Hikers should fill up before ascending Sassafrass Mountain, particularly northbound; the climb is long and steep, and there are no water sources for 4.5 miles. Jan 11, 2021; PART 5 - Solo on the Foothills Trail. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. The Foothills Trail Conservancy store offers a complete guidebook, map, and pocket profile. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. Description. Streams, creeks, and engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches. We finished with 5 miles on the day. We would maintain about a 2.5 mile per hour pace for the day. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. . You do need to watch for bears and bees, although the bees seem very tame. 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. Laurel Fork Falls (mile 54.3): A scenic cascade with several streamside campsites just one-tenth of a mile to the east. Day 3 we hiked approximately 10 miles and camped at Whitewater campsite. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. Oconee State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table Rock State Park is about 45 minutes away. 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 were plenty of views and beautiful streams and waterfalls this time of year. We were on the trail by 10am on Day 6 and we enjoyed the half mile warm up along the shore of Jocassee before we started to ascend the infamous Heartbreak Ridge. The Foothills Trail is something like 76 miles in length and we hiked 6.4 miles of it on a recent brisk afternoon. I really need to recover tonight. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Fee camping is allowed only in designated areas in Oconee and Table Rock state parks. If you enjoyed the Foothills Trail you should check out http://www.ultimatehike.org. Primitive trail connects Woods Mountain & Armstrong Creek Trails. 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. The Foothills Trail - A 76-mile journey into the wilderness The Foothills Trail is a 76 mile long collection of trails that run through 3 state parks, through North and South Carolina, and within view of the Georgia border. Jessica Lane. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. Elevation is 3,165, Mail me Print/PDF map. The Foothills Trail Conservancy website lists local shuttle services. Thx Great weather with clear cool nights. Login to Update Event. I suppose the guidebooks will have that and will purchase soon Just know that as a general proposition, the Foothills Trail is rich with water sources in fact, all those creeks, rivers and lakes is one of its great appeals. Some shuttle drivers also will do food drops for a fee. The Foothills Trail is a 76 mile long collection of trails that run through 3 state parks, through North and South Carolina, and within view of the Georgia border. A bear canister is probably overkill. Thanks again. We had gotten to the more strenuous sections of trail and it was quite noticeable. http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge, 2940 Ft. /8 Miles. We arrived at camp by 3:30 and explored the Cliffs and the Lighthouse. instead, 91 South Catawba Avenue, Old Fort, Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. The steps are so long that in the middle there is a bench for folks to rest before they tackle the remainder of the climb. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. a There I set up camp. I passed up a chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and I regret not doing so. Chattooga River Valley (miles 10.6-15.5): Many excellent places to swim and camp along the river, which was one of the locations for the movie Deliverance (but dont worry; there dont appear to be any crazed hillbillies in the area). I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. Thank you to Heyword Douglass, Executive Director of the Foothills Conference, for your encouraging emails and photographs! Scott Lynchs pocket guide, Hiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail, is another popular option. Great review. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. 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. This was an awesome site and from atop the giant rocks we could see for miles and got the privilege of watching a beautiful sunset. Click here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails. Our family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers did these sections over 2 days. Insects can be bothersome in warmer months. I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. Check out the Foothills Trail, we're sure you'll love it. 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 mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. My friend arrived at 5:30 and I restocked my food and we decided to night hike to the site on the ridge above the Thompson River. Heartbreak Ridge Steps' 2020 Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge First Previous Next Last Monday, July 27, 2020 Destination: Lake Jocasse Today's Miles: 19.10 Start Location: Cantrell Campsite Trip Miles: 27.10 Evening view This morning's highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. Woke up to the popping of the same campfire. Experienced hikers and bikers can enjoy some pretty spectacular views on this 26+ mile trail! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The Bartram, Foothills, AT and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route! gain approximately 10,900 feet of elevation, while north/eastbounders (NEBOs?) Terrain: Easy to moderate on the western/southern part of the trail, with occasional short, steep climbs. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Start and stop your timer on the first wooden step heading into Laurel Valley . Apr 25, 2020 at 8:30 AM . Not unlike the AT, the Foothills Trail is more challenging at one end. It is my favorite trail for many of the reasons you noted. 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). Will Hike this in a few weeks. Foothills Trail Conservancy Though technically a four-season trail, the heat and humidity from May through September can be oppressive. It was an evening of mixed emotion for me. It's Day 5 on the . I got to meet several interesting and nice people that were making the short hike to Lick Falls. We were exhausted by the time we set up camp so we ate dinner and then hit the sack. Once as high as the Rocky Mountains or Alps, some 480 million years of erosion have substantially decreased the elevation of the Appalachian Mountains (which extend, believe it or not, into Scotland). Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. We finished up with 9.4 miles for the day. You can hike for a few hours or spend days or a week or so hiking here and never do the same hike twice. We ended up creating a website (www.thefoothillstrail.com) with the hopes of informing others of the difficulty of the trail, the terrain type, how to read the guidebook (published by The Foothills Trail Conference), and other insider tips. Sign up for our email newsletter. 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. . 2022 Foothills Trail Conservancy | An Engenius website. This self supported marathon begins in the Laurel Valley Parking Lot off HWY 178 . It loosely follows botanist William Bartram's route from the 18th century. 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. After a week on the trail I had made it to my last night. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 58 min to complete. As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. Go to Join Now to join for the first time or to renew your membership. Wildflowers were just blooming. Around 4:15 we started the hike to the Bad Creek parking lot. Sept of 2014. 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. This is a great "beginner" long-distance trail, as you're always close enough to bail out, if need be. Hikers should plan ahead for shuttle transport. Did the 5 day plan. And many a Foothills Trail hiker has found herself sprinting away from the occasional swarm of irritable hornets, especially in fall. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. Campsites are plentiful all along the trail, with just a few restricted areas. Well maintained trail. 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. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. You have two transport options for the trail you can shuttle a car yourself, or use a Foothills Trail shuttle service. 54.36.118.98 Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. Come take a hike with me at Blue Ridge Hiking Company! The group will go by boat to Laurel Fork and hike the Foothills Trail to Canebrake, a distance of about 5.8 miles. For the full 4x4 trail guide please visit:https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/812-2n61y-heartbreak-ridgeHidden on the east side of Big Bear in Southern Cali. Great campsites, I went off roading Sunday and I left my Sony nex-6 camera. The FTC website lists shuttle services that cater to long-distance hikers. Explore this 11.0-mile out-and-back trail near Montreat, North Carolina. I was very impressed by the size and power of this waterfall! There is a small amount of roadwalking. Exclusive to the state of Florida, its dirt and paved paths can be hiked in 60-90 days. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. Your IP: I really need to recover tonight. The Guidebook rated these sections as moderate to easy, I assume because of the short distance. Another great waterfall and we got to see a wild turkey, actually flying which was rare. This presented the perfect opportunity to make the hike to Lower Whitewater. I dread the descents more than the climbs. For the next 0.7 miles, we ascended and descended over 400 steps! Hikers can expect to find blue line trout waters, suspension bridges, wildflowers, and star-filled nights from peaceful campsites which are numerous enough to . The Foothills Trail - A 76-mile journey into the wilderness. We finished with 13.2 hard miles for the day and ate dinner then took our aching feet to bed. Living in Greenville, the FHT is just a few miles away. Waterfalls abound at mile 16.3 via a side trail at King Creek Falls, and another at mile 23.2. 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. Water: Water is plentiful all along the trail from streams, rivers, and lakes, except in drought conditions. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 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. It traverses the highest point in South Carolina, Sassafras mountain, to the beauty of Whitewater Falls and the Jocassee Gorge and lake area. We feel that this has prepared us for longer trips we're looking at The Mountains to Sea Trail in NC next (900 miles, we'll have to do it in sections since we work). To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. Continue on an old road to your left after entering a field to . The trail is clearly marked throughout. I began at the southern terminus, Oconee State Park in Mountains Rest, South Carolina. Elevation change: 535 feet, hikes around the Santa Monica Mountains on the Hike Finder Map, Social Distancing hikes around Los Angeles, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. Ill have to download some gps coordinates for my favorites. 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. Clay Bonnyman Evans is a freelance writer living in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and his hometown, Boulder, Colorado. There I set up camp. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. If anyone finds it please message me 8644096466. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but dont let that fool you. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. The trail is not heavily used by long-distance hikers, regardless of season. It is just under three miles long, beginning at the Old Fort picnic area. Happy hiking! Insects can be troublesome, especially mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. The standard guidebooks for the Foothills Trail provide detailed information about plentiful camping spots, and there are numerous spots to camp along the way that arent listed in either book. I am considering running the entire trial over three days. Trail. We counted down the miles as we moved down the mountain towards the nature center. Excellent article. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. The Star Gap Trail is a great short trail for hikers and bikers alike! I had both time to be alone and reflect and time with great company to share in my experience. This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. Lots of Stairs. Click on any map and youll see what Im talking about. Jurisdiction: The Foothills Trail crosses land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, state parks, and Duke Energy. Log In. Table Rock State Park offers a myriad of amenities from camping to cabins, swimming to fishing. The western half of the trail covers significantly less grueling terrain overall. In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. The Foothills Trail Conservancy has a detailed, informative website, including maps, elevations profiles, shuttle information and more. 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. 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. Had brief freezing rains. The suspension bridge was amazing! Be careful, be safe, be hiking!!! Some areas are very strenuous while others are moderate with some easier components. Day 5s goal was to get to Canebrake and finish the section. 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. I am very proud to have accomplished this feat and Im already looking forward to my next journey along the trail. Along this section and the next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the ground from the previous weeks winter storm. may be obscured by the longer and more well known trails in the southeast. The Toxaway River flows into Lake Jocassee along the Foothills Trail. Day 3 started only 4.8 miles from Bad Creek, where I was meeting my friend the next day. 6.6 - 13.6 miles 2,350 feet: 34.266172,-117.62684: 740 Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1237b0ae472c2f Trail is well maintained - thanks. 'Heartbreak Ridge,' Foothills Trail, SC - YouTube AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy & SafetyHow YouTube worksTest new features 2022 Google LLC The Florida Trail is a point-to-point backpacking route spanning 1,500 miles. Nantahala National Forest - (828) 526-3765. As always, take care of our trail angels! Exposure is minimal, and many climbs feature artificial, wood-block steps. We were on the trail by 9am on day 2. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. First . 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. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Moderate to strenuous on the eastern/northern portion of the trail. There were no bugs and it got down to the low 40s one night After a brief rain during the 65 degree weather. But the eastern/northern third of the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged as the southern Appalachian Trail. Difficult at times but worth it. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. 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. While the solitude of the first part of my hike was very nice it was good to have company. Mountain Bike Trails Play Young's Ridge Mill Creek Road and Old US Hwy. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. Additional troubleshooting resources. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Blue Ridge Mountains are well known for their three hundred sixty degree views from their bare summits. The hiker is treated to their first of many waterfalls at mile 8.2 at Lick Log Creek. On top of Heartbreak Ridge, we heard 4 large birds . Day 2 we hiked to Cross Bear Creek campsite. NC 226-A to Armstrong Fish Hatchery Rd.. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. If you like water, the trail offers constant swimming opportunities, waterfalls, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to sleep. The service rd has many creek crossings but eventually crosses the actual Foothills Trail. Oconee State Park is about two hours from both cities. The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. 70, Old Fort, NC, 28762 I was sad to see the simple existence I had while in the woods coming to an end but at the same time I was excited to be accomplishing this thru-hike and going home to see my wife. Its a great trail! The trail is well-marked and well-graded. Turn right into the parking area and pay your nominal parking fee. Camping is allowed on most of the trails 77 miles, with the following exceptions: 1.7 miles along the Whitewater River on Duke Energy property, starting at around mile 30 (northbound); Table Rock State Park, except in designated campsites at park headquarters. The Bartram Trail is a 102-mile trek through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. This has been by far my favorite hike Ive done in recent years. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. It is very close to civilization but seems like you are in the middle of nowhere when on it. People love campfires. I have thru-hiked it, speed hiked it and section hiked it. 24 miles backpacking. We had reached Burrells Ford by 1pm and pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road. A very special place to wander and enjoy!!! Stairs. I thought the late night hiker was crazy, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel . As on the AT, south/westbound Foothills Trail hikers walk straight into a buzzsaw, tackling the highest, most challenging terrain immediately and gaining some 3,000 feet in the first 9.8 miles to the summit of Sassafrass Mountain on day one. Day 8, my final day on the trail, started early. Greenville SC 29602. We took our time breaking camp and were on the trail by 11am. The rest of the SALT follows the AT to the MST to Art Loeb Trail, from there south is the part that is still in development. For those who wish to follow the white blazes of the Foothills Trail, the trail continues down Sassafras Mountain, makes one last climb to up Pinnacle Mountain, and winds its way down to Table Rock State Park. Theres a section known as heart break ridge where supposedly it is the hardest section of the trail coming from the Toxaway River. Maybe even us. Enjoy your next adventure. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). I would not call this trail moderate, as there are many challenging sections, no matter which direction you travel. This alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections. The route, which features miles of blueberry bushes and campsites with perfect sunrise views, can be hiked in 2-4 days. Be careful! Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. Thanks for your support! This route was very challenging, but worth it in the end, when you are back home with your feet up :), Laurel Fork Falls to Canebrake Point-to-point using boat shuttle. I passed up a chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and I regret not doing so. Generally considered a challenging route. I got my trail name, Pony, in 2015 when I hiked the Colorado Trail. There plenty of beautiful campsites all along the trial. The Foothills Trail is a remarkably well blazed path, has easy section hiking access, and the unrivaled support of the conference that supports it even providing volunteer coordinated shuttles. The incidence of Lyme disease is very low in South and North Carolina (less than .5 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents), but the black-legged (or deer tick) is present, so be diligent about tick checks. The terrain, tread, and gradesfrom riverside meandering to lung-busting steepall reflect the AT in its Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina incarnations. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. Following a long ridge that begins high atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment, this trail plunges over 2000 ft. in four miles. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 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. Geology Guide to the Foothills Trail NOW AVAILABLE! A trail corridor linkingTable Rock State Park in the north/east toOconee State Park to the south/west, was completed in 1981. Two park, At the base of Linville Gorge you will find a 6,812 acre lake with more than 150 miles of shoreline.. The about this site page and bikers can enjoy some pretty spectacular views on this 26+ trail. 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