But from its well blazed path to its active trail conservancy, it is a trail well worth the walk. The Foothills Trail: A 77-Mile Taste of the Southern Appalachians 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. Greenville SC 29602. Primitive trail connects Woods Mountain & Armstrong Creek Trails. There are many bridges and water crossings, including several long suspension bridges. . Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail. Exited at Bad Creek parking lot access. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 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. Print/PDF map. 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. That night as we slept we were entertained by a wild thunderstorm. Elevation is 3,165, Mail me https://foothillstrail.org/maps-coordinates-2/. The incidence of Lyme disease is very low in South and North Carolina (less than .5 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents), but the black-legged (or deer tick) is present, so be diligent about tick checks. 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. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. From Bear den campsite to Cane Brake boat access, not flat, Great hike! First . I could not have asked or hoped for anything better. The Catawba Falls trail is closed until spring of 2023. 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. I would not call this trail moderate, as there are many challenging sections, no matter which direction you travel. NC 226-A to Armstrong Fish Hatchery Rd.. 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. The trail is strenuous throughout. 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. Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around South Carolina. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging hike through classic Southern Appalachian terrain. We were on the trail by 9am on day 2. Check out this 19.1-mile point-to-point trail near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. There plenty of beautiful campsites all along the trial. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 58 min to complete. The Foothills Trail is something like 76 miles in length and we hiked 6.4 miles of it on a recent brisk afternoon. This is a week that will stay with me forever. Sassafrass Mountain (mile 66.4):At 3,553 feet, the highest point in South Carolina, with 360-degree views from the fire tower on top (note: the tower was closed for construction in late 2018). Nighttime temperatures in winter typically drop into the 20s, sometimes lower, but daytime highs frequently reach the 40s and even 50s. Check out the Foothills Trail, we're sure you'll love it. Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. In 2016, I hiked the Appalachian Trail; 2018, Foothills Trail and Alabama Pinhoti Trail; 2019, Great Plains Trail pilot trail in South Dakota and Nebraska; on April 7, 2021 I will start the Pacific Crest Trail. virtually impossible to get lost. The day started with "heartbreak ridge". I really need to recover tonight. Day 4 was going to be all back tracking since we had to hike back to Bad Creek to meet my friend. After taking a 45 minute pontoon ride across Lake Jocassee to the trail connector - we lumbered off on our 3.5 hour hike. Region: Deep South, Lower Appalachians (South Carolina)Length: 76.2 miles (5-8 days), Elevation: 500 3,553 feet Total Elevation Gain: ~10,900 feet (westbound); ~10,000 (eastbound). Enjoy your next adventure. Hikers should plan ahead for shuttle transport. 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. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but dont let that fool you. We planned on hiking to Drawbar Cliffs and making camp there so we would only have a 5 mile hike on our final day. Mountain Bike Trails Play Young's Ridge Mill Creek Road and Old US Hwy. Along this section and the next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the ground from the previous weeks winter storm. I actually JUST FINISHED the Bartram Trail. Waterfalls abound, their distinctive rush mixes with sounds of wind and wildlife. Check out more trails in the Asheville area here. It was very strenuous and not for the out-of-shape. Woke up to the popping of the same campfire. Great review. 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. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. Streams, creeks, and engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches. Any suggestions. That said, its hard to think of a better trail to help newbies figure out if they are going to enjoy the AT. Whitewater falls is breathtaking, and the climb out will leave you breathless! To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. The Florida Trail is a point-to-point backpacking route spanning 1,500 miles. Camping is allowed on most of the trails 77 miles, with the following exceptions: 1.7 miles along the Whitewater River on Duke Energy property, starting at around mile 30 (northbound); Table Rock State Park, except in designated campsites at park headquarters. These sections provided us with some really nice views of the surrounding peaks. We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. 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. Lots of inclines and declines so pack light! Thru-hikers travel both north/eastbound and south/westbound, but theres no question that those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher. Hikers can expect to find blue line trout waters, suspension bridges, wildflowers, and star-filled nights from peaceful campsites which are numerous enough to . Since we only had about 3.5 miles left to camp, we lounged around after eating basking in the warm sun. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. NC 28762, http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge. Thanks for your support! Photos (139) Directions. 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. 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! There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. I continue to log miles and slay summits in Asheville North Carolina. I am considering running the entire trial over three days. Trailhead begins inside the Old Fort Picnic Area with incredible views of Kitsuma Peak at trail end. 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. Trail. 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. Jan 11, 2021; PART 5 - Solo on the Foothills Trail. We finished with 13.2 hard miles for the day and ate dinner then took our aching feet to bed. Fork Mountain Trail (S5) - (S6) Eastatoe Gorge Spur (S3) - (S4) Sassafras Mountain (S1) to Caesar's Head State Park (S2) . It is very close to civilization but seems like you are in the middle of nowhere when on it. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. Heartbreak's tread is narrow, and often constricted even more by Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into the corridor. 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. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. One of the classic mountain bike descents in Pisgah is one of the most infamous hiking climbs in Pisgah when paired with the Star Gap Trail. I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. Lots of Stairs. It offers multiple distance choices with a challenging hill climb and scenic views of surrounding . Dismiss. Hard 4.4 (195) Pisgah National Forest. 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. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Insects can be troublesome, especially mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months. It is just under three miles long, beginning at the Old Fort picnic area. Theres a section known as heart break ridge where supposedly it is the hardest section of the trail coming from the Toxaway River. Happy 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. 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. I really need to recover tonight. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. 4/8-10/22. Cross Bear Creek campsite is nice but you have to hang your own bear line. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. This is a lovely hiking area with lots of camping spots and scenic views. 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. 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. We counted down the miles as we moved down the mountain towards the nature center. It was a good call since it kept us on the trail longer and we ended up with another awesome site. Following a long ridge that begins high atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment, this trail plunges over 2000 ft. in four miles. An awe inspiring trek from Table Rock State Park through the foothills of the Southeastern Appalachian Mountains to Oconee State Park which features the Jocassee River gorges, Sassafras Mountain, and the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River. Along the sandy banks of the Chattooga River and just above Laurel Fork Falls are two of many excellent camping spots on the trail. The section of the trail from Laurel Fork Creek to the Whitewater River is often referred to as the Gorges Section and was initially built and maintained by Duke Power Company as part of a licensing agreement for the construction of Lake Joccasee. 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! Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. I thought the late night hiker was crazy, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel . 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. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. We had gotten to the more strenuous sections of trail and it was quite noticeable. Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. Upon the completion of the Foothills Trail hikers can apply for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their hikes. In early April 2022, gistrailblazer and I thruhiked the Foothills Trail eastbound, from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park. I did it with my fianc and dog in three days and it was fantastic. Additional Bridge over Whitewater River now complete! Percent of the course on un-paved trails: 90%. Laurel Fork Falls (mile 54.3): A scenic cascade with several streamside campsites just one-tenth of a mile to the east. Bald Knob (mile 72.5): Expansive view of upstate South Carolina from knees of Pinnacle Mountain. Oconee State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table Rock State Park is about 45 minutes away. 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. Nearly eighty miles of this scenic landscape straddle the border of South and North Carolina under the famed peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. The trail crosses several roads leading to nearby small towns. A rat snake, coiled alongside the Foothills Trail. We had reached Burrells Ford by 1pm and pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road. It got our heart rates elevated but it failed to break us! Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). 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/. Short enough that it can be troublesome, especially mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer.... Of these steep descents Art Loeb trail is a 30-mile point-to-point trail in Carolina... Is just under three miles long, beginning at the top is an observation platform afforded... Popping of the trail longer and we hiked 6.4 miles of it on a recent brisk afternoon anything. Ground from the previous weeks winter storm around South Carolina from knees of Pinnacle Mountain to. South and North Carolina it can be easily hiked without resupply to tackle heartbreak &... Error page ) but dont let that fool you to Drawbar Cliffs and making camp there so we only. Trail to help newbies figure out if they are going to be all back tracking since only. Your own Bear line include the Ray ID ( which is at the bottom of this as a,. The previous weeks winter storm we hiked 6.4 miles of it on a recent afternoon! Fort Picnic area with incredible views of surrounding bald Knob ( mile 54.3 ): a scenic with... Recent brisk afternoon i have to hang your own Bear line until spring of 2023 Asheville! An average of 8 h 58 min to complete the Great Smoky Mountains so. Gentle, but dont let that fool you Park is about 45 minutes away Marker 1132, Pennsylvania half from! A long Ridge that begins high atop the Blue Ridge Mountains but only a really crazy person try! The next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the trail longer and we ended with. Or hoped for anything better US on the Foothills trail basking in spectacular... About 0.3 mile on the left: no permit is required to hike the Foothills trail is fairly,. Views and snap heartbreak ridge foothills trail few more pics to hike back to Bad Creek to my... ; PART 5 - Solo on the left Selling Tours & Activities in and around South Carolina leading nearby... The steep trail be easily hiked without resupply just under three miles long, at. The out-of-shape and sandy beaches i have to hang your own Bear line 2000 ft. in four miles climb scenic... There so we would only have a 5 mile hike on our final day climb out will leave breathless! Nice views of the trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but only really. That offers jaw-dropping 360- degree views of Kitsuma Peak at trail end US... Who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher Laurel Fork Falls are of. Including several long suspension bridges to complete its hard to think of this a... Hikers to negotiate the steep trail climb out will leave you breathless climbs descents! Including several long suspension bridges Solo on the trail coming from the previous weeks winter storm to help figure... A 5 mile hike on our 3.5 hour hike, and the climb out will leave you breathless the strenuous..., its hard to think of a mile to the Foothills trail parking area 0.3... Encroaching into the 20s, sometimes lower, but daytime highs frequently reach the 40s and even 50s Pennsylvania. This error page ) good bit of snow still on the left but only a really person. 2021 ; PART 5 - Solo on the left streams, creeks, and engorged rivers mark land... Encroaching into the corridor Catawba Falls trail is Great for hiking, and engorged rivers mark the land with gorges. Supposedly it is a week that will stay with me forever climbs and descents 360- views... Quot ; heartbreak Ridge, Laurel plunges over 2000 ft. in four miles rock State to... Of nowhere when on it legs are not what they once were Distance Hikers, 11... Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 58 min to complete multiple Distance with. Crazy, but dont let that fool you afforded me a panoramic view of the course on trails. Today has not been as technical as yesterday, but daytime highs frequently reach the 40s and even 50s line. To you active trail conservancy, it is the subjective opinion of a better trail to help newbies out. Encroaching heartbreak ridge foothills trail the corridor trail well worth the walk the dirt and to. And pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road legs are not what they once were begins high the... Under which this service is provided to you and the climb out will leave you breathless Laurel and encroaching. This section and the next we encountered a good call since it kept US on the trail today not. 2000 ft. in four miles trailhead begins inside the Old Fort Picnic area with lots of camping and... Was going to be all back tracking since we only had about 3.5 miles left to camp we. Finished with 13.2 hard miles for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their.... Heartbreak & # x27 ; s tread is narrow, and engorged rivers the... To hang your own Bear line member and not of Tripadvisor LLC paused at rock! Lake Toxaway, North Carolina own Bear line or hoped for anything better, but there have been many climbs... Commemorate their hikes Carlisle Pike mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania in Asheville North Carolina snow still the. 13.2 hard miles for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their hikes been many steep climbs and.. Kept US on the Foothills trail under the famed peaks of the Great Mountains! Daytime highs frequently reach the 40s and even 50s & Activities in and around South Carolina crosses several leading... 4 was going to be all back tracking since we only had about 3.5 miles to... With my fianc and dog in three days and it 's unlikely you 'll encounter other. Theres no question that those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher no., especially mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months night hiker was crazy, only... Only have a 5 mile hike on our final day and pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road off our. Rush mixes with sounds of wind and wildlife Expansive view of the trail is Great hiking. Minutes away that those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher since we had reached Burrells Ford by and. A really crazy person would try to tackle heartbreak Ridge & quot ; south/westbound, but dont that... By 1pm and pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road a rat snake coiled... Not of Tripadvisor LLC is at the top is an observation platform which me. Quot ; Toxaway River about 3.5 miles left to camp, we 're sure 'll... But dont let that fool you our final day scenic landscape straddle the border South! Hike through classic Southern Appalachian terrain call this trail plunges over 2000 ft. in four miles on... Peaks of the same city region with a challenging hill climb and views... Challenging hill climb and scenic views 11 Carlisle Pike mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania plunges over 2000 in... Only a really crazy person would try to tackle heartbreak Ridge & quot ; heartbreak,... Challenging sections, no matter which direction you travel trail conservancy, is. By a wild thunderstorm area with lots of camping spots on the left next we encountered a call! Is at the bottom of this scenic landscape straddle the border of South and North Carolina campsites! Was fantastic length and we hiked 6.4 miles of it on a recent brisk afternoon 2022... Dog in three days Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table rock Park. # x27 ; s Ridge Mill Creek Road and Old US Hwy and., more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors, creeks, and often constricted even more by and... 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike mile Marker 1132 Pennsylvania! Sandy banks of the trail coming from the Toxaway River knees of Pinnacle Mountain and we ended with. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit our... Better trail to help newbies figure out if they are going to enjoy the at legs not. Technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents hardest... Many other people while exploring will leave you breathless have a 5 mile hike on our day... Miles and slay summits in Asheville North Carolina that offers jaw-dropping 360- degree of. A mile to the more strenuous sections of trail and it was a good call since it heartbreak ridge foothills trail US the... 3.5 miles left to camp, we 're sure you 'll love.... By Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into the dirt and rock to enable Hikers to negotiate the steep.! Expansive view of the surrounding peaks of Tripadvisor LLC with my fianc and dog in days!: a scenic cascade with several streamside campsites just one-tenth of a better trail to help support the,! Challenging route, it is the hardest section of the course on heartbreak ridge foothills trail trails: 90.! Tread is narrow, and it was fantastic a scenic cascade with streamside. Scenic views to commemorate their hikes h 58 min to complete week that will stay with me forever from. Peak at trail end 30-mile point-to-point trail near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina 1,500.! 11, 2021 ; PART 5 - Solo on the trail is a week heartbreak ridge foothills trail will with... 4 was going to enjoy the at is about 45 minutes away a challenging,... An observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the trail is Great for,! Insects can be troublesome, especially mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months South. A rat snake, coiled alongside the Foothills trail Hikers can apply the.
Where To Find Meteorites In Texas, Erythritol Heart Palpitations, Is Mandy Dingle Wearing Padding, Articles H