On our first day we hiked 8.1 miles and completed the first two sections and made camp shortly past Nicholson Road. Since we only had about 3.5 miles left to camp, we lounged around after eating basking in the warm sun. I passed up a chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and I regret not doing so. . Nantahala National Forest - (828) 526-3765. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. 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. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. New benefit of membership: Free subscription to Backpacker magazine. The park also has a store and gift shop with limited groceries to fuel your post thru hike hunger. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging traipse through classic southern Appalachian terrain. Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. NC 226-A to Armstrong Fish Hatchery Rd.. Upon the completion of the Foothills Trail hikers can apply for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their hikes. Expect a high speed experience with very fast straight sections. 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. Hard 4.4 (195) Pisgah National Forest. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. 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 is well-marked with white blazes. I was very impressed by the size and power of this waterfall! 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. The Foothills Trail Conservancy has a detailed, informative website, including maps, elevations profiles, shuttle information and more. Campsites are plentiful all along the trail, with just a few restricted areas. The heat and humidity can be intense from mid-May through September. The Foothills Trail is a part of the nearing completion Southern Appalachian Loop Trail. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. 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. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. 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. We camped at the site right next to the Laurel Valley parking lot. A bear canister is probably overkill. Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. I have only done a small portion of this beautiful trail but every step is well worth the effort. Thanks for your support! Great weather with clear cool nights. The Foothills Trail - A 76-mile journey into the wilderness. 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. Ill have to download some gps coordinates for my favorites. We made camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a total of 20.5 miles for day 2. 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. I dread the descents more than the climbs. Trail is well maintained - thanks. The day started with "heartbreak ridge". There are many bridges and water crossings, including several long suspension bridges. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. The Foothills Trail Conservancy website lists local shuttle services. Mountain Bike Trails Play Young's Ridge Mill Creek Road and Old US Hwy. This is a 30 mile one day hike on the trail that is a fundraising event for CureSearch for Childrens Cancer. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. The FTC website lists shuttle services that cater to long-distance hikers. Streams, creeks, and engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches. From Bear den campsite to Cane Brake boat access, not flat, Great hike! 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 afternoon left me completely exhausted. . This trail is awesome . Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. My wife and I hiked the Foothills Trail in April of 2007, and as we tried to gather information from other websites on their experiences, we found that there were not many pages to be found. As always, take care of our trail angels! 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. 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. Fee camping is allowed only in designated areas in Oconee and Table Rock state parks. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. Bears frequent these mountain areas, so its important to bring and adequately hang a bear bag, or use an Ursack setup. Terms under which this service is provided to you. The service rd has many creek crossings but eventually crosses the actual Foothills Trail. The route, which features miles of blueberry bushes and campsites with perfect sunrise views, can be hiked in 2-4 days. 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. This vlog is from mid-May. This has been by far my favorite hike Ive done in recent years. Head West on The Foothills Trail towards Lake Jocassee. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. Exposure is minimal, and many climbs feature artificial, wood-block steps. The Bartram Trail can be found (somewhere, I havent done it yet) on the other side of the Chattooga crossing the road bridge just up stream of the Burrells Ford campground, which leads to the AT in the Wayah Bald area. Click link for details and directions. 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 is a fun, challenging hike through classic Southern Appalachian terrain. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Bald Knob (mile 72.5): Expansive view of upstate South Carolina from knees of Pinnacle Mountain. PO Box 3041 The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. Did the 5 day plan. You can hike for a few hours or spend days or a week or so hiking here and never do the same hike twice. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but dont let that fool you. Along this section and the next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the ground from the previous weeks winter storm. instead, 91 South Catawba Avenue, Old Fort, Moderate to strenuous on the eastern/northern portion of the trail. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. I passed up a chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and I regret not doing so. We started our hike at an elevation of roughly 1600ft and we knew we had some climbing in store since Sassafras stands at 3584. This is a four-season trail, hikeable even in winter. Check out this 19.1-mile point-to-point trail near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 58 min to complete. We completed this section then broke for lunch at Laurel Fork Falls. Im investigating as we speak! As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. copy Sept of 2014. With the exception of the winter months, chances are that weather will be warm and often extremely hot and humid. Day 8, my final day on the trail, started early. 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. Check out more trails in the Asheville area here. 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. 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. Be careful! 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. 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. I actually JUST FINISHED the Bartram Trail. Sign up for our email newsletter. The Bartram, Foothills, AT and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route! In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. This mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. As a result, the web page can not be displayed. 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. Any suggestions. This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. Want to report conditions for this trail? The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. One of the classic mountain bike descents in Pisgah is one of the most infamous hiking climbs in Pisgah when paired with the Star Gap Trail. It is a beautiful site at the top of the waterfalls. You have two transport options for the trail you can shuttle a car yourself, or use a Foothills Trail shuttle service. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. So beautiful! 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! 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). My girlfriend and I backpacked this trail last night. 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. What were the generally areas where you made camp each night? The plan is to make a full loop of about 375 miles (I think). We really enjoyed the short hike to Hidden Falls. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. Sometimes we would not see anybody for a day or two, which was just what we were looking for. Click on any map and youll see what Im talking about. Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail. There I set up camp. The last 2.5 hours were just wonderful hiking through quiet woods - sometimes up and sometimes down - as we crossed from ridge to ridge. Exclusive to the state of Florida, its dirt and paved paths can be hiked in 60-90 days. 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. 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. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). Location: The trail runs slightly northeast-southwest in far western South Carolina, with several crossings into North Carolina. IT set the stage for the many great waterfalls we would enjoy along our hike. Dont take it for granted.The shuttle service ( Taz) is the best.Went from Oconne to Table Rock. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. (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. For the next 0.7 miles, we ascended and descended over 400 steps! Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. Greenville SC 29602. It looks like a small pool of water but it is the top of the falls. Insects can be troublesome, especially mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months. I tackled the Foothills Trail during a three day two night fastpack in early January. Below is more information about our experience. Trail. It wasnt the perfect site but it was perfectly timed! It is my favorite trail for many of the reasons you noted. I thought the late night hiker was crazy, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel . Camping: Dispersed camping is available for most of the trail, except for 1.7 miles along the Whitewater River on Duke Energy property. 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. The trail goes through typical southern Appalachian forest, with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain laurel, pine, and oak. Terms under which this service is provided to you. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. 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. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. Far below the Blue Ridge, the foothills undulate with as much unforgiving elevation change as the high peaks themselves. 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. Be prepared. I am considering running the entire trial over three days. We planned on hiking to Drawbar Cliffs and making camp there so we would only have a 5 mile hike on our final day. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Heartbreak Ridge via Star Gap Trail. . The consistent signage makes finding the trailheads easy, and the mileage makes section hiking attainable. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. Summer heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time winter temperatures typically sink into the 20s. You walk along the Chattooga River, cross numerous creeks, the Toxaway River, Laurel Creek anyway, multiple sources. Additional one mile loop, "Last of the Mohicans" and "Hunt for Red October" were filmed along the shores of this picturesque lake. In addition to the well thought out sectioning, the Foothills Trail Conference has compiled a list of volunteers who provide shuttle service from trail sections. 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. Oh, and theres the little matter of more than 500 steep steps up Heartbreak Ridge as you leave Lake Jocassee. Stairs. We had reached Sassafras by 10 till noon. Find us on Facebook! For those planning to take their time, some local shuttle drivers offer food drops for a fee. Foothills Trail Conservancy During this middle section of trail, the hiker will also get their first introduction to another essential attribute on the Foothills 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. Cars can be left at both state parks. may be obscured by the longer and more well known trails in the southeast. Mother Nature entertained us again with another mighty thunderstorm and downpour. Today's miles: 17 Total miles: 65.4 Camped: Boulder about a mile before Sassafras peak What a day. 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 top is an issue between cloudflare 's cache and your origin web.. 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