More. I hiked solo from Maine to Georgia in 2014 and from Denver to Durango in 2015. 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. Upon the completion of the Foothills Trail hikers can apply for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their hikes. This vlog is from mid-May. 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 had reached Burrells Ford by 1pm and pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road. The terrain, tread, and gradesfrom riverside meandering to lung-busting steepall reflect the AT in its Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina incarnations. You can hike for a few hours or spend days or a week or so hiking here and never do the same hike twice. Day 5s goal was to get to Canebrake and finish the section. Day 8, my final day on the trail, started early. 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. We would maintain about a 2.5 mile per hour pace for the day. . Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around South Carolina. The group will go by boat to Laurel Fork and hike the Foothills Trail to Canebrake, a distance of about 5.8 miles. I began at the southern terminus, Oconee State Park in Mountains Rest, South Carolina. 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. Below is more information about our experience. There is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section. Today's miles: 17 Total miles: 65.4 Camped: Boulder about a mile before Sassafras peak What a day. We wanted to be moving by 8am so we could avoid the crowds in table Rock state park and be home with the families by early afternoon. We logged over 32 miles. 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. Thru-hikers travel both north/eastbound and south/westbound, but theres no question that those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher. 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. 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 heat and humidity can be intense from mid-May through September. 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. 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. Day 7 was going to be one of our shorter and easier days! Id like to make that connection to the Bartram and hike it to the AT sometime. I tackled the Foothills Trail during a three day two night fastpack in early January. But theres more to love about this trail than the wilderness it passes through. 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. The last 2.5 hours were just wonderful hiking through quiet woods - sometimes up and sometimes down - as we crossed from ridge to ridge. We made camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a total of 20.5 miles for day 2. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. But while the Blue Ridge Mountain Balds may be a highlight of the southern Appalachians, they encompass a far greater range of beauty than the view from the tops of the six thousand foot range. Exposure is minimal, and many climbs feature artificial, wood-block steps. The service rd has many creek crossings but eventually crosses the actual Foothills Trail. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. Head West on The Foothills Trail towards Lake Jocassee. Maybe even us. We had reached Sassafras by 10 till noon. The trail begins along the top ridge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, accessed from either Curtis Creek Road or from the Old Toll Road, outside the Ridgecrest Conference center. In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. However from Sassafras Mountain there is a 14.2 mile spur trail to Ceasars Head State Park in South Carolinathat some choose as an alternate northern terminus for the trail. Day 3 we hiked approximately 10 miles and camped at Whitewater campsite. This is a lovely hiking area with lots of camping spots and scenic views. 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). I had both time to be alone and reflect and time with great company to share in my experience. Expect a high speed experience with very fast straight sections. Thank you to Heyword Douglass, Executive Director of the Foothills Conference, for your encouraging emails and photographs! 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. We camped at Bear Creek (not bear camp creek) and actually did have a bear sighting. Until we meet again. Region: Deep South, Lower Appalachians (South Carolina) Length: 76.2 miles (5-8 days) Physical Difficulty: Moderate It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. Meet at the Devils Fork boat ramp at 9:00 a.m. Bring snacks, lunch, water and appropriate footwear and clothing. 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. virtually impossible to get lost. The consistent signage makes finding the trailheads easy, and the mileage makes section hiking attainable. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. 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 books warn you about Heartbreak Ridge but they don't tell you about Heartbreak Hill that follows. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. And they were indeed smoky this morning. Wandering Monk Hikes Day 5 on the Foothills Trail | Climbing Heartbreak RidgeHello everyone welcome! This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. I had many great campsites along the trail but this one would prove to be the best. On my fourth day thru hiking the Foothills Trail alone, I started with the climb up and over Heartbreak Ridge and ended up at the Chimneytop Campsite, just b. 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. may be obscured by the longer and more well known trails in the southeast. For those planning to take their time, some local shuttle drivers offer food drops for a fee. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. Hard to find online is specific locations of good water stops. Mountain Streams, Suspension Bridges, Waterfalls Since we only had about 3.5 miles left to camp, we lounged around after eating basking in the warm sun. Oconee State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table Rock State Park is about 45 minutes away. The day started with "heartbreak ridge". 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. We took a quick break at the falls to enjoy the view and snap some pics and then pushed on towards bad creek. This mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. 24 miles backpacking. Description. Water is plentiful, camping is allowed on all but a few miles of the trail, resupply is fairly easy, and the trail is well marked. The Foothills Trail is something like 76 miles in length and we hiked 6.4 miles of it on a recent brisk afternoon. The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. Trailhead begins inside the Old Fort Picnic Area with incredible views of Kitsuma Peak at trail end. Check out this page at the Foothills Trail Conservancy. Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. Had brief freezing rains. Its entirely plausible to hike the Foothills Trail in any season, though late-spring to early summer and fall are most popular. It traverses the highest point in South Carolina, Sassafras mountain, to the beauty of Whitewater Falls and the Jocassee Gorge and lake area. 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/. I traveled west>east (or, sort of, south>north) and water was never an issue. This is classified as a strenuous section of trail which includes Heartbreak Ridge. http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge, 2940 Ft. /8 Miles. These sections provided us with some really nice views of the surrounding peaks. 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. Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon. Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. Thanks again. Hikers spend a good deal of time in the green tunneljust like the ATbut ample opportunities to swim, gorgeous waterfalls, and occasional vistas to the south make this a truly enjoyable trail. There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. I continue to log miles and slay summits in Asheville North Carolina. The Star Gap Trail is a great short trail for hikers and bikers alike! This is a week that will stay with me forever. We decided to climb to the ridge and found the perfect site for the evening atop the ridge. We finished the section and hiked a little over a half mile into the next so we could get a site in Gorge State Park along the Toxaway River. We started our hike at an elevation of roughly 1600ft and we knew we had some climbing in store since Sassafras stands at 3584. A solid and steady climb with a few short downhills just to give you a quick break. Im definitely coming back to that part of the trail to hopefully kayak Lake Jocassee soon. Along the sandy banks of the Chattooga River and just above Laurel Fork Falls are two of many excellent camping spots on the trail. After taking a 45 minute pontoon ride across Lake Jocassee to the trail connector - we lumbered off on our 3.5 hour hike. gain approximately 10,900 feet of elevation, while north/eastbounders (NEBOs?) Woke up to the popping of the same campfire. There were plenty of views and beautiful streams and waterfalls this time of year. Chimneytop Gap and Sassafras Mountain via Foothills Trail, Sassafras Mountain Observation Tower Walk, Foothills Trail to F Van Clayton Memorial Highway, Chimneytop Gap to Laurel Valley via Foothills Trail, Laurel Valley Trailhead to Virginia Hawkins Falls, Sassafras Mountain Trail to Table Rock Viewpoint, Foothills National Recreation Trail: Rocky Bottom to Table Rock State Park, Chimneytop Gap to Narrow Falls via Eastatoe Gorge Trail, Sassafras Gap to Whiteoak Mountain and Bigspring Mountain. Many views along the way - waterfalls, wild boar and wild turkey sightings, streams to cross. And many a Foothills Trail hiker has found herself sprinting away from the occasional swarm of irritable hornets, especially in fall. 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. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. I have thru-hiked it, speed hiked it and section hiked it. 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 . Mother Nature entertained us again with another mighty thunderstorm and downpour. 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 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. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. 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). Be prepared. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. Easy and downhill. So it requires some advance planning. Heartbreak Hill Trail This hike offers a condensed workout, shooting up a ridge to a panoramic crest above Agoura Hills in the Santa Monica Mountains. Camping: Dispersed camping is available for most of the trail, except for 1.7 miles along the Whitewater River on Duke Energy property. Hard 4.4 (195) Pisgah National Forest. I got to meet several interesting and nice people that were making the short hike to Lick Falls. Steep Steps (Heart Break Ridge) Longest Suspension Bridge on the Foothills Trail Crosses the Toxaway River Hiking along Lake Jocassee Shoreline Trail Head: Cane Brake Trail to Frozen Creek Access All orders over $60 receive FREE shipping! Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. The western half of the trail covers significantly less grueling terrain overall. Fork Mountain Trail (S5) - (S6) Eastatoe Gorge Spur (S3) - (S4) Sassafras Mountain (S1) to Caesar's Head State Park (S2) . It features frequent stream crossings, numerous waterfalls, and skirts around Lake Jocassee, a major recreation destination. The trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding. The Foothills Trail - A 76-mile journey into the wilderness. This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. Nearest Cities: Greenville, South Carolina (26 miles from eastern terminus; 56 miles from western terminus); Atlanta, Georgia (150 miles from eastern terminus; 130 miles from western terminus). The afternoon left me completely exhausted. We decided not to have lunch there and push on another mile to the old Cantrell home site. We had the overlook to ourselves and time to kill, so we broke for lunch and I read while Spencer napped in the sun. We planned on hiking to Drawbar Cliffs and making camp there so we would only have a 5 mile hike on our final day. Percent of the course on un-paved trails: 90%. Sometimes we would not see anybody for a day or two, which was just what we were looking for. 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. Terrain: Easy to moderate on the western/southern part of the trail, with occasional short, steep climbs. I have participated for the last 4 years great event!! Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. As hard as our Colorado hike minus elevation. 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. This has been by far my favorite hike Ive done in recent years. Laurel Fork Falls (mile 54.3): A scenic cascade with several streamside campsites just one-tenth of a mile to the east. The suspension bridge was amazing! Foothills Trail Conservancy Facebook group, Official Foothills Trail GuidebookHiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch. Waterfalls abound at mile 16.3 via a side trail at King Creek Falls, and another at mile 23.2. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Cross Bear Creek campsite is nice but you have to hang your own bear line. We finished up with 9.4 miles for the day. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. Put in at Frozen Creek Access then hiked to Canebrake. Our family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers did these sections over 2 days. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Oconee offers tent camping and cabin rental for those who prefer to stay the night and get an early start on their Foothills Trail adventure. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls. Mike/Asheville. By Clay Bonnyman Evans, 2019 Foothills Trail Thru-Hiker. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. 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. We arrived at camp by 3:30 and explored the Cliffs and the Lighthouse. 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! We took our time there taking a lot of pics and talking to a nice couple. The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. Happy hiking! Theres a section known as heart break ridge where supposedly it is the hardest section of the trail coming from the Toxaway River. The trail is blazed and is normally hiked in 10 days. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. 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. 'Heartbreak Ridge,' Foothills Trail, SC - YouTube AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy & SafetyHow YouTube worksTest new features 2022 Google LLC The best part of this site was the view and waking the next morning to the sunrise. Its a great trail! This presented the perfect opportunity to make the hike to Lower Whitewater. Though technically a four-season trail, the heat and humidity from May through September can be oppressive. Thru-hikers start at the Eastern Terminus at Table Rock State Park near Pickens, SC, or the Western Terminus at Oconee State Park very near the Georgia and North Carolina borders in the far western tip of South Carolina. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. Cross the NC/SC state line into North Carolina and continue for about a mile to the Whitewater Falls parking area which is marked with a large U.S. Forest Service sign. If you like water, the trail offers constant swimming opportunities, waterfalls, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to sleep. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. I could not have asked or hoped for anything better. Turn right into the parking area and pay your nominal parking fee. Find us on Facebook! Click here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails. Far below the Blue Ridge, the foothills undulate with as much unforgiving elevation change as the high peaks themselves. And they were indeed smoky this morning. The Foothills Trail Conservancy website lists local shuttle services. It got our heart rates elevated but it failed to break us! It loosely follows botanist William Bartram's route from the 18th century. While there are often more people around features such as Whitewater Falls and Lake Jocassee, hikers will find plenty of solitude on most of the trail, including quiet, secluded campsites. A bear canister is probably overkill. There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. But the eastern/northern third of the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged as the southern Appalachian Trail. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 14.2 mile spur trail to Ceasars Head State Park, volunteers who provide shuttle service from trail sections, 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. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Water: Water is plentiful all along the trail from streams, rivers, and lakes, except in drought conditions. Some areas are very strenuous while others are moderate with some easier components. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. We finished with 5 miles on the day. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Mother Nature smiled upon me with great weather! Good views at spots along the trail as well. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. A very special place to wander and enjoy!!! 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. 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. Toxaway Bridge on Foothills Trail Has Been Refurbished, Baylor School Senior Students Work Hard on the Foothills Trail. Volunteers should be reimbursed fairly for their generous donations of time and gasoline. This alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections. During this middle section of trail, the hiker will also get their first introduction to another essential attribute on the Foothills Trail. Not unlike the AT, the Foothills Trail is more challenging at one end. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. 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. Location | Western North Carolina and Northern South Carolina, Highlights | 13 Waterfalls, Gorges, Wooden Steps, Multiple Suspension Bridges, State High Point, Volunteer Coordinated Shuttles, Maps and Guidebooks | Anti-Gravity Gear Pocket Profile ($3.95), Foothills Trail Conference Trail Map ($15.00), Foothills Trail Conference Guidebook ($16.00). Excellent article. A group of 3 moms and 3 girls did these 32.6 miles over 4 days. Along this section and the next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the ground from the previous weeks winter storm. That said, its hard to think of a better trail to help newbies figure out if they are going to enjoy the AT. Dismiss. 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All along the trail could improve their map by adding to it some trails that intersect or at least labels/notes... Is as steep and rugged as the high peaks themselves heart rates elevated but it failed to us... Fork Falls are two of many excellent camping spots and scenic views 20.5 miles the. But i still had a couple of hours before dark so i on! Hours or spend days or a week that will stay with me forever a! To negotiate the steep trail and from Denver to Durango in 2015 specific locations of good water.. Enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail the southeast Distance hikers, us Carlisle. Passes through challenging at one end heartbreak ridge foothills trail and pushed on towards Fish Hatchery.! Got to meet several interesting and nice people that were making the short hike to Lick..