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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. I could not have asked or hoped for anything better. The route, which features miles of blueberry bushes and campsites with perfect sunrise views, can be hiked in 2-4 days. Especially in warm weather, the slog out of Laurel Valley, up Sassafrass, over Pinnacle Mountain, and down, down into Table Rock will tax many a hikers glutes and quads. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Table Rock State Park is about an hours drive from both Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, SC. 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. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. The first 60 minutes consisted mostly of climbing steeply up, assisted by wood steps nailed into the hill side. It's Day 5 on the . 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. (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. All orders over $60 receive FREE shipping! The part we loved most about the trail was how desolate it was. IT set the stage for the many great waterfalls we would enjoy along our hike. Bears frequent these mountain areas, so its important to bring and adequately hang a bear bag, or use an Ursack setup. It wasnt the perfect site but it was perfectly timed! Hard 4.4 (195) Pisgah National Forest. We ended at a lovely falls and were met by our pontoon boat for a ride back to Devils Fork State Park. 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. 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. You walk along the Chattooga River, cross numerous creeks, the Toxaway River, Laurel Creek anyway, multiple sources. Start and stop your timer on the first wooden step heading into Laurel Valley . Im investigating as we speak! Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. The tread on most of the trail is largely free of rocks and roots, except for a few limited areas, making for pleasant hiking. 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. 13.1 miles total for the day! Water is plentiful. 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. The trail goes through typical southern Appalachian forest, with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain laurel, pine, and oak. Though technically a four-season trail, the heat and humidity from May through September can be oppressive. Exited at Bad Creek parking lot access. Lots of climbing and switchbacks. 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. And they were indeed smoky this morning. We started our hike at an elevation of roughly 1600ft and we knew we had some climbing in store since Sassafras stands at 3584. Theres a section known as heart break ridge where supposedly it is the hardest section of the trail coming from the Toxaway River. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. I started my hike on Sunday February 16th from Oconee State Park. There is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section. We had reached Sassafras by 10 till noon. Oconee State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table Rock State Park is about 45 minutes away. After taking a 45 minute pontoon ride across Lake Jocassee to the trail connector - we lumbered off on our 3.5 hour hike. Since we only had about 3.5 miles left to camp, we lounged around after eating basking in the warm sun. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Cold nights in 30s and pleasant days in 50s. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. The Foothills Trail proper ends at Table Rock State Park, about ten miles from Sassafras Mountain. 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. a Trail is well maintained - thanks. This is classified as a strenuous section of trail which includes Heartbreak Ridge. Upon the completion of the Foothills Trail hikers can apply for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their hikes. There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. Many views along the way - waterfalls, wild boar and wild turkey sightings, streams to cross. Enjoy your next adventure. It was a great trip. I am very proud to have accomplished this feat and Im already looking forward to my next journey along the trail. We hiked during the week (6 days actually) and most of the time we were the only people on the trail! Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. I suppose the guidebooks will have that and will purchase soon Cross the bridge and turn left at the Laurel Valley Lodge sign. This was a hard day of almost 12 miles. There were plenty of views and beautiful streams and waterfalls this time of year. Any suggestions. This alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. More. We had gotten to the more strenuous sections of trail and it was quite noticeable. We finished with 5 miles on the day. 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. Streams, creeks, and engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. . New benefit of membership: Free subscription to Backpacker magazine. 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. gain approximately 10,900 feet of elevation, while north/eastbounders (NEBOs?) Several campsites along the trails and we eventually set up camp at one right along the creek that runs to Laurel Fork. It looks like a small pool of water but it is the top of the falls. Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail. While the solitude of the first part of my hike was very nice it was good to have company. Oh, and theres the little matter of more than 500 steep steps up Heartbreak Ridge as you leave Lake Jocassee. 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. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. Nice article! I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. Very well maintained trail. Clay Bonnyman Evans is a freelance writer living in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and his hometown, Boulder, Colorado. I passed up a chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and I regret not doing so. The service rd has many creek crossings but eventually crosses the actual Foothills Trail. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Check out more trails in the Asheville area here. Hikers get a neat patch, a membership with the Foothills Trail Conference and a subscription to Backpacker Magazine. The Foothills Trail Conference Divides the trail into thirteenaccessible sections. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. Not unlike the AT, the Foothills Trail is more challenging at one end. I continue to log miles and slay summits in Asheville North Carolina. . The trail is strenuous throughout. This vlog is from mid-May. Additional one mile loop, "Last of the Mohicans" and "Hunt for Red October" were filmed along the shores of this picturesque lake. Hikers can fly into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. There are numerous road crossings, and hitching into small towns such as Salem, SC, or Sapphire, NC, isnt too difficult. Really cool to se that engineering out in the wilderness and seamlessly blend it in. Want to report conditions for this trail? In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. . Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. 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. Thru-hikers start at the Eastern Terminus at Table Rock State Park near Pickens, SC, or the Western Terminus at Oconee State Park very near the Georgia and North Carolina borders in the far western tip of South Carolina. Be careful! What an experience! Thanks for your support! 70, Old Fort, NC, 28762 It is 76 miles and as such, is frequently underestimated by those who set out to hike it. The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. 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. Its a great trail! 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. . I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. 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. With the exception of the winter months, chances are that weather will be warm and often extremely hot and humid. Summer heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time winter temperatures typically sink into the 20s. I traveled west>east (or, sort of, south>north) and water was never an issue. 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. What were the generally areas where you made camp each night? The trail is blazed and is normally hiked in 10 days. Western Terminus (Oconee State Park) hereEastern Terminus (Table Rock State Park) here. Insects can be bothersome in warmer months. Overall, we hiked around 6 miles to and from. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). Log In. Mountain Bike Trails Play Young's Ridge Mill Creek Road and Old US Hwy. 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. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. The trail crosses several roads leading to nearby small towns. The standard guidebooks for the Foothills Trail provide detailed information about plentiful camping spots, and there are numerous spots to camp along the way that arent listed in either book. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. The Catawba Falls trail is closed until spring of 2023. I dread the descents more than the climbs. Additional Bridge over Whitewater River now complete! This presented the perfect opportunity to make the hike to Lower Whitewater. First . The trail is clearly marked throughout. The Foothills Trail is something like 76 miles in length and we hiked 6.4 miles of it on a recent brisk afternoon. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. 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. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. 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. We parked the truck at a red gate and began hiking down the service road. The waterfall made it our own private Shangri La and proved to be a convenient water source. The Blue Ridge Mountains are well known for their three hundred sixty degree views from their bare summits. 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 trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 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. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. 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. For the next 0.7 miles, we ascended and descended over 400 steps! Primitive trail connects Woods Mountain & Armstrong Creek Trails. Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. 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