All orders over $60 receive FREE shipping! . 54.36.118.98 Flowers, and other Flora abound, birds aplenty, There are even plants that only exist in this part of the world. Dismiss. Dont take it for granted.The shuttle service ( Taz) is the best.Went from Oconne to Table Rock. I was sad to see the simple existence I had while in the woods coming to an end but at the same time I was excited to be accomplishing this thru-hike and going home to see my wife. For the next 0.7 miles, we ascended and descended over 400 steps! We camped at the site right next to the Laurel Valley parking lot. 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. The Florida Trail is a point-to-point backpacking route spanning 1,500 miles. 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. Your IP: The Foothills Trail Conference Divides the trail into thirteenaccessible sections. 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 is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. With the exception of the winter months, chances are that weather will be warm and often extremely hot and humid. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). 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. 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. Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. Today I am climbing Heartbreak Ridge! People love campfires. 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. Did the 5 day plan. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. This is a four-season trail, hikeable even in winter. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. Nantahala National Forest - (828) 526-3765. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. That night as we slept we were entertained by a wild thunderstorm. 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. As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. What an experience! What were the generally areas where you made camp each night? Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. Insects can be bothersome in warmer months. I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. It was a short 5 mile hike to finish up our journey, and the majority of that was downhill. That was my favorite part of the trail. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. 0. more. Check out this page at the Foothills Trail Conservancy. Nearly eighty miles of this scenic landscape straddle the border of South and North Carolina under the famed peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I tackled the Foothills Trail during a three day two night fastpack in early January. 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! Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Hes the author of several books, including the Amazon bestseller, Bones of My Grandfather: Reclaiming a Lost Hero of World War II, and his most recent, The Trail Is the Teacher: Living and Learning on the Appalachian Trail. Bald Knob (mile 72.5): Expansive view of upstate South Carolina from knees of Pinnacle Mountain. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The Blue Ridge Mountains are well known for their three hundred sixty degree views from their bare summits. Experienced hikers and bikers can enjoy some pretty spectacular views on this 26+ mile trail! At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. 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. More. Wildflowers were just blooming. Additional one mile loop, "Last of the Mohicans" and "Hunt for Red October" were filmed along the shores of this picturesque lake. The FTC website lists shuttle services that cater to long-distance hikers. Living in Greenville, the FHT is just a few miles away. 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 set the stage for the many great waterfalls we would enjoy along our hike. Most of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home. And many a Foothills Trail hiker has found herself sprinting away from the occasional swarm of irritable hornets, especially in fall. Fitness Trail consists of 7 stations, two exercises per station on a 1/4 mile jogging path. I would not call this trail moderate, as there are many challenging sections, no matter which direction you travel. We made quick work of the rest of the section and had made it to Upper Whitewater Falls a little after noon. The service rd has many creek crossings but eventually crosses the actual Foothills Trail. Streams, creeks, and engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches. We had reached Burrells Ford by 1pm and pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road. 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). 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. This self supported marathon begins in the Laurel Valley Parking Lot off HWY 178 . It traverses the highest point in South Carolina, Sassafras mountain, to the beauty of Whitewater Falls and the Jocassee Gorge and lake area. 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). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. I have participated for the last 4 years great event!! Be prepared. Expect a high speed experience with very fast straight sections. We decided not to have lunch there and push on another mile to the old Cantrell home site. Region: Deep South, Lower Appalachians (South Carolina) Length: 76.2 miles (5-8 days) Physical Difficulty: Moderate I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. We made camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a total of 20.5 miles for day 2. 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. Stairs. Elevation is 3,165, Mail me 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. 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. Lots of Stairs. 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 were hiking by 10 till 10 and our first stop was Hilliard Falls. 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. There I set up camp. Upon the completion of the Foothills Trail hikers can apply for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their hikes. This is classified as a strenuous section of trail which includes Heartbreak Ridge. We decided to climb to the ridge and found the perfect site for the evening atop the ridge. The hiker is treated to their first of many waterfalls at mile 8.2 at Lick Log Creek. Region: Deep South, Lower Appalachians (South Carolina)Length: 76.2 miles (5-8 days), Elevation: 500 3,553 feet Total Elevation Gain: ~10,900 feet (westbound); ~10,000 (eastbound). I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. The Bartram, Foothills, AT and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route! In summer and early fall, the heat and humidity can be a killerhikers who can tolerate walking in gear literally soaked with sweat will avail themselves of frequent opportunities to swim and wash off chafe-inducing salt and grime. We finished up with a little less than 10 miles for the day. The trail is clearly marked throughout. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. You can hike for a few hours or spend days or a week or so hiking here and never do the same hike twice. About an hour later we put the packs back on and headed toward the Cliffs. It offers multiple distance choices with a challenging hill climb and scenic views of surrounding . The Trail joins the Chattooga River Trail at mile 10.6 and winds along the Chattooga Rivers sandy beaches for miles. Not unlike the AT, the Foothills Trail is more challenging at one end. And they were indeed smoky this morning. The last 2.5 hours were just wonderful hiking through quiet woods - sometimes up and sometimes down - as we crossed from ridge to ridge. Really cool to se that engineering out in the wilderness and seamlessly blend it in. Fee camping is allowed only in designated areas in Oconee and Table Rock state parks. The Foothills Trail is a dream for section hikers. Day 4 was a short 3 miles but much of it was uphill. The trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding. There are also ten other easy access points between the two termini for non-thru-hikers. 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. 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. Log In. Want to report conditions for this trail? But the eastern/northern third of the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged as the southern Appalachian Trail. There were no bugs and it got down to the low 40s one night After a brief rain during the 65 degree weather. This middle section of trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls. From Bear den campsite to Cane Brake boat access, not flat, Great hike! But theres more to love about this trail than the wilderness it passes through. (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. 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. 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. The group will go by boat to Laurel Fork and hike the Foothills Trail to Canebrake, a distance of about 5.8 miles. 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. The Star Gap Trail is a great short trail for hikers and bikers alike! Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. I thought the late night hiker was crazy, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel . Cold nights in 30s and pleasant days in 50s. The suspension bridge was amazing! virtually impossible to get lost. A trail corridor linkingTable Rock State Park in the north/east toOconee State Park to the south/west, was completed in 1981. 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 . I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. 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! 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. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). However, for many people the, A Thru-Hike for Everyone: 5 Trails Under 200 Miles, 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, https://foothillstrail.org/maps-coordinates-2/. It got our heart rates elevated but it failed to break us! Im investigating as we speak! Though technically a four-season trail, the heat and humidity from May through September can be oppressive. Day 1 we hiked to Laurel Fork Falls campsite. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. 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. Hikers can expect to find blue line trout waters, suspension bridges, wildflowers, and star-filled nights from peaceful campsites which are numerous enough to . This was really the only section that had a few technical parts. We finished with 5 miles on the day. Thx 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. 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. Bugs were bad at this location. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. The Foothills Trail, though steep in places, is not especially rugged, so trail runners are more than adequate. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. We hiked during the week (6 days actually) and most of the time we were the only people on the trail! I did it with my fianc and dog in three days and it was fantastic. Cross Bear Creek campsite is nice but you have to hang your own bear line. Until we meet again. A footbridge across the Horsepasture River on the Foothills Trail. Foothills Trail Conservancy Facebook group, Official Foothills Trail GuidebookHiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch. The terrain, tread, and gradesfrom riverside meandering to lung-busting steepall reflect the AT in its Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina incarnations. As a result, the web page can not be displayed. Today's miles: 17 Total miles: 65.4 Camped: Boulder about a mile before Sassafras peak What a day. Fork Mountain Trail (S5) - (S6) Eastatoe Gorge Spur (S3) - (S4) Sassafras Mountain (S1) to Caesar's Head State Park (S2) . Water: Water is plentiful all along the trail from streams, rivers, and lakes, except in drought conditions. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. I am considering running the entire trial over three days. New benefit of membership: Free subscription to Backpacker magazine. I dread the descents more than the climbs. And relaxing the Cliffs hours or spend days or a week or so hiking here and never the. 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