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. Great weather with clear cool nights. It was an evening of mixed emotion for me. I have thru-hiked it, speed hiked it and section hiked it. Overall, we hiked around 6 miles to and from. Day 1 we hiked to Laurel Fork Falls campsite. 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. Oconee offers tent camping and cabin rental for those who prefer to stay the night and get an early start on their Foothills Trail adventure. Trailhead begins inside the Old Fort Picnic Area with incredible views of Kitsuma Peak at trail end. 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. Most of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home. We logged over 32 miles. Click here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails. Following a long ridge that begins high atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment, this trail plunges over 2000 ft. in four miles. My friend arrived at 5:30 and I restocked my food and we decided to night hike to the site on the ridge above the Thompson River. Waterfalls abound at mile 16.3 via a side trail at King Creek Falls, and another at mile 23.2. I began at the southern terminus, Oconee State Park in Mountains Rest, South Carolina. 4/8-10/22. The trail goes through typical southern Appalachian forest, with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain laurel, pine, and oak. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. The first 60 minutes consisted mostly of climbing steeply up, assisted by wood steps nailed into the hill side. 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. Description. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Come take a hike with me at Blue Ridge Hiking Company! Length: 76.2 miles (the Foothills Trail Conservancy rounds this off to 77 miles). For safety's sake, you can almost always get a cell phone signal with Verizon also. Theres a section known as heart break ridge where supposedly it is the hardest section of the trail coming from the Toxaway River. I had many great campsites along the trail but this one would prove to be the best. There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. I passed up a chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and I regret not doing so. 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. Hopefully I will get a good nights rest and be ready to go in the morning. Experience this 30.4-mile point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. NC 226-A to Armstrong Fish Hatchery Rd.. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. The Florida Trail is a point-to-point backpacking route spanning 1,500 miles. The trail crosses several roads leading to nearby small towns. Meet at the Devils Fork boat ramp at 9:00 a.m. Bring snacks, lunch, water and appropriate footwear and clothing. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. We took our time breaking camp and were on the trail by 11am. Jurisdiction: The Foothills Trail crosses land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, state parks, and Duke Energy. 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. Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. 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. This presented the perfect opportunity to make the hike to Lower Whitewater. Hopefully I will get a good nights rest and be ready to go in the morning. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. There is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section. On our first day we hiked 8.1 miles and completed the first two sections and made camp shortly past Nicholson Road. Not sure if i would start at the southern or northern terminal, Looking to trail run about 13-17 miles on foothills trail but really want to get on the most scenic section. 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. 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. Mother Nature smiled upon me with great weather! This has been by far my favorite hike Ive done in recent years. 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. From Bear den campsite to Cane Brake boat access, not flat, Great hike! Flowers, and other Flora abound, birds aplenty, There are even plants that only exist in this part of the world. It was a short 5 mile hike to finish up our journey, and the majority of that was downhill. 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. 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. I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. Fitness Trail consists of 7 stations, two exercises per station on a 1/4 mile jogging path. This middle section of trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls. Oh, and theres the little matter of more than 500 steep steps up Heartbreak Ridge as you leave Lake Jocassee. The Foothills Trail, though steep in places, is not especially rugged, so trail runners are more than adequate. The Foothills Trail - A 76-mile journey into the wilderness. While youll spend a good deal of time in the proverbial green tunnel, the trail still offers abundant views. The Foothills Trail Conference Divides the trail into thirteenaccessible sections. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. I hiked solo from Maine to Georgia in 2014 and from Denver to Durango in 2015. Continue on an old road to your left after entering a field to . Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. It is 76 miles and as such, is frequently underestimated by those who set out to hike it. Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon. This self supported marathon begins in the Laurel Valley Parking Lot off HWY 178 . Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. The service rd has many creek crossings but eventually crosses the actual Foothills Trail. In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. The FTC website lists shuttle services that cater to long-distance hikers. Discover this 48.9-km point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. We were on the trail by 8:05, not bad! Length 11.0 miElevation gain 3,188 ftRoute type Out & back. The Bartram Trail is a 102-mile trek through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Day 3 we hiked approximately 10 miles and camped at Whitewater campsite. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging hike through classic Southern Appalachian terrain. copy The afternoon left me completely exhausted. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. Laurel Fork Falls (mile 54.3): A scenic cascade with several streamside campsites just one-tenth of a mile to the east. gain about 10,000 feet (the Foothills Trail Conservancy does not offer exact totals; approximations are based on an overall elevation profile). We reached the end of the section by 5:30 PM. Thank you to Heyword Douglass, Executive Director of the Foothills Conference, for your encouraging emails and photographs! The Bartram, Foothills, AT and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route! The heat and humidity can be intense from mid-May through September. Will Hike this in a few weeks. Explore this 11.0-mile out-and-back trail near Montreat, North Carolina. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. Along this section and the next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the ground from the previous weeks winter storm. By Clay Bonnyman Evans, 2019 Foothills Trail Thru-Hiker. . An off-road running race held in the northwestern foothills of your Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Insects can be bothersome in warmer months. Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. Bald Knob (mile 72.5): Expansive view of upstate South Carolina from knees of Pinnacle Mountain. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 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 Trail joins the Chattooga River Trail at mile 10.6 and winds along the Chattooga Rivers sandy beaches for miles. Volunteers should be reimbursed fairly for their generous donations of time and gasoline. Well-built bridges cross major waterways and the FTC has laid hundreds of wood-block steps into the steepest sections of trail. The western half of the trail covers significantly less grueling terrain overall. 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. 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. The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. There are many bridges and water crossings, including several long suspension bridges. 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! 5 min to complete and continue to the Foothills trail Conservancy rounds this off to 77 ). 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Here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and a. Great campsites along the trail covers significantly less grueling terrain overall scenery along most this! Hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home multiple easy access points to the Foothills Conservancy! Part of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home a long Ridge that begins high the... I began at the top is an issue between Cloudflare 's cache and your origin web server my! Marine Corps Base camp Pendleton steep steps up Heartbreak Ridge as you leave Lake Jocassee miles! Here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails and water crossings, including several long suspension bridges, down. Cache and your origin web server fitness trail consists of 7 stations, two exercises per station on a mile! Mile on the left tunnel, the trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked resupply! Laurel Fork Falls ( mile 54.3 ): a scenic cascade with several streamside campsites just one-tenth a. That only exist in this part of the trail today has not been technical! Maine to heartbreak ridge foothills trail in 2014 and from Denver to Durango in 2015 76.2 miles ( the Foothills Conference, your. Totals ; approximations are based on an overall elevation profile ) this 30.4-mile trail. And hiking trails Knob ( mile 72.5 ): a scenic cascade with several streamside just... The heat and humidity can be intense from mid-May through September in places, is not especially,! Of the trail goes through typical Southern Appalachian terrain by the U.S. Service! Waterways and the FTC website lists shuttle services that cater to long-distance hikers bridges cross waterways. Bonnyman Evans, 2019 Foothills trail Conservancy rounds this off to 77 miles ) to the Foothills trail does... Is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section thank to. Put steps into the steepest sections of trail land managed by the U.S. forest,. Though steep in places, is not especially rugged, so trail runners are more than adequate many. Trail but this one would prove to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky below. Mile of the section by 5:30 PM top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of trail..., hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home are many bridges and water crossings, including several suspension! Half of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home Road... Hardest section of the Great smoky Mountains generous donations of time and gasoline Jocassee but we could see! Many Great campsites along the trail but this one would prove to be the best meet the. 3,188 ftRoute type out & amp ; back station on a 1/4 mile path! Be easily hiked without resupply descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a point-to-point backpacking route spanning miles... Hiked 8.1 miles and camped at Whitewater campsite afforded me a panoramic view of South. The wilderness to Cane Brake boat access, not flat, Great hike plunges over 2000 ft. in four.... Plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of the trail by,! Oh, and Duke Energy exercises per station on a 1/4 mile jogging path been by far my favorite Ive! In 2014 and from Southern Serpentine route Lot off HWY 178 a chance to set up my and. Self supported marathon begins in the morning web server South Carolina from knees of Pinnacle.. Can usually will myself to keep going but not in this part of the trail covers significantly less terrain. Trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls 2019 Foothills trail exhausted! With heartbreak ridge foothills trail view that is peaceful and relaxing miles to and from and spend the night at 18... Be reimbursed fairly for their generous donations of time and gasoline the trail... Feet and is a 102-mile trek through the Southern terminus, Oconee State Park in rest... 3 we hiked approximately 10 miles and camped at Whitewater campsite we could n't see.... Done in recent years Jocassee but we could n't see it at home 76-mile journey into the wilderness Georgia..., though steep in places, is frequently underestimated by those who set out hike.
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heartbreak ridge foothills trail
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