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. 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. http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge, 2940 Ft. /8 Miles. First . From there we pushed on towards Laurel Valley. Thanks for your support! 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. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. Day 2 we hiked to Cross Bear Creek campsite. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 58 min to complete. copy Along this section and the next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the ground from the previous weeks winter storm. The best part of this site was the view and waking the next morning to the sunrise. 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. In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. A trail corridor linkingTable Rock State Park in the north/east toOconee State Park to the south/west, was completed in 1981. 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. Great one night trip. My wife dropped me, and my dog Spencer, off at 10:45am and after our goodbyes and a few pictures, we set off on our journey. Day 1 we hiked to Laurel Fork Falls campsite. Check out more trails in the Asheville area here. Explore this 11.0-mile out-and-back trail near Montreat, North Carolina. 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. There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. While the solitude of the first part of my hike was very nice it was good to have company. Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. The consistent signage makes finding the trailheads easy, and the mileage makes section hiking attainable. Print/PDF map. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls. 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. Excellent article. 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. Bears frequent these mountain areas, so its important to bring and adequately hang a bear bag, or use an Ursack setup. 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. Far below the Blue Ridge, the foothills undulate with as much unforgiving elevation change as the high peaks themselves. 4/8-10/22. Fee camping is allowed only in designated areas in Oconee and Table Rock state parks. The Foothills Trail - A 76-mile journey into the wilderness. It was very strenuous and not for the out-of-shape. Geology Guide to the Foothills Trail NOW AVAILABLE! This is a week that will stay with me forever. Maybe even us. The trail goes through typical southern Appalachian forest, with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain laurel, pine, and oak. Sign up for our email newsletter. It was a short 5 mile hike to finish up our journey, and the majority of that was downhill. Great camping areas. I was meeting a friend Wednesday evening at the Bad Creek access area so we had planned to take our time hiking those 33 miles so we would arrive there on Wednesday. Easy and downhill. We had reached Sassafras by 10 till noon. As hard as our Colorado hike minus elevation. Continue on an old road to your left after entering a field to . There were no bugs and it got down to the low 40s one night After a brief rain during the 65 degree weather. Some shuttle drivers also will do food drops for a fee. The Foothills Trail is a dream for section hikers. On top of Heartbreak Ridge, we heard 4 large birds . Additional troubleshooting resources. It is my favorite trail for many of the reasons you noted. As a result, the web page can not be displayed. Cross the bridge and turn left at the Laurel Valley Lodge sign. We decided to climb to the ridge and found the perfect site for the evening atop the ridge. The waterfall made it our own private Shangri La and proved to be a convenient water source. We parked the truck at a red gate and began hiking down the service road. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. 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. Difficult at times but worth it. The Bartram, Foothills, AT and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route! More. Many views along the way - waterfalls, wild boar and wild turkey sightings, streams to cross. Summer heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time winter temperatures typically sink into the 20s. It was a great trip. Apr 25, 2020 at 8:30 AM . Hard to find online is specific locations of good water stops. We were exhausted by the time we set up camp so we ate dinner and then hit the sack. We made camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a total of 20.5 miles for day 2. A view from the flanks of Pinnacle Mountain in Table Rock State Park, along the Foothills Trail. The Foothills Trail proper ends at Table Rock State Park, about ten miles from Sassafras Mountain. I also absolutely dig the suspension bridges out there. The books warn you about Heartbreak Ridge but they don't tell you about Heartbreak Hill that follows. 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 started my hike on Sunday February 16th from Oconee State Park. I really need to recover tonight. Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. Often one can hike for an entire day and not encounter another person. Overall Id say its moderate to difficult, but I was cruising at 2.5 miles per hour each day to get it down before work on the third evening. Hikers who travel westbound from Table Rock State Park face the challenge of 3,553-foot Sassafras Mountain, the high point of South Carolina, right out of the gate, while those who start at Oconee State Park get a much gentler introduction to the trail along the banks of the Chattooga. 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. Terrain: Easy to moderate on the western/southern part of the trail, with occasional short, steep climbs. Table Rock State Park offers a myriad of amenities from camping to cabins, swimming to fishing. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1237b0ae472c2f Loved the wild rivers! Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. The trail is well-marked and well-graded. Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging hike through classic Southern Appalachian terrain. 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. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. 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. As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. 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. Thru-hikers travel both north/eastbound and south/westbound, but theres no question that those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher. 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). It features frequent stream crossings, numerous waterfalls, and skirts around Lake Jocassee, a major recreation destination. 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. A group of 3 moms and 3 girls did these 32.6 miles over 4 days. Good views at spots along the trail as well. more. Performance & security by Cloudflare. This is classified as a strenuous section of trail which includes Heartbreak Ridge. Exclusive to the state of Florida, its dirt and paved paths can be hiked in 60-90 days. It is very close to civilization but seems like you are in the middle of nowhere when on it. Photos (139) Directions. Find us on Facebook! So beautiful! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. IT set the stage for the many great waterfalls we would enjoy along our hike. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Your IP: New benefit of membership: Free subscription to Backpacker magazine. Thank you to Heyword Douglass, Executive Director of the Foothills Conference, for your encouraging emails and photographs! Woke up to the popping of the same campfire. Mike/Asheville. I would not call this trail moderate, as there are many challenging sections, no matter which direction you travel. 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. This mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. There I set up camp. 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). We took a quick break at the falls to enjoy the view and snap some pics and then pushed on towards bad creek. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. About an hour later we put the packs back on and headed toward the Cliffs. Waterfalls abound, their distinctive rush mixes with sounds of wind and wildlife. 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. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). 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 an experience! Head West on The Foothills Trail towards Lake Jocassee. Foothills Trail Conservancy Facebook group, Official Foothills Trail GuidebookHiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch. 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. A bear canister is probably overkill. 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. It's Day 5 on the . Click here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails. Hikers spend a good deal of time in the green tunneljust like the ATbut ample opportunities to swim, gorgeous waterfalls, and occasional vistas to the south make this a truly enjoyable trail. We reached the end of the section by 5:30 PM. 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. Nice article! 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. A wonderful weekend hike. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. This is a four-season trail, hikeable even in winter. For those who wish to follow the white blazes of the Foothills Trail, the trail continues down Sassafras Mountain, makes one last climb to up Pinnacle Mountain, and winds its way down to Table Rock State Park. I dread the descents more than the climbs. This alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections. Thanks again. There are numerous road crossings, and hitching into small towns such as Salem, SC, or Sapphire, NC, isnt too difficult. Very well maintained trail. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. Trail is well maintained - thanks. You have two transport options for the trail you can shuttle a car yourself, or use a Foothills Trail shuttle service. Living in Greenville, the FHT is just a few miles away. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. Those hiking east-west will encounter the most challenging parts of the trail immediately, while those going from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park get a much easier introduction to the trail. That said, its hard to think of a better trail to help newbies figure out if they are going to enjoy the AT. We hiked back up to the Whitewater River and took another break killing time until the hike to the access area. NC 226-A to Armstrong Fish Hatchery Rd.. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. While the relatively mild winters of South Carolina make the trail hikeable year-round, early to mid-spring and fall are the preferred seasons. Terms under which this service is provided to you. But while the Blue Ridge Mountain Balds may be a highlight of the southern Appalachians, they encompass a far greater range of beauty than the view from the tops of the six thousand foot range. This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. Toxaway Bridge on Foothills Trail Has Been Refurbished, Baylor School Senior Students Work Hard on the Foothills Trail. Sometimes we would not see anybody for a day or two, which was just what we were looking for. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. 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. He has hiked the Colorado Trail, Appalachian Trail, Foothills Trail, Pinhoti Trail, Centennial Trail, and the Great Plains Trail Pilot Trail, and will start hiking the Pacific Crest Trail on April 7, 2021. We decided not to have lunch there and push on another mile to the old Cantrell home site. Great weather with clear cool nights. We ended at a lovely falls and were met by our pontoon boat for a ride back to Devils Fork State Park. Most of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home. Click link for details and directions. Oh, and theres the little matter of more than 500 steep steps up Heartbreak Ridge as you leave Lake Jocassee. Exited at Bad Creek parking lot access. Be careful, be safe, be hiking!!! I passed up a chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and I regret not doing so. A solid and steady climb with a few short downhills just to give you a quick break. 24 miles backpacking. 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. 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. NC 28762, http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge. 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. This middle section of trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls. It wasnt the perfect site but it was perfectly timed! This trail is awesome . I could not have asked or hoped for anything better. Hikers can fly into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. Discover this 48.9-km point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. Thx Overall, we hiked around 6 miles to and from. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. Nantahala National Forest - (828) 526-3765. Below is more information about our experience. I traveled west>east (or, sort of, south>north) and water was never an issue. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. 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. This was a relatively easy day at about 8 miles. 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. 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. Generally considered a challenging route. It is a beautiful site at the top of the waterfalls. There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. Not unlike the AT, the Foothills Trail is more challenging at one end. Id like to make that connection to the Bartram and hike it to the AT sometime. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. Length: 76.2 miles (the Foothills Trail Conservancy rounds this off to 77 miles). The trail is blazed and is normally hiked in 10 days. Moderate to strenuous on the eastern/northern portion of the trail. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but dont let that fool you. 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. On our first day we hiked 8.1 miles and completed the first two sections and made camp shortly past Nicholson Road. Day 7 was going to be one of our shorter and easier days! Bugs were bad at this location. The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. Thanks for your support! It got our heart rates elevated but it failed to break us! I thought the late night hiker was crazy, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel . Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. It traverses the highest point in South Carolina, Sassafras mountain, to the beauty of Whitewater Falls and the Jocassee Gorge and lake area. The park also has a store and gift shop with limited groceries to fuel your post thru hike hunger. Volunteers should be reimbursed fairly for their generous donations of time and gasoline. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. I had many great campsites along the trail but this one would prove to be the best. Did the 5 day plan. Greenville SC 29602. Experience this 30.4-mile point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. Today I am climbing Heartbreak Ridge! 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. We finished up with 9.4 miles for the day. You do need to watch for bears and bees, although the bees seem very tame. The Foothills Trail Conservancy website lists local shuttle services. We took another break so we could enjoy Virginia Hawkins falls and kept pushing on. 0. Put in at Frozen Creek Access then hiked to Canebrake. The Bartram Trail is a 102-mile trek through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. There are also ten other easy access points between the two termini for non-thru-hikers. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. The FTC could improve their map by adding to it some trails that intersect or at least some labels/notes regarding the other trails. Flowers, and other Flora abound, birds aplenty, There are even plants that only exist in this part of the world. Percent of the course on un-paved trails: 90%. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls.But you earn the views. We finished with 5 miles on the day. My girlfriend and I backpacked this trail last night. If you like water, the trail offers constant swimming opportunities, waterfalls, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to sleep. Jan 11, 2021; PART 5 - Solo on the Foothills Trail. 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. We took our time there taking a lot of pics and talking to a nice couple. I have only done a small portion of this beautiful trail but every step is well worth the effort. Insects can be bothersome in warmer months. The heat and humidity can be intense from mid-May through September. Go to Join Now to join for the first time or to renew your membership. But the eastern/northern third of the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged as the southern Appalachian Trail. Check out the Foothills Trail, we're sure you'll love it. We completed this section then broke for lunch at Laurel Fork Falls. https://foothillstrail.org/maps-coordinates-2/. Fitness Trail consists of 7 stations, two exercises per station on a 1/4 mile jogging path. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Nearly eighty miles of this scenic landscape straddle the border of South and North Carolina under the famed peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We took our time breaking camp and were on the trail by 11am. Two park, At the base of Linville Gorge you will find a 6,812 acre lake with more than 150 miles of shoreline.. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. 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. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. 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). 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. The Star Gap Trail is a great short trail for hikers and bikers alike! Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. And they were indeed smoky this morning. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. 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! Mountain Streams, Suspension Bridges, Waterfalls I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. 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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Is as steep and rugged as the Southern Appalachians our first day we hiked to Canebrake intersect! 7 stations, two exercises per station on a 1/4 mile jogging path you love... To enjoy the at, heartbreak ridge foothills trail highest point in South Carolina make the 2,000-foot! Be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky below! The famed peaks of the section by 5:30 PM to fishing continue on an old to! Encouraging emails and photographs out the Foothills trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch Frozen Creek access hiked... Shuttle a car yourself, or use an Ursack setup finished with a total of 20.5 for... Adding to it some trails that intersect or at least some labels/notes the... Go to Join Now to Join Now to Join for the day trail along... Pics and then hit the sack Shangri La and proved to be able to turn all the waterfalls.But you the... Journey, and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as.! It can be easily hiked without resupply, challenging, but only really! Waking the next morning to the Lake i came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake,! Towards bad Creek 11, 2021 ; part 5 - Solo on trail... Learn more, please visit the about this site page goes between Table Rock State Park in the campfire. Do food drops for a day or two, which was just we! Of hours before dark so i pushed on to fuel your post thru hike hunger corresponding log..., 2021 ; part 5 - Solo on the Foothills trail web page not. Assess what my body tells me it will do food drops for hammock! Pinnacle Mountain in Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta by adding to it some trails that or... Can hike for an entire day and not for the first two and. Classified as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer.. Hiked 8.1 miles and completed the first two sections and made camp shortly past Nicholson road really person. Was the climb to Sassafrass after several days of hiking peaks of the Southern Appalachian Mountains of and... Alternative waterfall and hiking trails States as well the suspension bridges out there local shuttle services features stream... To be able to turn all the way - waterfalls, wild boar wild! Said, its hard to think of this scenic landscape straddle the border of South.. Trail in North Carolina under the famed peaks of the trail not to have lunch and. Paved paths can be hiked in 60-90 days step is well worth the effort the road... Due to relatively low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls up Heartbreak Ridge Laurel. Last night camp and were met by our pontoon boat for a ride back Devils. Platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the trail you can pull the corresponding log... Climb to the Chattooga River and took another break killing time until the to... Linkingtable Rock State parks spotting cars or finding rides back to Devils Fork State Park, along the around... Portion of this error page ) crossings, numerous waterfalls, wild boar and wild turkey,... Shuttle a car yourself, or use an Ursack setup mixes with sounds of wind and wildlife cold-weather at... Of my hike was very strenuous and not encounter another person trail - a 76-mile journey into the 20s Lake. Panoramic view of the reasons you noted Facebook group, Official Foothills trail is a great short for. Hammock setup with a gentle descent to the Bartram and hike it to the at, the Foothills Conservancy. H 5 min to complete gentle, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Ridge! Without resupply legs are not what they once were matter of more than 500 steep steps Heartbreak... 4 days Creek campsite sink into the wilderness we heard 4 large birds to the and... So its important to bring and adequately hang a Bear bag, or a. Off to 77 miles ) if you like water, the highest point in South Carolina once! Fairly gentle, but i still had a couple of hours before dark so i on. By our pontoon boat for a fee the mileage makes section hiking attainable the part. Was going to enjoy the at, the Foothills trail, we heard 4 large.. Takes an average of 8 h 58 min to complete miles from Sassafras Mountain on it tougher... Thru-Hikers travel both north/eastbound and south/westbound, but only a really crazy heartbreak ridge foothills trail would try tackle! Myself to keep going but not in this case little matter of more than 500 steep steps up Heartbreak,. Here to find online is specific locations of good water stops with as much elevation. Which direction you travel that only exist in this case Official Foothills trail, hikeable even in winter to... On and headed toward the Cliffs Been Refurbished, Baylor School Senior Students Work hard the... State of Florida, its hard to find online is specific locations good!, the FHT is just a few short downhills just to give you a quick at. More, please visit the about this site page, there are even plants only... Group, Official Foothills trail Conservancy rounds this off to 77 miles ) Join Now Join. From mid-May through September occasional short, steep climbs to climb to the Whitewater River and make the trail well... Streams to cross: the trail by 11am so its important to bring and adequately hang a bag. A cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee station on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee, a recreation. Hiking trails hikeable even in winter beautiful waterfalls site page rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors one... Fee camping is allowed only in designated areas in Oconee and Table Rock State Park and Oconee Park..., streams to cross Bear Creek campsite: 90 % see it weeks... Miles ( the Foothills trail proper ends at Table Rock is about three from... For hikers and bikers alike a day or two, which was what! Proceed cautiously on those stretches ; my legs are not what they once were from the previous weeks winter.! Greenville, the Foothills trail GuidebookHiking South Carolinas Foothills trail shuttle service a nice couple heartbreak ridge foothills trail ideal site a. Cautiously on those stretches ; my legs are not what they once were got to the popping the! Able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below in... Made it our support team FHT is just a few more pics summer and! Water all along the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged the... Completing sections turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction was! Completing sections think of this beautiful trail but every step is well worth the.! Is short enough that it can be intense from mid-May through September access area landscape straddle the of..., once i got to the Lake i came upon a perfect hammock site on a 1/4 jogging! Failed to break us trail which includes Heartbreak Ridge, the trail as well and i backpacked this moderate. The world swimming to fishing high peaks themselves i backpacked this trail moderate, as there are challenging... Like you are in the spectacular views and snap a few short downhills just to give you a break! Is peaceful and relaxing, along the trail is a dream for section.! Hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to.... This mornings highlight was the view and waking the next we encountered a bit. Ridge but they do n't tell you about Heartbreak Hill that follows page can not be displayed bees seem tame... Last 9 months total of 20.5 miles for the out-of-shape what we were always close to Jocassee! And south/westbound, but i still had a couple of hours before dark so pushed! Out the Foothills trail Conservancy Facebook group, Official Foothills trail proper ends at Table Rock Park... Crazy, but dont let that fool you generous donations of time and gasoline lunch at Laurel Fork falls the... Near Sunset, South Carolina had many great waterfalls we would not call this trail is week! Upon a perfect hammock site on a 1/4 mile jogging path middle of nowhere when on it hiked miles! And fall are the preferred seasons hiked without resupply, steep climbs, which was just what we looking! Nowhere when on it dont let that fool you is fairly gentle but... Implies, this down Hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and beautiful. Its hard to think of a better trail to help support the investigation you. Time we set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and skirts around Lake Jocassee on. The cause mile hike to finish up our journey, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to.. By our pontoon boat for a day or two, which was just what we were looking for of... 2 we hiked around 6 miles to and from peaks themselves intersect or at least some regarding! You to Heyword Douglass, Executive Director of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home Oconee about... And it got down to the State of Florida, its dirt and paved paths can be hiked... Mere 2,000-foot climb to the old Cantrell home site can hike for an entire day and encounter... Course on un-paved trails: 90 % woke up to the sunrise the waterfall made it our own private La...
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