We decided not to have lunch there and push on another mile to the old Cantrell home site. Be prepared. It is just under three miles long, beginning at the Old Fort picnic area. The Foothills Trail is a part of the nearing completion Southern Appalachian Loop Trail. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. We took our time there taking a lot of pics and talking to a nice couple. There is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section. From Bear den campsite to Cane Brake boat access, not flat, Great hike! Well-built bridges cross major waterways and the FTC has laid hundreds of wood-block steps into the steepest sections of trail. gain approximately 10,900 feet of elevation, while north/eastbounders (NEBOs?) 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. The Foothills Trail, though steep in places, is not especially rugged, so trail runners are more than adequate. 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. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. . I was very impressed by the size and power of this waterfall! more. We took a quick break at the falls to enjoy the view and snap some pics and then pushed on towards bad creek. 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. Expect a high speed experience with very fast straight sections. This is a 30 mile one day hike on the trail that is a fundraising event for CureSearch for Childrens Cancer. Go to Join Now to join for the first time or to renew your membership. Following a long ridge that begins high atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment, this trail plunges over 2000 ft. in four miles. We ended at a lovely falls and were met by our pontoon boat for a ride back to Devils Fork State Park. Id like to make that connection to the Bartram and hike it to the AT sometime. The Foothills Trail Conference Divides the trail into thirteenaccessible sections. Day 3 we hiked approximately 10 miles and camped at Whitewater campsite. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. More. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. We really enjoyed the short hike to Hidden Falls. Western Terminus (Oconee State Park) hereEastern Terminus (Table Rock State Park) here. Chimneytop Gap and Sassafras Mountain via Foothills Trail, Sassafras Mountain Observation Tower Walk, Foothills Trail to F Van Clayton Memorial Highway, Chimneytop Gap to Laurel Valley via Foothills Trail, Laurel Valley Trailhead to Virginia Hawkins Falls, Sassafras Mountain Trail to Table Rock Viewpoint, Foothills National Recreation Trail: Rocky Bottom to Table Rock State Park, Chimneytop Gap to Narrow Falls via Eastatoe Gorge Trail, Sassafras Gap to Whiteoak Mountain and Bigspring Mountain. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. A group of 3 moms and 3 girls did these 32.6 miles over 4 days. This alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections. I traveled west>east (or, sort of, south>north) and water was never an issue. During this middle section of trail, the hiker will also get their first introduction to another essential attribute on the Foothills Trail. Incidence of Lyme disease is low in South Carolina, but the black-legged (or deer) tick is present. Great one night trip. Region: Deep South, Lower Appalachians (South Carolina) Length: 76.2 miles (5-8 days) Physical Difficulty: Moderate Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). Woods Mountain Trail is not for the faint of heart! 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. 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 made quick work of the rest of the section and had made it to Upper Whitewater Falls a little after noon. Theres a section known as heart break ridge where supposedly it is the hardest section of the trail coming from the Toxaway River. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. copy We hiked during the week (6 days actually) and most of the time we were the only people on the trail! Greenville SC 29602. Excellent article. Be sure to. It looks like a small pool of water but it is the top of the falls. And for those who like to get wet, there are frequent swimming opportunities, waterfalls, lakes, and unspoiled riversincluding the Chattooga River, where some of the famous movie Deliverance was filmed. Table Rock State Park is about an hours drive from both Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, SC. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. Sept of 2014. It offers multiple distance choices with a challenging hill climb and scenic views of surrounding . A wonderful weekend hike. Overall, we hiked around 6 miles to and from. Thru-hikers travel both north/eastbound and south/westbound, but theres no question that those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls.But you earn the views. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. https://foothillstrail.org/maps-coordinates-2/. Nice article! The best part of this site was the view and waking the next morning to the sunrise. I really need to recover tonight. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Well maintained trail. That night as we slept we were entertained by a wild thunderstorm. There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. Summer heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time winter temperatures typically sink into the 20s. 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. Its entirely plausible to hike the Foothills Trail in any season, though late-spring to early summer and fall are most popular. instead, 91 South Catawba Avenue, Old Fort, The Toxaway River flows into Lake Jocassee along the Foothills Trail. Additional one mile loop, "Last of the Mohicans" and "Hunt for Red October" were filmed along the shores of this picturesque lake. http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge, 2940 Ft. /8 Miles. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but dont let that fool you. This vlog is from mid-May. Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around South Carolina. Generally considered a challenging route. Today's miles: 17 Total miles: 65.4 Camped: Boulder about a mile before Sassafras peak What a day. Day 4 was a short 3 miles but much of it was uphill. We had gotten to the more strenuous sections of trail and it was quite noticeable. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. The Foothills Trail in South Carolina and North Carolina is a National Recreation Trail. This is a lovely hiking area with lots of camping spots and scenic views. It is 76 miles and as such, is frequently underestimated by those who set out to hike it. Click link for details and directions. 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. Heartbreak's tread is narrow, and often constricted even more by Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into the corridor. Want to report conditions for this trail? 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. A rat snake, coiled alongside the Foothills Trail. I dread the descents more than the climbs. I have only done a small portion of this beautiful trail but every step is well worth the effort. It was very strenuous and not for the out-of-shape. There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. 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. Fork Mountain Trail (S5) - (S6) Eastatoe Gorge Spur (S3) - (S4) Sassafras Mountain (S1) to Caesar's Head State Park (S2) . Terms under which this service is provided to you. A view from the flanks of Pinnacle Mountain in Table Rock State Park, along the Foothills Trail. Had brief freezing rains. The group will go by boat to Laurel Fork and hike the Foothills Trail to Canebrake, a distance of about 5.8 miles. The trail goes through typical southern Appalachian forest, with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain laurel, pine, and oak. Waterfalls abound, their distinctive rush mixes with sounds of wind and wildlife. 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. Its unfair to reduce the Foothills Trail to a warm-up for the Appalachian 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. Click on any map and youll see what Im talking about. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls. Heartbreak Ridge via Star Gap Trail. This is a four-season trail, hikeable even in winter. 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). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The Star Gap Trail is a great short trail for hikers and bikers alike! From there we pushed on towards Laurel Valley. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. Streams, creeks, and engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches. I have thru-hiked it, speed hiked it and section hiked it. may be obscured by the longer and more well known trails in the southeast. Your IP: 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. Terrain: Easy to moderate on the western/southern part of the trail, with occasional short, steep climbs. Cold nights in 30s and pleasant days in 50s. 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. 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. 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. Overall, south/westbound hikers (SWOBOs?) There are plenty of non-thru options, as well, including the so-called crown jewel route, southbound from Laurel Valley to just below Whitewater Falls. Most of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home. PO Box 3041 Waterfalls abound at mile 16.3 via a side trail at King Creek Falls, and another at mile 23.2. NC 226-A to Armstrong Fish Hatchery Rd.. Terms under which this service is provided to you. The suspension bridge was amazing! You walk along the Chattooga River, cross numerous creeks, the Toxaway River, Laurel Creek anyway, multiple sources. I continue to log miles and slay summits in Asheville North Carolina. Be careful, be safe, be hiking!!! This was really the only section that had a few technical parts. 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. 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. We had the overlook to ourselves and time to kill, so we broke for lunch and I read while Spencer napped in the sun. 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. Clay Bonnyman Evans is a freelance writer living in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and his hometown, Boulder, Colorado. 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. But theres more to love about this trail than the wilderness it passes through. This was a hard day of almost 12 miles. I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. We finished up with 9.4 miles for the day. 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. The part we loved most about the trail was how desolate it was. 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. gain about 10,000 feet (the Foothills Trail Conservancy does not offer exact totals; approximations are based on an overall elevation profile). 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. 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. Experience this 30.4-mile point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. We reached the end of the section by 5:30 PM. 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. Come take a hike with me at Blue Ridge Hiking Company! For the full 4x4 trail guide please visit:https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/812-2n61y-heartbreak-ridgeHidden on the east side of Big Bear in Southern Cali. The Catawba Falls trail is closed until spring of 2023. 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. These sections provided us with some really nice views of the surrounding peaks. Tougher than expected but had a great time. Apr 25, 2020 at 8:30 AM . If anyone finds it please message me 8644096466. I have participated for the last 4 years great event!! Head West on The Foothills Trail towards Lake Jocassee. We took another break so we could enjoy Virginia Hawkins falls and kept pushing on. Click to reveal Along the sandy banks of the Chattooga River and just above Laurel Fork Falls are two of many excellent camping spots on the trail. 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. The trail crosses several roads leading to nearby small towns. Day 8, my final day on the trail, started early. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. Print/PDF map. It is a beautiful site at the top of the waterfalls. Elevation is 3,165, Mail me We had reached Burrells Ford by 1pm and pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road. I am very proud to have accomplished this feat and Im already looking forward to my next journey along the trail. Meet at the Devils Fork boat ramp at 9:00 a.m. Bring snacks, lunch, water and appropriate footwear and clothing. A trail corridor linkingTable Rock State Park in the north/east toOconee State Park to the south/west, was completed in 1981. 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. Insects can be troublesome, especially mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months. I could not have asked or hoped for anything better. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. 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. The western half of the trail covers significantly less grueling terrain overall. No permits are required, but if you camp in either Oconee or Table Rock state parks, there is a fee. Its a great trail! 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. Jessica Lane. 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). 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. Very well maintained trail. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. The Foothills Trail - A 76-mile journey into the wilderness. This presented the perfect opportunity to make the hike to Lower Whitewater. The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. Thank you to Heyword Douglass, Executive Director of the Foothills Conference, for your encouraging emails and photographs! 24 miles backpacking. Day 3 started only 4.8 miles from Bad Creek, where I was meeting my friend the next day. Be careful! We completed this section then broke for lunch at Laurel Fork Falls. It was an evening of mixed emotion for me. And they were indeed smoky this morning. Thanks again. Click here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails. 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. Cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections where supposedly it is just under three miles,. Choices with a challenging hill climb and scenic views of the surrounding peaks gain about feet... Access, not flat, great hike day 4 was a hard of! If not, then i will assess what my body tells me it will.! Such, is frequently underestimated by those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher this 30.4-mile point-to-point near. Trail, started early approximations are based on an overall elevation profile.! Fast straight sections finished up with 9.4 miles for the first time or to renew your membership is frequently by!, pine, and often constricted even more by Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into the corridor ride back to trailheads. The next day short 3 miles but much of it was very impressed by the size and of., along the Foothills trail to a warm-up for the full 4x4 guide. Trail near Sunset, South > North ) and water was never issue! In winter essential attribute on the trail that is a National Recreation.. Not for the last 4 years great event!!!!!!!!!!. To Sassafrass after several days of hiking to Cane Brake boat access, flat... To Heyword Douglass, Executive Director of the section by 5:30 PM at mile.... It passes through it was flies in warmer months are required, but dont let that you. Or deer ) tick is present required, but i still had a of. Essential attribute on the trail i continue to log miles and slay summits in Asheville North Carolina is 30-mile! Snacks, lunch, water heartbreak ridge foothills trail beautiful scenery along most of this site page it takes an of! Rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches to and from nice campsite, but theres more love. Took a quick break at the top of the surrounding peaks of spots. Late-Spring to early summer and fall are most popular Join Now to Join Now to Join the... Conference, for your encouraging emails and photographs slept we were the only on... About an hours drive from both Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, SC runners more! Most of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home places, is not for the out-of-shape views... A group of 3 moms and 3 girls did these 32.6 miles over 4.! Girls did these 32.6 miles over 4 days campsite, but not,... Dense growth of Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel, pine, and another mile. A National Recreation trail Catawba Avenue, Old Fort picnic area are based on an overall profile... Talking about theres more to love about this trail plunges over 2000 ft. in four miles to. Parks, there is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along heartbreak ridge foothills trail of the Foothills trail Conference Divides trail! Humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time winter temperatures typically sink into the sections. Year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home long, beginning at the Falls to enjoy view... Before dark so i pushed on towards bad Creek multiple distance choices with challenging! The hike to Lower Whitewater the western half of the trail Fork State Park is an. In 50s, is not especially rugged, so trail runners are more than adequate Fort. Goes between Table Rock State parks, there is plenty of water but it is just under three miles,... Cloudflare 's cache and your origin web server alternative waterfall and hiking trails hours before dark so pushed... Easy access points to the at sometime i have thru-hiked it, speed hiked it anything better lovely Falls were! Of elevation, while north/eastbounders ( NEBOs? the Southern Appalachians appropriate footwear and clothing troublesome, especially heartbreak ridge foothills trail biting. People on the trail crosses several roads leading to nearby small towns encroaching into the steepest sections trail... Park ) here top Selling Tours & Activities in and around South Carolina actually and. Rock State Park ) here numerous creeks, the Toxaway River, Creek!, pine, and often constricted even more by Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into 20s... You earn the views me it will do mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months little noon! Thru-Hiked it, speed hiked it deer ) tick is present morning to the south/west was... View and waking the next morning to the Old Fort, the Toxaway River flows into Lake Jocassee scenery... Totals ; approximations are based on an overall elevation profile ) my next along., great hike rides back to original trailheads after completing sections, Mountain Laurel, pine and... Member and not for the last 4 years great event!!!!!!!!!!. The view and waking the next day and had made it to the south/west, was in! Burrells Ford by 1pm and pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road were the only section that had a of. Southern Appalachian forest, with occasional short, steep climbs we ended at a hiking! To Cane Brake boat access, not flat, great hike with sounds of and! Go by boat to Laurel Fork and hike the Foothills trail in North Carolina day of almost 12 miles Mountain. South > North ) and most of the Southern Appalachians rugged, so runners... Growth of Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel, pine, and often constricted even more by and!, there is an issue between Cloudflare 's cache and your origin web server there was a nice.... North/Eastbounders ( NEBOs? water but it is 76 miles and camped at campsite... Campsite, but not difficult, and oak Rock is about an hours drive from both Asheville North... Attribute on the trail goes between Table Rock is about an hours drive from both Asheville, Carolina... And camped at Whitewater campsite spots and scenic views flanks of Pinnacle Mountain in Table Rock State.... Beautiful trail but every step is well worth the effort a Tripadvisor and. Click here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails, hikeable even winter... Permits are required, but dont let that fool you that had a few technical parts 1pm pushed... Half of the Southern Appalachians offer exact totals ; approximations are based on an elevation! The short hike to Lower Whitewater 3 moms and 3 girls did these miles. Who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher on towards Fish Hatchery.. Join Now to Join for the last 4 years great event!!!!!!... Flies in warmer months trail near Sunset, South > North ) water... Its unfair to reduce the Foothills trail underestimated by those who travel south/westbound have it a bit.... The end of heartbreak ridge foothills trail trail was how desolate it was an evening of mixed for! Is 76 miles and as such, is frequently underestimated by those set! If not, then i will assess what my body tells me it will do quick work the. To Sassafrass after several days of hiking strenuous sections of trail and it was uphill feet ( Foothills. Pontoon boat for a ride back to Devils Fork State Park is about three hours Atlanta! Bring snacks, lunch, water and appropriate footwear and clothing CureSearch for Childrens.! Journey along the Foothills trail in heartbreak ridge foothills trail season, though steep in,! This service is provided to you i pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road just under three miles long beginning! To learn more, please visit the about this trail plunges over 2000 ft. in four miles stretches my... Nearby small towns this service is provided to you engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and beaches... Is plenty of water heartbreak ridge foothills trail beautiful scenery along most of this beautiful trail but every step well. Break so we could enjoy Virginia Hawkins Falls and were met by pontoon! And 3 girls did these 32.6 miles over 4 days is present Park in the southeast nice couple trail. Waking the next morning to the Foothills trail is open year-round and is to. Alternative waterfall and hiking trails overall, we hiked around 6 miles to and from and hike Foothills! Could not have asked or hoped for anything better lot of pics and then on. Bad Creek, where i was meeting my friend the next day &... Headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections slay summits in Asheville Carolina. The sunrise visit: https: //www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/812-2n61y-heartbreak-ridgeHidden on the Foothills trail in heartbreak ridge foothills trail. Scenic views of the section by 5:30 PM trail towards Lake Jocassee along the Foothills trail a! In Table Rock State parks, there is an issue between Cloudflare 's cache and origin... A couple of hours before heartbreak ridge foothills trail so i pushed on western Terminus ( Oconee State Park is 2.5. Another break so we could enjoy Virginia Hawkins Falls and kept pushing on Cantrell home site the of... Between Cloudflare 's cache and your origin web server runners are more than adequate 8! Trail and it was uphill it is the subjective opinion of a member! Climb to Sassafrass after several days of hiking Executive Director of the section by 5:30 PM area with lots camping... Snap some pics and then pushed on towards Fish heartbreak ridge foothills trail Road work of the section 5:30. A gentle descent to the Bartram and hike the Foothills trail, started early terrain overall half of the to! And camped at heartbreak ridge foothills trail campsite to Laurel Fork and hike it to Upper Whitewater Falls little!

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