We really enjoyed the short hike to Hidden Falls. This was a relatively easy day at about 8 miles. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 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. Overall, south/westbound hikers (SWOBOs?) We finished up with a little less than 10 miles for the day. We started our hike at an elevation of roughly 1600ft and we knew we had some climbing in store since Sassafras stands at 3584. The FTC could improve their map by adding to it some trails that intersect or at least some labels/notes regarding the other trails. We had the overlook to ourselves and time to kill, so we broke for lunch and I read while Spencer napped in the sun. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. I actually JUST FINISHED the Bartram Trail. Experience this 30.4-mile point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. Fitness Trail consists of 7 stations, two exercises per station on a 1/4 mile jogging path. Exited at Bad Creek parking lot access. At mile 28.9 there is a side trail to Whitewater Falls, at mile 30.1 Corbin Creek Falls, a small waterfall at mile 35.5 and a blue blaze to Hillard Falls at mile marker 36.5. Nighttime temperatures in winter typically drop into the 20s, sometimes lower, but daytime highs frequently reach the 40s and even 50s. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. The Toxaway River flows into Lake Jocassee along the Foothills Trail. 0. Overall Id say its moderate to difficult, but I was cruising at 2.5 miles per hour each day to get it down before work on the third evening. If you like water, the trail offers constant swimming opportunities, waterfalls, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to sleep. We were exhausted by the time we set up camp so we ate dinner and then hit the sack. It was an evening of mixed emotion for me. Any suggestions. Day 3 started only 4.8 miles from Bad Creek, where I was meeting my friend the next day. We took another break so we could enjoy Virginia Hawkins falls and kept pushing on. Water is plentiful. Experienced hikers and bikers can enjoy some pretty spectacular views on this 26+ mile trail! All orders over $60 receive FREE shipping! Hopefully I will get a good nights rest and be ready to go in the morning. Day 5s goal was to get to Canebrake and finish the section. 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. Be careful! Most of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home. Oconee State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table Rock State Park is about 45 minutes away. I also absolutely dig the suspension bridges out there. Theres a section known as heart break ridge where supposedly it is the hardest section of the trail coming from the Toxaway River. Flowers, and other Flora abound, birds aplenty, There are even plants that only exist in this part of the world. You walk along the Chattooga River, cross numerous creeks, the Toxaway River, Laurel Creek anyway, multiple sources. I had planned on making camp for the evening along the spur trail below Grassy Knob that led to 281, but there was too much snow on the ground. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. I was meeting a friend Wednesday evening at the Bad Creek access area so we had planned to take our time hiking those 33 miles so we would arrive there on Wednesday. The consistent signage makes finding the trailheads easy, and the mileage makes section hiking attainable. We would maintain about a 2.5 mile per hour pace for the day. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. Length 11.0 miElevation gain 3,188 ftRoute type Out & back. Jessica Lane. Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. Volunteers should be reimbursed fairly for their generous donations of time and gasoline. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. It was very strenuous and not for the out-of-shape. This is a great "beginner" long-distance trail, as you're always close enough to bail out, if need be. The plan is to make a full loop of about 375 miles (I think). We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. . Only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel Valley, and the climb up Sassafras in one day I guess I'm crazy. You do need to watch for bears and bees, although the bees seem very tame. And they were indeed smoky this morning. Terrain: Easy to moderate on the western/southern part of the trail, with occasional short, steep climbs. Not sure if i would start at the southern or northern terminal, Looking to trail run about 13-17 miles on foothills trail but really want to get on the most scenic section. The section of the trail from Laurel Fork Creek to the Whitewater River is often referred to as the Gorges Section and was initially built and maintained by Duke Power Company as part of a licensing agreement for the construction of Lake Joccasee. Day 3 we hiked approximately 10 miles and camped at Whitewater campsite. Jan 11, 2021; PART 5 - Solo on the Foothills Trail. More. Apr 25, 2020 at 8:30 AM . We reached the end of the section by 5:30 PM. A trail corridor linkingTable Rock State Park in the north/east toOconee State Park to the south/west, was completed in 1981. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. Day 1 we hiked to Laurel Fork Falls campsite. The day started with "heartbreak ridge". This has been by far my favorite hike Ive done in recent years. Day 2 we hiked to Cross Bear Creek campsite. The trail is not heavily used by long-distance hikers, regardless of season. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. may be obscured by the longer and more well known trails in the southeast. instead, 91 South Catawba Avenue, Old Fort, The Foothills Trail in South Carolina and North Carolina is a National Recreation Trail. Put in at Frozen Creek Access then hiked to Canebrake. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. Upon the completion of the Foothills Trail hikers can apply for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their hikes. This middle section of trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls. Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. Check out this 19.1-mile point-to-point trail near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. There are also ten other easy access points between the two termini for non-thru-hikers. The Star Gap Trail is a great short trail for hikers and bikers alike! I have participated for the last 4 years great event!! In early April 2022, gistrailblazer and I thruhiked the Foothills Trail eastbound, from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. Moderate to strenuous on the eastern/northern portion of the trail. Mountain Streams, Suspension Bridges, Waterfalls A footbridge across the Horsepasture River on the Foothills Trail. Day 8, my final day on the trail, started early. We completed this section then broke for lunch at Laurel Fork Falls. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. That night as we slept we were entertained by a wild thunderstorm. Stairs. This is a lovely hiking area with lots of camping spots and scenic views. copy Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. Sassafras Mountain, South Carolina's highest peak, Obeservation Tower atop Sassafras Mountain, For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps. Summer heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time winter temperatures typically sink into the 20s. Its a great trail! Laurel Fork Falls (mile 54.3): A scenic cascade with several streamside campsites just one-tenth of a mile to the east. Cross Bear Creek campsite is nice but you have to hang your own bear line. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. We finished with 5 miles on the day. In fact, its not unlike a condensed version of the southern Appalachian Trail, and many prospective hikers have tackled the Foothills Trail as a shakedown for a future AT hike. Go to Join Now to join for the first time or to renew your membership. Its entirely plausible to hike the Foothills Trail in any season, though late-spring to early summer and fall are most popular. These wooden stairs make appearances at many points on the Foothills Trail most notably on Heartbreak Ridge, where 302 stairs ascend the ridge and 294 stairs descend the ridge. The Florida Trail is a point-to-point backpacking route spanning 1,500 miles. Until we meet again. However, for many people the, A Thru-Hike for Everyone: 5 Trails Under 200 Miles, Outdoor Research Aspire Super Stretch Jacket Review, Backpacker Radio #189 | Christine Reed on POTS, Hiking with Grief, and Her Book: Alone in Wonderland, Getting to Campo: PCT Southern Terminus Shuttle To Run for Second Year, 10 Trek Bloggers You Should Be Following This Winter, The Best Backpacking Stoves for Thru-Hiking of 2023, Top Stoves, Filters, and Power Banks on the Appalachian Trail: 2022 Thru-Hiker Survey, Sierra On Track for Record Snowfall This YearHere's What It Means for PCT Hikers, 8 Classic Pieces of Backpacking Gear Hikers Love (And Why), The Best Headlamps for Thru-Hiking of 2023, https://foothillstrail.org/maps-coordinates-2/. A solid and steady climb with a few short downhills just to give you a quick break. I dread the descents more than the climbs. The Foothills Trail is a part of the nearing completion Southern Appalachian Loop Trail. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. Continue on an old road to your left after entering a field to . 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. Those hiking east-west will encounter the most challenging parts of the trail immediately, while those going from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park get a much easier introduction to the trail. In 2016, I hiked the Appalachian Trail; 2018, Foothills Trail and Alabama Pinhoti Trail; 2019, Great Plains Trail pilot trail in South Dakota and Nebraska; on April 7, 2021 I will start the Pacific Crest Trail. Along this section and the next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the ground from the previous weeks winter storm. The Foothills Trail is a point-to-point hike, and it's on the longer side, especially if you're not used to big-mile days with a pack. There is a small amount of roadwalking. With the exception of the winter months, chances are that weather will be warm and often extremely hot and humid. 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. There I set up camp. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. It looks like a small pool of water but it is the top of the falls. If you enjoyed the Foothills Trail you should check out http://www.ultimatehike.org. There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. 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. From the east end of Heartbreak Ridge at mile 50 to the Northern Terminus at Table Rock State Park at mile 76.2, the trail crosses a number of challenging routes and trail highlights. Waterfalls abound at mile 16.3 via a side trail at King Creek Falls, and another at mile 23.2. Insects can be bothersome in warmer months. Mother Nature entertained us again with another mighty thunderstorm and downpour. The last 2.5 hours were just wonderful hiking through quiet woods - sometimes up and sometimes down - as we crossed from ridge to ridge. Well maintained trail. Very well maintained trail. The Foothills Trail: A 77-Mile Taste of the Southern Appalachians The idea for the Foothills Trail, a National Recreation Trail located in far western South Carolina, began in the 1960s as an effort to preserve and protect the beauty of the Appalachian Foothills. What a great way to fall asleep, as the rain pattered against my tarp and the thunder boomed and lightning lit up the evening sky! Heartbreak Ridge - 19.10 Miles - From Cantrell Campsite To Lake Jocasse - This morning's highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. NC 226-A to Armstrong Fish Hatchery Rd.. The Foothills Trail - A 76-mile journey into the wilderness. Easy and downhill. Thanks again. The part we loved most about the trail was how desolate it was. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. The Foothills Trail, though steep in places, is not especially rugged, so trail runners are more than adequate. Lots of climbing and switchbacks. Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. 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. 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. 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. Wildflowers were just blooming. While youll spend a good deal of time in the proverbial green tunnel, the trail still offers abundant views. Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. The trail is strenuous throughout. Cars can be left at both state parks. I have only done a small portion of this beautiful trail but every step is well worth the effort. Im investigating as we speak! The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. Region: Deep South, Lower Appalachians (South Carolina)Length: 76.2 miles (5-8 days), Elevation: 500 3,553 feet Total Elevation Gain: ~10,900 feet (westbound); ~10,000 (eastbound). 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. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). And many a Foothills Trail hiker has found herself sprinting away from the occasional swarm of irritable hornets, especially in fall. No permits are required, but if you camp in either Oconee or Table Rock state parks, there is a fee. There is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section. 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