The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Until we meet again. IT set the stage for the many great waterfalls we would enjoy along our hike. Its unfair to reduce the Foothills Trail to a warm-up for the Appalachian Trail. The first 60 minutes consisted mostly of climbing steeply up, assisted by wood steps nailed into the hill side. Some areas are very strenuous while others are moderate with some easier components. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. Trail. While the relatively mild winters of South Carolina make the trail hikeable year-round, early to mid-spring and fall are the preferred seasons. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. Check out the Foothills Trail, we're sure you'll love it. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. The trail is clearly marked throughout. Slept well, heard the popping of the campfire a few sites over for awhile. The western half of the trail covers significantly less grueling terrain overall. Loved the wild rivers! I really need to recover tonight. Thanks for your support! Great camping areas. Stairs. 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. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. 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. The trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding. 6.6 - 13.6 miles 2,350 feet: 34.266172,-117.62684: 740 A very special place to wander and enjoy!!! Photos (139) Directions. The trail crosses several roads leading to nearby small towns. The Foothills Trail, though steep in places, is not especially rugged, so trail runners are more than adequate. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging traipse through classic southern Appalachian terrain. 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. Woke up to the popping of the same campfire. This was a hard day of almost 12 miles. Navigation: The trail is well-marked with white blazes and easily navigable, though as always, you can get off track if you arent paying attention. . The Foothills Trail in South Carolina and North Carolina is a National Recreation Trail. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Wandering Monk Hikes Day 5 on the Foothills Trail | Climbing Heartbreak RidgeHello everyone welcome! Fork Mountain Trail (S5) - (S6) Eastatoe Gorge Spur (S3) - (S4) Sassafras Mountain (S1) to Caesar's Head State Park (S2) . Table Rock State Park is about an hours drive from both Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, SC. 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. Thru-hikers travel both north/eastbound and south/westbound, but theres no question that those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher. Thx This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. 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. Water is plentiful. I had many great campsites along the trail but this one would prove to be the best. 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. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. 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 heat and humidity can be intense from mid-May through September. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. (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. There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. Explore this 11.0-mile out-and-back trail near Montreat, North Carolina. I could not have asked or hoped for anything better. Following a long ridge that begins high atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment, this trail plunges over 2000 ft. in four miles. But from its well blazed path to its active trail conservancy, it is a trail well worth the walk. Start and stop your timer on the first wooden step heading into Laurel Valley . 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). 70, Old Fort, NC, 28762 We made camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a total of 20.5 miles for day 2. 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 Foothills Trail - A 76-mile journey into the wilderness. More. Check out this 19.1-mile point-to-point trail near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Bald Knob (mile 72.5): Expansive view of upstate South Carolina from knees of Pinnacle Mountain. Additional troubleshooting resources. At mile 28.9 there is a side trail to Whitewater Falls, at mile 30.1 Corbin Creek Falls, a small waterfall at mile 35.5 and a blue blaze to Hillard Falls at mile marker 36.5. In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. Another great waterfall and we got to see a wild turkey, actually flying which was rare. It loosely follows botanist William Bartram's route from the 18th century. 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. Foothills Trail Conservancy Facebook group, Official Foothills Trail GuidebookHiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch. Exclusive to the state of Florida, its dirt and paved paths can be hiked in 60-90 days. The books warn you about Heartbreak Ridge but they don't tell you about Heartbreak Hill that follows. A bear canister is probably overkill. 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. Login to Update Event. No permits are required, but if you camp in either Oconee or Table Rock state parks, there is a fee. 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. Dont forget the insect repellent youll want it. This vlog is from mid-May. Scott Lynchs pocket guide, Hiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail, is another popular option. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. 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 . 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. Had brief freezing rains. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Trailhead begins inside the Old Fort Picnic Area with incredible views of Kitsuma Peak at trail end. The trail is strenuous throughout. This is a week that will stay with me forever. 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. This trail is awesome . Check out more trails in the Asheville area here. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. This self supported marathon begins in the Laurel Valley Parking Lot off HWY 178 . The eastern end of the trail includes some strenuous climbing, including the infamous 500 steps up Heartbreak Ridge and the summit of Sassafras Mountain, but there are also long stretches of easy strolling. First . Heartbreak's tread is narrow, and often constricted even more by Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into the corridor. We had reached Burrells Ford by 1pm and pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road. The day started with "heartbreak ridge". Be sure to. But the eastern/northern third of the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged as the southern Appalachian Trail. copy . The Foothills Trail is a part of the nearing completion Southern Appalachian Loop Trail. The tread on most of the trail is largely free of rocks and roots, except for a few limited areas, making for pleasant hiking. A group of 3 moms and 3 girls did these 32.6 miles over 4 days. Laurel Fork Falls (mile 54.3): A scenic cascade with several streamside campsites just one-tenth of a mile to the east. 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. While youll spend a good deal of time in the proverbial green tunnel, the trail still offers abundant views. Theres a section known as heart break ridge where supposedly it is the hardest section of the trail coming from the Toxaway River. Meet at the Devils Fork boat ramp at 9:00 a.m. Bring snacks, lunch, water and appropriate footwear and clothing. 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. 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! My girlfriend and I backpacked this trail last night. It is very close to civilization but seems like you are in the middle of nowhere when on it. We took our time breaking camp and were on the trail by 11am. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls.But you earn the views. 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. I am very proud to have accomplished this feat and Im already looking forward to my next journey along the trail. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. I got my trail name, Pony, in 2015 when I hiked the Colorado Trail. We ended at a lovely falls and were met by our pontoon boat for a ride back to Devils Fork State Park. There is a small amount of roadwalking. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. Click to reveal We had the overlook to ourselves and time to kill, so we broke for lunch and I read while Spencer napped in the sun. 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. 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. Sept of 2014. I began at the southern terminus, Oconee State Park in Mountains Rest, South Carolina. Well maintained trail. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls. The Foothills Trail Conservancy store offers a complete guidebook, map, and pocket profile. 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. We logged over 32 miles. We switched to the trail because it had nice footbridges to cross the streams. Thanks for your support! Flowers, and other Flora abound, birds aplenty, There are even plants that only exist in this part of the world. Come take a hike with me at Blue Ridge Hiking Company! We finished up with 9.4 miles for the day. That night as we slept we were entertained by a wild thunderstorm. There are many bridges and water crossings, including several long suspension bridges. Most of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home. Exited at Bad Creek parking lot access. 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. Foothills Trail Conservancy PO Box 3041 Greenville SC 29602. info@foothillstrail.org. Foothills Trail Conservancy This is a four-season trail, hikeable even in winter. For those planning to take their time, some local shuttle drivers offer food drops for a fee. 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 hiked solo from Maine to Georgia in 2014 and from Denver to Durango in 2015. New benefit of membership: Free subscription to Backpacker magazine. This was really the only section that had a few technical parts. Id like to make that connection to the Bartram and hike it to the AT sometime. Below is more information about our experience. I thought the late night hiker was crazy, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel . 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. 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. Very well maintained trail. It got our heart rates elevated but it failed to break us! If you like water, the trail offers constant swimming opportunities, waterfalls, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to sleep. We planned on hiking to Drawbar Cliffs and making camp there so we would only have a 5 mile hike on our final day. 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. Jan 11, 2021; PART 5 - Solo on the Foothills 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. Oconee State Park is about two hours from both cities.