For safety's sake, you can almost always get a cell phone signal with Verizon also. For the next 0.7 miles, we ascended and descended over 400 steps! Hey, Mike N. Im the author of this piece. Description. Geology Guide to the Foothills Trail NOW AVAILABLE! . 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! Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. The trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding. But while the Blue Ridge Mountain Balds may be a highlight of the southern Appalachians, they encompass a far greater range of, Recent books and movies have inspired countless hikers and potential hikers to dream about thru-hiking one of the big three of Americas long trails: The Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or the Continental Divide Trail. The terrain, tread, and gradesfrom riverside meandering to lung-busting steepall reflect the AT in its Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina incarnations. Mountain Streams, Suspension Bridges, Waterfalls And they were indeed smoky this morning. This is a great "beginner" long-distance trail, as you're always close enough to bail out, if need be. 2022 Foothills Trail Conservancy | An Engenius website. 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. Bears frequent these mountain areas, so its important to bring and adequately hang a bear bag, or use an Ursack setup. instead, 91 South Catawba Avenue, Old Fort, During this middle section of trail, the hiker will also get their first introduction to another essential attribute on the Foothills Trail. The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. Hikers should plan ahead for shuttle transport. I was very impressed by the size and power of this waterfall! As hard as our Colorado hike minus elevation. Day 2 we hiked to Cross Bear Creek campsite. Around 13 miles into the run touch the bench on top of Heart Break Ridge at Lake Jocassee and return back to the parking lot. A bear canister is probably overkill. 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. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. more. A view from the flanks of Pinnacle Mountain in Table Rock State Park, along the Foothills Trail. Explore this 11.0-mile out-and-back trail near Montreat, North Carolina. 0. This mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. 4/8-10/22. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls.But you earn the views. If anyone finds it please message me 8644096466. Though technically a four-season trail, the heat and humidity from May through September can be oppressive. Will Hike this in a few weeks. That night as we slept we were entertained by a wild thunderstorm. Many views along the way - waterfalls, wild boar and wild turkey sightings, streams to cross. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. We counted down the miles as we moved down the mountain towards the nature center. So it requires some advance planning. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. Dismiss. 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. There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. gain about 10,000 feet (the Foothills Trail Conservancy does not offer exact totals; approximations are based on an overall elevation profile). We hiked during the week (6 days actually) and most of the time we were the only people on the trail! If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. 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. I started my hike on Sunday February 16th from Oconee State Park. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. 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. Easy and downhill. While youll spend a good deal of time in the proverbial green tunnel, the trail still offers abundant views. We were hiking by 10 till 10 and our first stop was Hilliard Falls. Moderate to strenuous on the eastern/northern portion of the trail. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. I could not have asked or hoped for anything better. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Along this section and the next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the ground from the previous weeks winter storm. Some shuttle drivers also will do food drops for a fee. Heartbreak's tread is narrow, and often constricted even more by Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into the corridor. 13.1 miles total for the day! That said, its hard to think of a better trail to help newbies figure out if they are going to enjoy the AT. Login to Update Event. From Bear den campsite to Cane Brake boat access, not flat, Great hike! This is classified as a strenuous section of trail which includes Heartbreak Ridge. Flowers, and other Flora abound, birds aplenty, There are even plants that only exist in this part of the world. The Foothills Trail Conservancy website lists local shuttle services. 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. 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. Mountain Bike Trails Play Young's Ridge Mill Creek Road and Old US Hwy. Great one night trip. I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. The Foothills Trail Conference Divides the trail into thirteenaccessible sections. 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 was a short 5 mile hike to finish up our journey, and the majority of that was downhill. I have participated for the last 4 years great event!! Really cool to se that engineering out in the wilderness and seamlessly blend it in. 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. In early April 2022, gistrailblazer and I thruhiked the Foothills Trail eastbound, from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park. All orders over $60 receive FREE shipping! Check out this 19.1-mile point-to-point trail near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Exposure is minimal, and many climbs feature artificial, wood-block steps. If you are approaching this parking area from the North, it is 8.5 miles south of the junction of US 64 and NC 281 in Sapphire, North Carolina. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. (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 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. These sections provided us with some really nice views of the surrounding peaks. The trail is clearly marked throughout. The day started with "heartbreak ridge". Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. We made camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a total of 20.5 miles for day 2. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. 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. A footbridge across the Horsepasture River on the Foothills Trail. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. We finished up with 9.4 miles for the day. 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. Excellent article. Campsites are plentiful all along the trail, with just a few restricted areas. I began at the southern terminus, Oconee State Park in Mountains Rest, South Carolina. 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. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. 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. For those planning to take their time, some local shuttle drivers offer food drops for a fee. This is a week that will stay with me forever. This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. We decided to climb to the ridge and found the perfect site for the evening atop the ridge. This was a relatively easy day at about 8 miles. Woods Mountain Trail is not for the faint of heart! Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. There is a small amount of roadwalking. While there are often more people around features such as Whitewater Falls and Lake Jocassee, hikers will find plenty of solitude on most of the trail, including quiet, secluded campsites. Performance & security by Cloudflare. But the eastern/northern third of the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged as the southern Appalachian Trail. Around 4:15 we started the hike to the Bad Creek parking lot. Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail. Exclusive to the state of Florida, its dirt and paved paths can be hiked in 60-90 days. On top of Heartbreak Ridge, we heard 4 large birds . Jessica Lane. Print/PDF map. This vlog is from mid-May. Cars can be left at both state parks. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. We finished with 5 miles on the day. It is very close to civilization but seems like you are in the middle of nowhere when on it. It is just under three miles long, beginning at the Old Fort picnic area. Be careful, be safe, be hiking!!! The trail begins along the top ridge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, accessed from either Curtis Creek Road or from the Old Toll Road, outside the Ridgecrest Conference center. 54.36.118.98 Mother Nature smiled upon me with great weather! We finished with 13.2 hard miles for the day and ate dinner then took our aching feet to bed. By Clay Bonnyman Evans, 2019 Foothills Trail Thru-Hiker. Foothills Trail Conservancy Facebook group, Official Foothills Trail GuidebookHiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch. Sept of 2014. 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. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. 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. On my fourth day thru hiking the Foothills Trail alone, I started with the climb up and over Heartbreak Ridge and ended up at the Chimneytop Campsite, just b. Day 5s goal was to get to Canebrake and finish the section. I have only done a small portion of this beautiful trail but every step is well worth the effort. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. 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. Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon. 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). 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. Stairs. Hopefully I will get a good nights rest and be ready to go in the morning. 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/. Nice article! We took our time breaking camp and were on the trail by 11am. This was a hard day of almost 12 miles. Jan 11, 2021; PART 5 - Solo on the Foothills Trail. Until we meet again. Continue on an old road to your left after entering a field to . 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