Easy and downhill. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. more. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. For safety's sake, you can almost always get a cell phone signal with Verizon also. 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. Elevation is 3,165, Mail me FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. A solid and steady climb with a few short downhills just to give you a quick break. By Clay Bonnyman Evans, 2019 Foothills Trail Thru-Hiker. may be obscured by the longer and more well known trails in the southeast. 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. Lots of climbing and switchbacks. We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. Nice article! Dont forget the insect repellent youll want it. 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. There is a small amount of roadwalking. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 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. As always, take care of our trail angels! This is a great "beginner" long-distance trail, as you're always close enough to bail out, if need be. Around 4:15 we started the hike to the Bad Creek parking lot. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Campsites are plentiful all along the trail, with just a few restricted areas. Check out more trails in the Asheville area here. Mother Nature smiled upon me with great weather! The Bartram, Foothills, AT and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route! And many a Foothills Trail hiker has found herself sprinting away from the occasional swarm of irritable hornets, especially in fall. Waterfalls abound at mile 16.3 via a side trail at King Creek Falls, and another at mile 23.2. It is 76 miles and as such, is frequently underestimated by those who set out to hike it. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Exclusive to the state of Florida, its dirt and paved paths can be hiked in 60-90 days. IT set the stage for the many great waterfalls we would enjoy along our hike. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. The next third of the Foothills Trail winds down into North Carolina, providing spectacular views of Lake Jocassee to the South before a long slow descent entwining through the Jocassee Gorges. Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. Performance & security by Cloudflare. . PO Box 3041 Bald Knob (mile 72.5): Expansive view of upstate South Carolina from knees of Pinnacle Mountain. We camped at the site right next to the Laurel Valley parking lot. There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. I got to meet several interesting and nice people that were making the short hike to Lick Falls. Greenville SC 29602. Its a great trail! Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1237b0ae472c2f Nearly eighty miles of this scenic landscape straddle the border of South and North Carolina under the famed peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Foothills Trail is a part of the nearing completion Southern Appalachian Loop Trail. 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. Hopefully I will get a good nights rest and be ready to go in the morning. 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. 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. We finished up with a little less than 10 miles for the day. It looks like a small pool of water but it is the top of the falls. Photos (139) Directions. 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. Trail. The rest of the SALT follows the AT to the MST to Art Loeb Trail, from there south is the part that is still in development. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. This was a relatively easy day at about 8 miles. Percent of the course on un-paved trails: 90%. 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. The Trail joins the Chattooga River Trail at mile 10.6 and winds along the Chattooga Rivers sandy beaches for miles. Geology Guide to the Foothills Trail NOW AVAILABLE! There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. I am considering running the entire trial over three days. Mike/Asheville. Sassafrass Mountain (mile 66.4):At 3,553 feet, the highest point in South Carolina, with 360-degree views from the fire tower on top (note: the tower was closed for construction in late 2018). Will Hike this in a few weeks. 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. Water is plentiful. Great campsites, I went off roading Sunday and I left my Sony nex-6 camera. Cross Bear Creek campsite is nice but you have to hang your own bear line. It is just under three miles long, beginning at the Old Fort picnic area. 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. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. For the full 4x4 trail guide please visit:https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/812-2n61y-heartbreak-ridgeHidden on the east side of Big Bear in Southern Cali. Discover this 48.9-km point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail. There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge, 2940 Ft. /8 Miles. For the next 0.7 miles, we ascended and descended over 400 steps! Click here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. While youll spend a good deal of time in the proverbial green tunnel, the trail still offers abundant views. 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. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. On our first day we hiked 8.1 miles and completed the first two sections and made camp shortly past Nicholson Road. 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. It is a beautiful site at the top of the waterfalls. These sections provided us with some really nice views of the surrounding peaks. This was an awesome site and from atop the giant rocks we could see for miles and got the privilege of watching a beautiful sunset. a We reached the end of the section by 5:30 PM. Most of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home. Thanks again. Click to reveal There I set up camp. Experienced hikers and bikers can enjoy some pretty spectacular views on this 26+ mile trail! Exited at Bad Creek parking lot access. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. This is a 30 mile one day hike on the trail that is a fundraising event for CureSearch for Childrens Cancer. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. Heartbreak Ridge Steps' 2020 Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge First Previous Next Last Monday, July 27, 2020 Destination: Lake Jocasse Today's Miles: 19.10 Start Location: Cantrell Campsite Trip Miles: 27.10 Evening view 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 took our time breaking camp and were on the trail by 11am. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging traipse through classic southern Appalachian terrain. A footbridge across the Horsepasture River on the Foothills Trail. 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. Im investigating as we speak! I suppose the guidebooks will have that and will purchase soon You do need to watch for bears and bees, although the bees seem very tame. Bugs were bad at this location. Click link for details and directions. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. Additional Bridge over Whitewater River now complete! The tread on most of the trail is largely free of rocks and roots, except for a few limited areas, making for pleasant hiking. This is considered d the most difficult section of the Foothills Trail. 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. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls.But you earn the views. 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! The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. Generally considered a challenging route. Since we only had about 3.5 miles left to camp, we lounged around after eating basking in the warm sun. 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! The park also has a store and gift shop with limited groceries to fuel your post thru hike hunger. NC 28762, http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge. The Star Gap Trail is a great short trail for hikers and bikers alike! If anyone finds it please message me 8644096466. Difficult at times but worth it. We completed this section then broke for lunch at Laurel Fork Falls. I passed up a chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and I regret not doing so. Length: 76.2 miles (the Foothills Trail Conservancy rounds this off to 77 miles). 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. Day 5s goal was to get to Canebrake and finish the section. We camped at Bear Creek (not bear camp creek) and actually did have a bear sighting. We started with two short sections to Chimney Gap and then to Sassafras. We took a quick break at the falls to enjoy the view and snap some pics and then pushed on towards bad creek. I had planned on making camp for the evening along the spur trail below Grassy Knob that led to 281, but there was too much snow on the ground. We really enjoyed the short hike to Hidden Falls. Foothills Trail Conservancy This trail is awesome . 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. Tougher than expected but had a great time. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. 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). Thru-hikers travel both north/eastbound and south/westbound, but theres no question that those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher. Foothills Trail Conservancy Facebook group, Official Foothills Trail GuidebookHiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch. 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. Following a long ridge that begins high atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment, this trail plunges over 2000 ft. in four miles. Fork Mountain Trail (S5) - (S6) Eastatoe Gorge Spur (S3) - (S4) Sassafras Mountain (S1) to Caesar's Head State Park (S2) . Day 1 we hiked to Laurel Fork Falls campsite. Along the sandy banks of the Chattooga River and just above Laurel Fork Falls are two of many excellent camping spots on the trail. A cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee finished up with a little less than 10 for... Spots on the Trail that is a part of the course on un-paved trails: 90 % at Creek. Travel both north/eastbound and south/westbound, but I still had a couple of hours before so! 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