Trail is something like 76 miles in length and we hiked 6.4 miles of it on a recent brisk afternoon. Length: 80.0 miles Type: One Way Surface: Various Difficulty: Difficult Trail Features: t Parking Trail Head Scenic Observation Waterfall Camping Point of Interest Water Launch Pets Fee Camping Summary: Whether you're looking for a day hike or planning a multi-day through-hike, the Foothills Trail offers adventures of every length and difficulty. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. This trail is awesome . . Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. I have participated for the last 4 years great event!! This mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. The park also has a store and gift shop with limited groceries to fuel your post thru hike hunger. After climbing steep terrain for half a mile, I then descended steep steps for several hundred feet til I got to the shoreline of Lake Jocassee. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. Day 7 was going to be one of our shorter and easier days! Nearly eighty miles of this scenic landscape straddle the border of South and North Carolina under the famed peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Clay Bonnyman Evans is a freelance writer living in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and his hometown, Boulder, Colorado. A rat snake, coiled alongside the Foothills Trail. Oconee State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table Rock State Park is about 45 minutes away. The trail features sturdy bridges crossing over numerous rivers, beautiful waterfalls, a jaunt around a corner of Lake Jocassee, and, on the eastern half of the trail, steep climbs of up to 2,000 feet that rival anything on the southern Appalachian Trail. The service rd has many creek crossings but eventually crosses the actual Foothills Trail. Woods Mountain Trail is not for the faint of heart! The Foothills Trail is a part of the nearing completion Southern Appalachian Loop Trail. Click link for details and directions. So beautiful! Primitive trail connects Woods Mountain & Armstrong Creek Trails. The consistent signage makes finding the trailheads easy, and the mileage makes section hiking attainable. We actually drove past the designated parking lot on Horsepasture Rd (in a truck) to the intersection of Horsepasture and Laurel Fork Valley Rd (marked by a road sign on a fallen tree. Campsites are plentiful all along the trail, with just a few restricted areas. Dont forget the insect repellent youll want it. Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and even black bears.While youll find people around popular features such as Whitewater Falls and Lake Jocassee, the full trail offers plenty of solitude, including your choice of quiet, secluded sites available for dispersed camping on all but a few miles. 0. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. The Foothills Trail is a 76-mile point-to-point hike in the Appalachian Mountains of western South Carolina best hiked in fall, winter, or spring. The largest climb of the hike begins at mile 62 and gains 1,839 feetin 4.4 miles before topping out at Sassafrass Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. Summer heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time winter temperatures typically sink into the 20s. There are plenty of non-thru options, as well, including the so-called crown jewel route, southbound from Laurel Valley to just below Whitewater Falls. The Star Gap Trail is a great short trail for hikers and bikers alike! The plan is to make a full loop of about 375 miles (I think). Day 2 we hiked to Cross Bear Creek campsite. He has hiked the Colorado Trail, Appalachian Trail, Foothills Trail, Pinhoti Trail, Centennial Trail, and the Great Plains Trail Pilot Trail, and will start hiking the Pacific Crest Trail on April 7, 2021. Oconee State Park is about two hours from both cities. Although mostly well-built and -maintained, as of October 2018 there were quite a few blowdowns, including a couple that force hikers into significant bushwhacking and route-finding back to the trail. For those planning to take their time, some local shuttle drivers offer food drops for a fee. As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. This was one of the few instances I saw wildlife along my hike. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. Heartbreak's tread is narrow, and often constricted even more by Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into the corridor. Since we only had about 3.5 miles left to camp, we lounged around after eating basking in the warm sun. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. I traveled west>east (or, sort of, south>north) and water was never an issue. Around 13 miles into the run touch the bench on top of Heart Break Ridge at Lake Jocassee and return back to the parking lot. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls. 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