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. Along the sandy banks of the Chattooga River and just above Laurel Fork Falls are two of many excellent camping spots on the trail. Meet at the Devils Fork boat ramp at 9:00 a.m. Bring snacks, lunch, water and appropriate footwear and clothing. Exclusive to the state of Florida, its dirt and paved paths can be hiked in 60-90 days. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. 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. 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). Good views at spots along the trail as well. Day 3 started only 4.8 miles from Bad Creek, where I was meeting my friend the next day. Hikers can fly into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. 6.6 - 13.6 miles 2,350 feet: 34.266172,-117.62684: 740 Click to reveal Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. We finished up with a little less than 10 miles for the day. 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. A trail corridor linkingTable Rock State Park in the north/east toOconee State Park to the south/west, was completed in 1981. I also absolutely dig the suspension bridges out there. I began at the southern terminus, Oconee State Park in Mountains Rest, South Carolina. 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. But the eastern/northern third of the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged as the southern Appalachian Trail. The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. Waterfalls abound, their distinctive rush mixes with sounds of wind and wildlife. I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. This middle section of trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls. 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 . Excellent article. The group will go by boat to Laurel Fork and hike the Foothills Trail to Canebrake, a distance of about 5.8 miles. No permits are required, but if you camp in either Oconee or Table Rock state parks, there is a fee. My most recent books are "Bones of My Grandfather: Reclaiming a Lost Hero of World War II," "The Trail is the Teacher: Living and Learning on the Appalachian Trail," and "I See by Your Outfit: An Unexpected Cowboy Odyssey.". PO Box 3041 The Foothills Trail Conservancy store offers a complete guidebook, map, and pocket profile. Scott Lynchs pocket guide, Hiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail, is another popular option. This is a four-season trail, hikeable even in winter. It was an evening of mixed emotion for me. 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). 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! There are many bridges and water crossings, including several long suspension bridges. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. That night as we slept we were entertained by a wild thunderstorm. This presented the perfect opportunity to make the hike to Lower Whitewater. This is a lovely hiking area with lots of camping spots and scenic views. Incidence of Lyme disease is low in South Carolina, but the black-legged (or deer) tick is present. Description. 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. We switched to the trail because it had nice footbridges to cross the streams. Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. Maybe even us. 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. All orders over $60 receive FREE shipping! We hiked back up to the Whitewater River and took another break killing time until the hike to the access area. So it requires some advance planning. As a result, the web page can not be displayed. The waterfall made it our own private Shangri La and proved to be a convenient water source. I really need to recover tonight. 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. 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. It got our heart rates elevated but it failed to break us! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. Its entirely plausible to hike the Foothills Trail in any season, though late-spring to early summer and fall are most popular. Did the 5 day plan. Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. We counted down the miles as we moved down the mountain towards the nature center. This mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. 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. NC 28762, http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge. For the next 0.7 miles, we ascended and descended over 400 steps! There I set up camp. Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. The trail goes through typical southern Appalachian forest, with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain laurel, pine, and oak. We parked the truck at a red gate and began hiking down the service road. https://foothillstrail.org/maps-coordinates-2/. Be careful, be safe, be hiking!!! Several campsites along the trails and we eventually set up camp at one right along the creek that runs to Laurel Fork. Continue on an old road to your left after entering a field to . Hikers who travel westbound from Table Rock State Park face the challenge of 3,553-foot Sassafras Mountain, the high point of South Carolina, right out of the gate, while those who start at Oconee State Park get a much gentler introduction to the trail along the banks of the Chattooga. 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. 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. We camped at Bear Creek (not bear camp creek) and actually did have a bear sighting. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. We would maintain about a 2.5 mile per hour pace for the day. I started my hike on Sunday February 16th from Oconee State Park. 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. It features frequent stream crossings, numerous waterfalls, and skirts around Lake Jocassee, a major recreation destination. Today's miles: 17 Total miles: 65.4 Camped: Boulder about a mile before Sassafras peak What a day. 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. I actually JUST FINISHED the Bartram Trail. My wife dropped me, and my dog Spencer, off at 10:45am and after our goodbyes and a few pictures, we set off on our journey. 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. Table Rock State Park is about an hours drive from both Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, SC. The Foothills Trail Conservancy has a detailed, informative website, including maps, elevations profiles, shuttle information and more. 2022 Foothills Trail Conservancy | An Engenius website. This was one of the few instances I saw wildlife along my hike. 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. I had many great campsites along the trail but this one would prove to be the best. 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. Click here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails. Check out this 19.1-mile point-to-point trail near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Dont forget the insect repellent youll want it. Nantahala National Forest - (828) 526-3765. The Star Gap Trail is a great short trail for hikers and bikers alike! What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. More. 54.36.118.98 This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. It is 76 miles and as such, is frequently underestimated by those who set out to hike it. I would not call this trail moderate, as there are many challenging sections, no matter which direction you travel. 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). Around 4:15 we started the hike to the Bad Creek parking lot. Especially in warm weather, the slog out of Laurel Valley, up Sassafrass, over Pinnacle Mountain, and down, down into Table Rock will tax many a hikers glutes and quads. Thank you to Heyword Douglass, Executive Director of the Foothills Conference, for your encouraging emails and photographs! Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. Day 5s goal was to get to Canebrake and finish the section. The part we loved most about the trail was how desolate it was. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. The FTC could improve their map by adding to it some trails that intersect or at least some labels/notes regarding the other trails. The FTC website lists shuttle services that cater to long-distance hikers. As hard as our Colorado hike minus elevation. 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. I was very impressed by the size and power of this waterfall! This trail is in South Carolina and North 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. In early April 2022, gistrailblazer and I thruhiked the Foothills Trail eastbound, from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park. This trail is awesome . instead, 91 South Catawba Avenue, Old Fort, It offers multiple distance choices with a challenging hill climb and scenic views of surrounding . Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1237b0ae472c2f Oconee State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table Rock State Park is about 45 minutes away. Any suggestions. (Upper Whitewater Falls Parking Area) - From the South near Salem, SC on SC 11, turn north onto SC Highway 130 (which is also called Whitewater Road) and travel about ten miles. Hikers can expect to find blue line trout waters, suspension bridges, wildflowers, and star-filled nights from peaceful campsites which are numerous enough to . Some shuttle drivers also will do food drops for a fee. 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). Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. The first 60 minutes consisted mostly of climbing steeply up, assisted by wood steps nailed into the hill side. It looks like a small pool of water but it is the top of the falls. The Foothills Trail proper ends at Table Rock State Park, about ten miles from Sassafras Mountain. We had reached my car by 10:30 am and my journey was complete! Crossing the Toxaway River and Ascending Heartbreak Ridge - 12.30 Miles - From Campsite at mile 47.6 To Campsite at mile 59.9 - We were up at 6:40 am. The Foothills Trail Conference Divides the trail into thirteenaccessible sections. Until we meet again. We really enjoyed the short hike to Hidden Falls. 70, Old Fort, NC, 28762 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. 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! The Guidebook rated these sections as moderate to easy, I assume because of the short distance. There are also ten other easy access points between the two termini for non-thru-hikers. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. Sign up for our email newsletter. We finished with 5 miles on the day. http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge, 2940 Ft. /8 Miles. Fee camping is allowed only in designated areas in Oconee and Table Rock state parks. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. It wasnt the perfect site but it was perfectly timed! 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. The Toxaway River flows into Lake Jocassee along the Foothills Trail. Below is more information about our experience. 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. 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