There I set up camp. Day 3 we hiked approximately 10 miles and camped at Whitewater campsite. This alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections. This middle section of trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls. Bears frequent these mountain areas, so its important to bring and adequately hang a bear bag, or use an Ursack setup. 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. Great one night trip. Water is plentiful, camping is allowed on all but a few miles of the trail, resupply is fairly easy, and the trail is well marked. Wandering Monk Hikes Day 5 on the Foothills Trail | Climbing Heartbreak RidgeHello everyone welcome! Insects can be troublesome, especially mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months. Foothills Trail Conservancy Facebook group, Official Foothills Trail GuidebookHiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch. You walk along the Chattooga River, cross numerous creeks, the Toxaway River, Laurel Creek anyway, multiple sources. Find us on Facebook! 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. 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. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. The climate is mild due to lower elevations, which usually means oppressive heat and humidity in late spring, summer, and early fallgood training for the ATs mid-Atlantic in July. There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. Day 3 started only 4.8 miles from Bad Creek, where I was meeting my friend the next day. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. Print/PDF map. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. I hiked solo from Maine to Georgia in 2014 and from Denver to Durango in 2015. This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. I actually JUST FINISHED the Bartram Trail. 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. We were on the trail by 9am on day 2. So it requires some advance planning. Happy hiking! 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. Enjoy your next adventure. It got our heart rates elevated but it failed to break us! The Foothills Trail is a dream for section hikers. I am considering running the entire trial over three days. Whitewater Falls (miles 30-31.7): Six different falls that tumble a total of 800 feet, making it the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Had brief freezing rains. As a result, the web page can not be displayed. Hikers get a neat patch, a membership with the Foothills Trail Conference and a subscription to Backpacker Magazine. Its unfair to reduce the Foothills Trail to a warm-up for the Appalachian Trail. Sign up for our email newsletter. This was one of the few instances I saw wildlife along my hike. Did the 5 day plan. Put in at Frozen Creek Access then hiked to Canebrake. We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. Heartbreak's tread is narrow, and often constricted even more by Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into the corridor. The trail is strenuous throughout. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. Unlike the tall and unforgiving crests of the great range, the foothills are alive and lush. From Bear den campsite to Cane Brake boat access, not flat, Great hike! A very special place to wander and enjoy!!! There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. Foothills Trail Conservancy Sometimes we would not see anybody for a day or two, which was just what we were looking for. . The day started with "heartbreak ridge". Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. A footbridge across the Horsepasture River on the Foothills Trail. Exposure is minimal, and many climbs feature artificial, wood-block steps. Table Rock State Park is about an hours drive from both Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, SC. 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. It was very strenuous and not for the out-of-shape. We completed this section then broke for lunch at Laurel Fork Falls. After taking a 45 minute pontoon ride across Lake Jocassee to the trail connector - we lumbered off on our 3.5 hour hike. For the next 0.7 miles, we ascended and descended over 400 steps! We finished with 5 miles on the day. Come take a hike with me at Blue Ridge Hiking Company! The FTC could improve their map by adding to it some trails that intersect or at least some labels/notes regarding the other trails. 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. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. Tougher than expected but had a great time. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. Streams, creeks, and engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. Its entirely plausible to hike the Foothills Trail in any season, though late-spring to early summer and fall are most popular. I have thru-hiked it, speed hiked it and section hiked it. Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. Expect a high speed experience with very fast straight sections. 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. While the relatively mild winters of South Carolina make the trail hikeable year-round, early to mid-spring and fall are the preferred seasons. 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. From there we pushed on towards Laurel Valley. 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. And many a Foothills Trail hiker has found herself sprinting away from the occasional swarm of irritable hornets, especially in fall. Moderate to strenuous on the eastern/northern portion of the trail. Oconee State Park is about two hours from both cities. Head West on The Foothills Trail towards Lake Jocassee. I began at the southern terminus, Oconee State Park in Mountains Rest, South Carolina. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. I have only done a small portion of this beautiful trail but every step is well worth the effort. This was a relatively easy day at about 8 miles. 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! 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. 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. I dread the descents more than the climbs. If anyone finds it please message me 8644096466. The consistent signage makes finding the trailheads easy, and the mileage makes section hiking attainable. More. 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. This vlog is from mid-May. 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. We planned on hiking to Drawbar Cliffs and making camp there so we would only have a 5 mile hike on our final day. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 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. 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. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. We camped at the site right next to the Laurel Valley parking lot. A rat snake, coiled alongside the Foothills Trail. An off-road running race held in the northwestern foothills of your Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The group will go by boat to Laurel Fork and hike the Foothills Trail to Canebrake, a distance of about 5.8 miles. 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. There is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section. The Toxaway River flows into Lake Jocassee along the Foothills Trail. NC 28762, http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge. Along this extended spur lies views of the East Fork of the French Broad River, as well as the sheer rock faces of Raven Cliff Falls. Dismiss. A group of 3 moms and 3 girls did these 32.6 miles over 4 days. It got our heart rates elevated but it failed to break us! 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. The largest climb of the hike begins at mile 62 and gains 1,839 feetin 4.4 miles before topping out at Sassafrass Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. 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. The route, which features miles of blueberry bushes and campsites with perfect sunrise views, can be hiked in 2-4 days. Lots of climbing and switchbacks. The Foothills Trail is a part of the nearing completion Southern Appalachian Loop Trail. Upon the completion of the Foothills Trail hikers can apply for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their hikes. I had both time to be alone and reflect and time with great company to share in my experience. Fork Mountain Trail (S5) - (S6) Eastatoe Gorge Spur (S3) - (S4) Sassafras Mountain (S1) to Caesar's Head State Park (S2) . Check out this 19.1-mile point-to-point trail near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Check out the Foothills Trail, we're sure you'll love it. 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. Heartbreak Ridge via Star Gap Trail. 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. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The Foothills Trail Conservancy store offers a complete guidebook, map, and pocket profile. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. There are no shelters along the trail, and rain is frequent, so hikers should have a good shelter such as a tent, tarp, or hammock. I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. You do need to watch for bears and bees, although the bees seem very tame. Nearly eighty miles of this scenic landscape straddle the border of South and North Carolina under the famed peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Bag, or use an Ursack setup Creek, where i was meeting my friend the next 0.7,. Maine to Georgia in 2014 and from Denver to Durango in 2015 lunch... 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