Another great waterfall and we got to see a wild turkey, actually flying which was rare. Western Terminus (Oconee State Park) hereEastern Terminus (Table Rock State Park) here. Check out the Foothills Trail, we're sure you'll love it. We planned on hiking to Drawbar Cliffs and making camp there so we would only have a 5 mile hike on our final day. I am very proud to have accomplished this feat and Im already looking forward to my next journey along the trail. Wandering Monk Hikes Day 5 on the Foothills Trail | Climbing Heartbreak RidgeHello everyone welcome! Bugs were bad at this location. On our first day we hiked 8.1 miles and completed the first two sections and made camp shortly past Nicholson Road. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. Hikers should plan ahead for shuttle transport. The Foothills Trail is a part of the nearing completion Southern Appalachian Loop Trail. 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. Waterfalls abound at mile 16.3 via a side trail at King Creek Falls, and another at mile 23.2. Check out more trails in the Asheville area here. 0. The Trail joins the Chattooga River Trail at mile 10.6 and winds along the Chattooga Rivers sandy beaches for miles. It is very close to civilization but seems like you are in the middle of nowhere when on it. Hopefully I will get a good nights rest and be ready to go in the morning. 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. There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. Sept of 2014. Thanks for your support! Did the 5 day plan. First . This is considered d the most difficult section of the Foothills Trail. Great camping areas. A solid and steady climb with a few short downhills just to give you a quick break. Foothills Trail Conservancy PO Box 3041 Greenville SC 29602. info@foothillstrail.org. This vlog is from mid-May. I did it with my fianc and dog in three days and it was fantastic. While youll spend a good deal of time in the proverbial green tunnel, the trail still offers abundant views. 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. We would maintain about a 2.5 mile per hour pace for the day. Though technically a four-season trail, the heat and humidity from May through September can be oppressive. We really enjoyed the short hike to Hidden Falls. Dont forget the insect repellent youll want it. The Foothills Trail, though steep in places, is not especially rugged, so trail runners are more than adequate. Cross the bridge and turn left at the Laurel Valley Lodge sign. From there we pushed on towards Laurel Valley. Click here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails. You do need to watch for bears and bees, although the bees seem very tame. Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail. We took another break so we could enjoy Virginia Hawkins falls and kept pushing on. There are also ten other easy access points between the two termini for non-thru-hikers. The part we loved most about the trail was how desolate it was. We took our time there taking a lot of pics and talking to a nice couple. The Foothills Trail proper ends at Table Rock State Park, about ten miles from Sassafras Mountain. This was really the only section that had a few technical parts. Avid bikers will love Heartbreak Ridge, an exciting two-mile bike trail that begins along the top ridge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and descends 2,000 feet! At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. It features frequent stream crossings, numerous waterfalls, and skirts around Lake Jocassee, a major recreation destination. If anyone finds it please message me 8644096466. Stairs. Whitewater Falls (miles 30-31.7): Six different falls that tumble a total of 800 feet, making it the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. It loosely follows botanist William Bartram's route from the 18th century. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. This alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections. There are no shelters along the trail, and rain is frequent, so hikers should have a good shelter such as a tent, tarp, or hammock. . 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. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. We finished up with a little less than 10 miles for the day. Jurisdiction: The Foothills Trail crosses land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, state parks, and Duke Energy. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. As hard as our Colorado hike minus elevation. Heart Break Ridge Ballater Circular route near Ballater Overview Photos Videos Reports Map 3D Tour Add / Edit 10.7 miles Distance 1,604 ft Climb -1,615 ft Descent 1,960 ft High Point 1950ft 1300ft 650ft 0ft 0.00miles 3.50miles 7.00miles 10.50miles A circular ride from Ballater taking in Heart Break Ridge Detailed Description Local Trail Association (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. 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). Be prepared. Whitewater falls is breathtaking, and the climb out will leave you breathless! Click link for details and directions. There plenty of beautiful campsites all along the trial. I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. 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. Today's miles: 17 Total miles: 65.4 Camped: Boulder about a mile before Sassafras peak What a day. 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. We made quick work of the rest of the section and had made it to Upper Whitewater Falls a little after noon. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 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. Heartbreak Ridge Curtis Creek Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762 Avid bikers will love Heartbreak Ridge, an exciting two-mile bike trail that begins along the top ridge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and descends 2,000 feet! 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 were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. copy 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.". Ill have to download some gps coordinates for my favorites. We had reached the access area by 2:30 that afternoon so I decided to push on past to the Thompson River and grab one of those sites. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. instead, 91 South Catawba Avenue, Old Fort, The climate is mild due to lower elevations, which usually means oppressive heat and humidity in late spring, summer, and early fallgood training for the ATs mid-Atlantic in July. Primitive trail connects Woods Mountain & Armstrong Creek Trails. Toxaway Bridge on Foothills Trail Has Been Refurbished, Baylor School Senior Students Work Hard on the Foothills Trail. I thought the late night hiker was crazy, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel . Day 4 was going to be all back tracking since we had to hike back to Bad Creek to meet my friend. Oconee State Park is about two hours from both cities. Apr 25, 2020 at 8:30 AM . There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. Its unfair to reduce the Foothills Trail to a warm-up for the Appalachian Trail. NC 226-A to Armstrong Fish Hatchery Rd.. The suspension bridge was amazing! It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. Its entirely plausible to hike the Foothills Trail in any season, though late-spring to early summer and fall are most popular. Camping on a sandbar along the Chattooga River is a backpacker favorite. The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. Foothills Trail Conservancy Facebook group, Official Foothills Trail GuidebookHiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch. There is a small amount of roadwalking. The Bartram Trail is a 102-mile trek through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. People love campfires. 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. 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. Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. There is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section. There I set up camp. Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon. Death Valley Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop, CA, Smoky Mountains National Park Loop, NC / TN, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Total elevation gain is 10,000-11,000 feet, depending on direction, Sustained climbs of more than 2,000 feet; some short, very steep sections, Heat and humidity can be a challenge from late spring through early fall, Dispersed camping allowed along most of the trail. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. I have participated for the last 4 years great event!! 4/8-10/22. Thx Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Day 8, my final day on the trail, started early. A trail corridor linkingTable Rock State Park in the north/east toOconee State Park to the south/west, was completed in 1981. 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. I would not call this trail moderate, as there are many challenging sections, no matter which direction you travel. Cars can be left at both state parks. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. On top of Heartbreak Ridge, we heard 4 large birds . Loved the wild rivers! 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. 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). 24 miles backpacking. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. Head West on The Foothills Trail towards Lake Jocassee. Be sure to. 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. And many a Foothills Trail hiker has found herself sprinting away from the occasional swarm of irritable hornets, especially in fall. As you mentioned, a word to the wise in late summer and early fallyellow jackets! 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. Length 11.0 miElevation gain 3,188 ftRoute type Out & back. Mountain Bike Trails Play Young's Ridge Mill Creek Road and Old US Hwy. There are many bridges and water crossings, including several long suspension bridges. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. 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 steps are so long that in the middle there is a bench for folks to rest before they tackle the remainder of the climb. We completed this section then broke for lunch at Laurel Fork Falls. This was one of the few instances I saw wildlife along my hike. Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. It is my favorite trail for many of the reasons you noted. The plan is to make a full loop of about 375 miles (I think). 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 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. Meet at the Devils Fork boat ramp at 9:00 a.m. Bring snacks, lunch, water and appropriate footwear and clothing. Turn right into the parking area and pay your nominal parking fee. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. Volunteers should be reimbursed fairly for their generous donations of time and gasoline. 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. I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. Be careful, be safe, be hiking!!! Well-built bridges cross major waterways and the FTC has laid hundreds of wood-block steps into the steepest sections of trail. Login to Update Event. Most of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home. That said, its hard to think of a better trail to help newbies figure out if they are going to enjoy the AT. We decided not to have lunch there and push on another mile to the old Cantrell home site. Log In. Woods Mountain Trail is not for the faint of heart! Great weather with clear cool nights. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. Terms under which this service is provided to you. . It was a good call since it kept us on the trail longer and we ended up with another awesome site. This has been by far my favorite hike Ive done in recent years. Go to Join Now to join for the first time or to renew your membership. Length: 76.2 miles (the Foothills Trail Conservancy rounds this off to 77 miles). PO Box 3041 The best part of this site was the view and waking the next morning to the sunrise. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. I began at the southern terminus, Oconee State Park in Mountains Rest, South Carolina. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. 13.1 miles total for the day! The Foothills Trail Conservancy website lists local shuttle services. Tougher than expected but had a great time. This middle section of trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls. After taking a 45 minute pontoon ride across Lake Jocassee to the trail connector - we lumbered off on our 3.5 hour hike. 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. Had brief freezing rains. Day 2 we hiked to Cross Bear Creek campsite. Jan 11, 2021; PART 5 - Solo on the Foothills Trail. 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. Easy and downhill. 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. Cold nights in 30s and pleasant days in 50s. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. Did the 5 day plan. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. For those planning to take their time, some local shuttle drivers offer food drops for a fee. The trail goes through typical southern Appalachian forest, with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain laurel, pine, and oak. 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. 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). Greenville SC 29602. Heartbreak's tread is narrow, and often constricted even more by Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into the corridor. Far below the Blue Ridge, the foothills undulate with as much unforgiving elevation change as the high peaks themselves. Not unlike the AT, the Foothills Trail is more challenging at one end. 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. 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. Below is more information about our experience. We finished with 5 miles on the day. This is a week that will stay with me forever. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. If you like water, the trail offers constant swimming opportunities, waterfalls, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to sleep. 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. Id like to make that connection to the Bartram and hike it to the AT sometime. Want to report conditions for this trail? Table Rock State Park is about an hours drive from both Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, SC. The FTC could improve their map by adding to it some trails that intersect or at least some labels/notes regarding the other trails. But theres more to love about this trail than the wilderness it passes through. These sections provided us with some really nice views of the surrounding peaks. 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. Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. I got to meet several interesting and nice people that were making the short hike to Lick Falls. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. 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. Hard 4.4 (195) Pisgah National Forest. There are numerous road crossings, and hitching into small towns such as Salem, SC, or Sapphire, NC, isnt too difficult. Water: Water is plentiful all along the trail from streams, rivers, and lakes, except in drought conditions. Start and stop your timer on the first wooden step heading into Laurel Valley . Fee camping is allowed only in designated areas in Oconee and Table Rock state parks. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Additional Bridge over Whitewater River now complete! 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. 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. We counted down the miles as we moved down the mountain towards the nature center. Well maintained trail. 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. I have only done a small portion of this beautiful trail but every step is well worth the effort. Some shuttle drivers also will do food drops for a fee. I dread the descents more than the climbs. Our family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers did these sections over 2 days. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. 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. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. We parked the truck at a red gate and began hiking down the service road. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. Print/PDF map. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. 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 was very impressed by the size and power of this waterfall! Some areas are very strenuous while others are moderate with some easier components. We had reached Sassafras by 10 till noon. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. 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. Jessica Lane. We camped at the site right next to the Laurel Valley parking lot. I also absolutely dig the suspension bridges out there. This trail is awesome . But the eastern/northern third of the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged as the southern Appalachian Trail. As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. It was very strenuous and not for the out-of-shape. more. After a week on the trail I had made it to my last night. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but dont let that fool you. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. It offers multiple distance choices with a challenging hill climb and scenic views of surrounding . The Bartram, Foothills, AT and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route! For safety's sake, you can almost always get a cell phone signal with Verizon also. 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. I passed up a chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and I regret not doing so. Around 4:15 we started the hike to the Bad Creek parking lot. Solo on the first two sections and made camp shortly past Nicholson.! We heard 4 large birds my friend chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile.! The hike to Lick Falls to original trailheads after completing sections since it kept US on Trail. Is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of the few instances i saw wildlife my!, SC runners are more than adequate Rock State parks, and oak ended. 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