For safety's sake, you can almost always get a cell phone signal with Verizon also. Hopefully I will get a good nights rest and be ready to go in the morning. The plan is to make a full loop of about 375 miles (I think). Scott Lynchs pocket guide, Hiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail, is another popular option. Be careful, be safe, be hiking!!! 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. It looks like a small pool of water but it is the top of the falls. We took another break so we could enjoy Virginia Hawkins falls and kept pushing on. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 14.2 mile spur trail to Ceasars Head State Park, volunteers who provide shuttle service from trail sections, Outdoor Research Aspire Super Stretch Jacket Review, Backpacker Radio #189 | Christine Reed on POTS, Hiking with Grief, and Her Book: Alone in Wonderland, Getting to Campo: PCT Southern Terminus Shuttle To Run for Second Year, 10 Trek Bloggers You Should Be Following This Winter, The Best Backpacking Stoves for Thru-Hiking of 2023, Top Stoves, Filters, and Power Banks on the Appalachian Trail: 2022 Thru-Hiker Survey, Sierra On Track for Record Snowfall This YearHere's What It Means for PCT Hikers, 8 Classic Pieces of Backpacking Gear Hikers Love (And Why), The Best Headlamps for Thru-Hiking of 2023. Along the sandy banks of the Chattooga River and just above Laurel Fork Falls are two of many excellent camping spots on the trail. Percent of the course on un-paved trails: 90%. 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. Put in at Frozen Creek Access then hiked to Canebrake. There were plenty of views and beautiful streams and waterfalls this time of year. We hiked back up to the Whitewater River and took another break killing time until the hike to the access area. Had brief freezing rains. The trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding. Cars can be left at both state parks. gain about 10,000 feet (the Foothills Trail Conservancy does not offer exact totals; approximations are based on an overall elevation profile). Terms under which this service is provided to you. This is a week that will stay with me forever. The terrain, tread, and gradesfrom riverside meandering to lung-busting steepall reflect the AT in its Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina incarnations. 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. We had gotten to the more strenuous sections of trail and it was quite noticeable. This was a hard day of almost 12 miles. As always, take care of our trail angels! During this middle section of trail, the hiker will also get their first introduction to another essential attribute on the Foothills Trail. a It loosely follows botanist William Bartram's route from the 18th century. Only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel Valley, and the climb up Sassafras in one day I guess I'm crazy. 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. This vlog is from mid-May. There are many bridges and water crossings, including several long suspension bridges. 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. Some shuttle drivers also will do food drops for a fee. 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. Apr 25, 2020 at 8:30 AM . Devil's Backbone This ridge-top trail between Baldy Notch and the summit of Mount Baldy is probably LA's greatest ridge hike, with incredible views over the San Gabriel Mountains and the Mojave Desert. You do need to watch for bears and bees, although the bees seem very tame. 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! 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). 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. There were no bugs and it got down to the low 40s one night After a brief rain during the 65 degree weather. 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! Start and stop your timer on the first wooden step heading into Laurel Valley . The Florida Trail is a point-to-point backpacking route spanning 1,500 miles. 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. For those planning to take their time, some local shuttle drivers offer food drops for a fee. All orders over $60 receive FREE shipping! 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. I traveled west>east (or, sort of, south>north) and water was never an issue. Overall, we hiked around 6 miles to and from. So it requires some advance planning. Our family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers did these sections over 2 days. This was a relatively easy day at about 8 miles. Its unfair to reduce the Foothills Trail to a warm-up for the Appalachian Trail. Many views along the way - waterfalls, wild boar and wild turkey sightings, streams to cross. 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. It offers multiple distance choices with a challenging hill climb and scenic views of surrounding . Bald Knob (mile 72.5): Expansive view of upstate South Carolina from knees of Pinnacle Mountain. After a week on the trail I had made it to my last night. Thanks again. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. The Bartram, Foothills, AT and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route! Click here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails. Its a great trail! Check out the Foothills Trail, we're sure you'll love it. more. Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. (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. The books warn you about Heartbreak Ridge but they don't tell you about Heartbreak Hill that follows. Day 7 was going to be one of our shorter and easier days! To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. Below is more information about our experience. We would maintain about a 2.5 mile per hour pace for the day. I tackled the Foothills Trail during a three day two night fastpack in early January. PARKING (Laurel Valley Parking Area) - From the intersection of US 178 and SC 11, drive north on US 178 to the bridge over Eastatoe Creek (approximately one mile past the community of Rocky Bottom). There is a small amount of roadwalking. 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. This was one of the few instances I saw wildlife along my hike. Day 5s goal was to get to Canebrake and finish the section. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Mountain Bike Trails Play Young's Ridge Mill Creek Road and Old US Hwy. Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. Fitness Trail consists of 7 stations, two exercises per station on a 1/4 mile jogging path. There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. Discover this 48.9-km point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. It's Day 5 on the . It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. Far below the Blue Ridge, the foothills undulate with as much unforgiving elevation change as the high peaks themselves. Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon. 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. First . 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. Greenville SC 29602. 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. I really need to recover tonight. I dread the descents more than the climbs. 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. It was a short 5 mile hike to finish up our journey, and the majority of that was downhill. 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. Heartbreak Ridge - 19.10 Miles - From Cantrell Campsite To Lake Jocasse - This morning's highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. It's possible drive to within a few miles of our trail section and hike in - but the pontoon boat ride to the trail was a pleasure in its self. Wildflowers were just blooming. Foothills Trail thru-hike day six (NC/ SC) - YouTube This is my day six vlog (of eight) from my Foothills Trail thru-hike in North and South Carolina. 24 miles backpacking. 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. It got our heart rates elevated but it failed to break us! Hikers can fly into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. We finished with 5 miles on the day. About an hour later we put the packs back on and headed toward the Cliffs. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. The suspension bridge was amazing! The section of the trail from Laurel Fork Creek to the Whitewater River is often referred to as the Gorges Section and was initially built and maintained by Duke Power Company as part of a licensing agreement for the construction of Lake Joccasee. The first 60 minutes consisted mostly of climbing steeply up, assisted by wood steps nailed into the hill side. Jan 11, 2021; PART 5 - Solo on the Foothills Trail. Mike/Asheville. 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. If you enjoyed the Foothills Trail you should check out http://www.ultimatehike.org. Water is plentiful. We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. Foothills Trail Conservancy PO Box 3041 Greenville SC 29602. [email protected]. 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. Oconee State Park is about two hours from both cities. It is my favorite trail for many of the reasons you noted. Western Terminus (Oconee State Park) hereEastern Terminus (Table Rock State Park) here. 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). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor 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. 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! Hey, Mike N. Im the author of this piece. On our first day we hiked 8.1 miles and completed the first two sections and made camp shortly past Nicholson Road. Excellent article. Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. Hard to find online is specific locations of good water stops. The last 2.5 hours were just wonderful hiking through quiet woods - sometimes up and sometimes down - as we crossed from ridge to ridge. Expect a high speed experience with very fast straight sections. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. Be prepared. This mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. Experience this 30.4-mile point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. Generally considered a challenging route. The Toxaway River flows into Lake Jocassee along the Foothills Trail. Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail. We camped at the site right next to the Laurel Valley parking lot. Explore this 11.0-mile out-and-back trail near Montreat, North Carolina. Elevation change: 535 feet, hikes around the Santa Monica Mountains on the Hike Finder Map, Social Distancing hikes around Los Angeles, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. 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. And many a Foothills Trail hiker has found herself sprinting away from the occasional swarm of irritable hornets, especially in fall. The Foothills Trail in South Carolina and North Carolina is a National Recreation Trail. gain approximately 10,900 feet of elevation, while north/eastbounders (NEBOs?) We finished with 13.2 hard miles for the day and ate dinner then took our aching feet to bed. The trail is blazed and is normally hiked in 10 days. New benefit of membership: Free subscription to Backpacker magazine. I continue to log miles and slay summits in Asheville North Carolina. We reached the end of the section by 5:30 PM. This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. There is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section. The Blue Ridge Mountains are well known for their three hundred sixty degree views from their bare summits. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. Conservancy PO Box 3041 Greenville SC 29602. info @ foothillstrail.org we heartbreak ridge foothills trail gotten to Access... Falls and kept pushing on Mountain Bike trails Play Young & # x27 ; s Ridge Mill Road! Two sections and made camp shortly past Nicholson Road Southern Serpentine route trails Play Young & # ;. 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Is specific locations of good water stops stay with me forever short 5 hike. 11.0-Mile out-and-back Trail near Sunset, South > North ) and water was never an issue sections over days. Feet of elevation, while north/eastbounders ( NEBOs? you noted had failed to break!. Short 5 mile hike to finish up our journey, and the origin web server pushing on century! Water but it is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC plenty views. Safety 's sake, you can almost always get a cell phone signal Verizon.
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