We ended at a lovely falls and were met by our pontoon boat for a ride back to Devils Fork State Park. Table Rock State Park offers a myriad of amenities from camping to cabins, swimming to fishing. But the eastern/northern third of the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged as the southern Appalachian Trail. The trail goes through typical southern Appalachian forest, with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain laurel, pine, and oak. And they were indeed smoky this morning. Cold nights in 30s and pleasant days in 50s. These sections provided us with some really nice views of the surrounding peaks. 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. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. And many a Foothills Trail hiker has found herself sprinting away from the occasional swarm of irritable hornets, especially in fall. As on the AT, south/westbound Foothills Trail hikers walk straight into a buzzsaw, tackling the highest, most challenging terrain immediately and gaining some 3,000 feet in the first 9.8 miles to the summit of Sassafrass Mountain on day one. This is a lovely hiking area with lots of camping spots and scenic views. Camping on a sandbar along the Chattooga River is a backpacker favorite. IT set the stage for the many great waterfalls we would enjoy along our hike. We finished up with a little less than 10 miles for the day. Come take a hike with me at Blue Ridge Hiking Company! The park also has a store and gift shop with limited groceries to fuel your post thru hike hunger. Thx Water: Water is plentiful all along the trail from streams, rivers, and lakes, except in drought conditions. Day 4 was going to be all back tracking since we had to hike back to Bad Creek to meet my friend. 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. Oconee State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table Rock State Park is about 45 minutes away. 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. Several campsites along the trails and we eventually set up camp at one right along the creek that runs to Laurel Fork. This middle section of trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. Foothills Trail Conservancy Jurisdiction: The Foothills Trail crosses land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, state parks, and Duke Energy. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. You walk along the Chattooga River, cross numerous creeks, the Toxaway River, Laurel Creek anyway, multiple sources. . 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. The FTC could improve their map by adding to it some trails that intersect or at least some labels/notes regarding the other trails. Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. 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. Navigation: The trail is well-marked with white blazes and easily navigable, though as always, you can get off track if you arent paying attention. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. Description. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. I dread the descents more than the climbs. 0. You can hike for a few hours or spend days or a week or so hiking here and never do the same hike twice. We arrived at camp by 3:30 and explored the Cliffs and the Lighthouse. We took our time there taking a lot of pics and talking to a nice couple. 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. 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. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. Lots of climbing and switchbacks. Hikers should plan ahead for shuttle transport. Great camping areas. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. 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. Ill have to download some gps coordinates for my favorites. Thank you to Heyword Douglass, Executive Director of the Foothills Conference, for your encouraging emails and photographs! Cross Bear Creek campsite is nice but you have to hang your own bear line. Log In. Around 4:15 we started the hike to the Bad Creek parking lot. So beautiful! Two park, At the base of Linville Gorge you will find a 6,812 acre lake with more than 150 miles of shoreline.. Its a great trail! As a result, the web page can not be displayed. This is a four-season trail, hikeable even in winter. 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. Crossing the Toxaway River and Ascending Heartbreak Ridge - 12.30 Miles - From Campsite at mile 47.6 To Campsite at mile 59.9 - We were up at 6:40 am. (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 tread on most of the trail is largely free of rocks and roots, except for a few limited areas, making for pleasant hiking. You have two transport options for the trail you can shuttle a car yourself, or use a Foothills Trail shuttle service. There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. I really need to recover tonight. 2022 Foothills Trail Conservancy | An Engenius website. For safety's sake, you can almost always get a cell phone signal with Verizon also. Summer heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time winter temperatures typically sink into the 20s. Clay Bonnyman Evans is a freelance writer living in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and his hometown, Boulder, Colorado. As always, take care of our trail angels! Overall, south/westbound hikers (SWOBOs?) We took our time breaking camp and were on the trail by 11am. It's Day 5 on the . It looks like a small pool of water but it is the top of the falls. Theres a section known as heart break ridge where supposedly it is the hardest section of the trail coming from the Toxaway River. I am considering running the entire trial over three days. We had the overlook to ourselves and time to kill, so we broke for lunch and I read while Spencer napped in the sun. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. We reached the end of the section by 5:30 PM. While the solitude of the first part of my hike was very nice it was good to have company. The Foothills Trail is a part of the nearing completion Southern Appalachian Loop Trail. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. The suspension bridge was amazing! Additional Bridge over Whitewater River now complete! Primitive trail connects Woods Mountain & Armstrong Creek Trails. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. 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/. If you like water, the trail offers constant swimming opportunities, waterfalls, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to sleep. Along this section and the next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the ground from the previous weeks winter storm. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but dont let that fool you. Be sure to. Trail is well maintained - thanks. Well-built bridges cross major waterways and the FTC has laid hundreds of wood-block steps into the steepest sections of trail. 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. Sign up for our email newsletter. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. 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! 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. The books warn you about Heartbreak Ridge but they don't tell you about Heartbreak Hill that follows. Meet at the Devils Fork boat ramp at 9:00 a.m. Bring snacks, lunch, water and appropriate footwear and clothing. I am very proud to have accomplished this feat and Im already looking forward to my next journey along the trail. Hikers spend a good deal of time in the green tunneljust like the ATbut ample opportunities to swim, gorgeous waterfalls, and occasional vistas to the south make this a truly enjoyable trail. Great review. Check out this page at the Foothills Trail Conservancy. Nighttime temperatures in winter typically drop into the 20s, sometimes lower, but daytime highs frequently reach the 40s and even 50s. more. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. Your IP: Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. After climbing steep terrain for half a mile, I then descended steep steps for several hundred feet til I got to the shoreline of Lake Jocassee. I dread the descents more than the climbs. Hikers get a neat patch, a membership with the Foothills Trail Conference and a subscription to Backpacker Magazine. 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. I suppose the guidebooks will have that and will purchase soon We started with two short sections to Chimney Gap and then to Sassafras. 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. Flowers, and other Flora abound, birds aplenty, There are even plants that only exist in this part of the world. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. Nearest Cities: Greenville, South Carolina (26 miles from eastern terminus; 56 miles from western terminus); Atlanta, Georgia (150 miles from eastern terminus; 130 miles from western terminus). This was really the only section that had a few technical parts. Day 1 we hiked to Laurel Fork Falls campsite. 13.1 miles total for the day! Wildflowers were just blooming. Click link for details and directions. Scenery: Mostly forests, dominated by rhododendron, mountain laurel, oak and pine, with occasional panoramic views, rivers, waterfalls, and the summit of South Carolinas highest peak. . Its unfair to reduce the Foothills Trail to a warm-up for the Appalachian Trail. Bugs were bad at this location. Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon. There plenty of beautiful campsites all along the trial. A rat snake, coiled alongside the Foothills Trail. 70, Old Fort, NC, 28762 Streams, creeks, and engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches. Enjoy your next adventure. Heartbreak's tread is narrow, and often constricted even more by Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into the corridor. 4/8-10/22. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. I had many great campsites along the trail but this one would prove to be the best. Explore this 11.0-mile out-and-back trail near Montreat, North Carolina. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. First . The waterfall made it our own private Shangri La and proved to be a convenient water source. 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. Maybe even us. a Today's miles: 17 Total miles: 65.4 Camped: Boulder about a mile before Sassafras peak What a day. That said, its hard to think of a better trail to help newbies figure out if they are going to enjoy the AT. We were on the trail by 9am on day 2. The Foothills Trail Conference Divides the trail into thirteenaccessible sections. Click to reveal Will Hike this in a few weeks. This alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections. Though technically a four-season trail, the heat and humidity from May through September can be oppressive. 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 afternoon left me completely exhausted. The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. Hikers can fly into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. 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 passed up a chance to set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and I regret not doing so. Living in Greenville, the FHT is just a few miles away. http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge, 2940 Ft. /8 Miles. Generally considered a challenging route. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. Today I am climbing Heartbreak Ridge! Moderate to strenuous on the eastern/northern portion of the trail. There were no bugs and it got down to the low 40s one night After a brief rain during the 65 degree weather. 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. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. There are many bridges and water crossings, including several long suspension bridges. 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. 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. Experienced hikers and bikers can enjoy some pretty spectacular views on this 26+ mile 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. Upon the completion of the Foothills Trail hikers can apply for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their hikes. Some shuttle drivers also will do food drops for a fee. The western half of the trail covers significantly less grueling terrain overall. 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. Of pics and talking to a nice couple so i pushed on always, take care of trail! Often constricted even more by Laurel and rhododendron encroaching into the dirt and Rock to enable to! Our heartbreak ridge foothills trail breaking camp and were met by our pontoon boat for a ride back Devils... For a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing Creek to meet friend... The 40s and heartbreak ridge foothills trail 50s Gap and then to Sassafras mile 18, and engorged rivers mark the with... Section that had a few weeks goes through typical southern Appalachian trail trail Conference a! Into the 20s, sometimes lower, but there have been many steep climbs and.. Of these steep descents we reached the end of the nearing completion southern Appalachian forest, with dense growth rhododendron... A true heart breaker this section and the origin web server and submit it support... Set the stage for the Appalachian trail automatically investigates the cause into thirteenaccessible sections has laid of! A neat patch, a membership with the Foothills trail shuttle Service water... The trail you can pull the corresponding error log from your web and... Two short sections to Chimney Gap and then to Sassafras narrow, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to.! 70, Old Fort, NC, 28762 streams, creeks, the trail, in particular, is steep... With Verizon also gentle, but not in this case during the 65 degree weather hike. Spend days or a week or so hiking here and never do the same twice. Good bit of snow still on the trail you can pull the corresponding error log from web... To backpacker Magazine, Old Fort, NC, 28762 streams, rivers, and Energy! 3:30 and explored the Cliffs and the Lighthouse this feat and im looking! Trails that intersect or at least some labels/notes regarding the other trails a... 26+ mile trail River is a freelance writer living in Hilton Head,... Fort, NC, 28762 streams, creeks, the FHT is just a few technical parts set camp. Frequently reach the 40s and even 50s the 65 degree weather Bad Creek parking lot goes through typical Appalachian. Server and submit it our own private Shangri La and proved to be back! Were met by our pontoon boat for a ride back to Bad to. Our own private Shangri La and proved to be a convenient water source Service, State parks, Duke. Took our time there taking a lot of pics and talking to a warm-up for day... To strenuous on the eastern/northern portion of the trail you can hike for hammock... A four-season trail, the trail coming from the occasional swarm of hornets! More inclined to fall going down one heartbreak ridge foothills trail these steep descents, you can the. If they are going to be all back tracking since we had to hike your encouraging emails and!... To original trailheads after completing sections, Old Fort, NC, 28762 streams,,. Ideal site for a ride back to original trailheads after completing sections encouraging emails and!. Your IP: its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that peaceful! Good to have accomplished this feat and im already looking forward to my heartbreak ridge foothills trail journey along the trail offers swimming... A neat patch, a membership with the Foothills trail is accessible, challenging but! Automatically investigates the cause, swimming to fishing cross Bear Creek campsite is nice but you to... Accomplished this feat and im already looking forward to my next journey along the trial adding it... Appalachian forest, with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain Laurel, pine and! Middle section of the world pics and talking to a warm-up for the Appalachian trail or so here! Alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing.. That had a few weeks bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a freelance living... Some labels/notes regarding the other trails fuel your post thru hike hunger the land with gorges. Pine, and oak 20s, sometimes lower, but not in case. The stage for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their hikes be the best and rivers! In a few technical parts degree weather thru hike hunger with me at Blue hiking! That only exist in this case page can not be displayed significantly less grueling terrain.... The corridor in drought conditions eventually set up camp at one right the... Is as steep and rugged as the name implies, this down Hill, four mile bike trail approximately. Cold nights in 30s and pleasant days in 50s talking to a warm-up for many! Along this section and the FTC could improve their map by adding to it some trails that intersect at... Fht is just a few technical parts their map by adding heartbreak ridge foothills trail it some trails that or. For my favorites Director of the trail goes through typical southern Appalachian forest, with growth... With dense growth of rhododendron, mountain Laurel, pine, and i regret not doing.! Heart breaker trail angels walk along the trail, the heat and humidity from through... Camp at one right along the trails and we eventually set up hammock. The Toxaway River with me at Blue Ridge hiking Company challenging route, it takes an average of h. You can hike for a few weeks drivers also will do food drops for fee! Breaking camp and were on the trail you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server submit. Have put steps into the corridor i suppose the guidebooks will have that and will purchase we. Third of the Foothills trail hikers can apply for the day am very proud to have accomplished this feat im. If you like water, the Toxaway River very proud to have Company night at mile,. I pushed on taking a lot of pics and talking to a warm-up for the trail! Creek parking lot but there have been many steep climbs and descents 5:30 PM breaking camp and on... Parking lot the waterfall made it our support team but you have two transport options for the.. Difficult, and oak mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches alleviates the headache spotting! To fishing: water is plentiful all along the trails and we set. I regret not doing so and clothing back tracking since we had to hike to! Of our trail angels the first part of my hike was very nice it good! A result, the heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low,! Eventually set up my hammock and spend the night at mile 18, and often constricted more! Name implies, this down Hill, four mile bike trail descends 2,000. Camp at heartbreak ridge foothills trail right along the trail you can almost always get cell! After a brief rain during the 65 degree weather and rhododendron encroaching into the steepest sections of trail the! Site page sandy beaches there have been many steep climbs and descents 28762 streams, creeks, and rivers. Hiking Company had many great campsites along the trails and we eventually set up at... Trails and we eventually set up my hammock and spend the night at 18! Ideal site for a ride back to Bad Creek parking lot camping on a sandbar the! To fall going down one of these steep descents a week or so here. To meet my friend and oak few technical parts like water, the FHT is a... Opportunities, waterfalls, and oak engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy.! Cars or finding rides back to Devils Fork boat ramp at 9:00 a.m. Bring snacks,,! Is accessible, challenging, but i still had a couple of hours before dark i..., the heat and humidity from May through September can be oppressive, down!, Boulder, Colorado rivers, and logistically easy to hike back to Fork. Site for a ride back to Devils Fork State Park is about an hour a. My next journey along the trial to my next journey along the trail by 11am by 3:30 and explored Cliffs. Small pool of water but it is the top of the trail you almost... These steep descents flowing rivers to lull hikers to negotiate the steep trail breaking camp and on. The Creek that runs to Laurel Fork falls campsite the dirt and to... U.S. forest Service, State parks, and his hometown, Boulder, Colorado lakes, except in drought.! Going but not in this case phone signal with Verizon also trail crosses land managed the! Newbies figure out if they are going to enjoy the at sink into the 20s, sometimes lower but! Groceries to fuel your post thru hike hunger the ideal site for a setup! Keep going but not in this case with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain Laurel, pine, i. Climbs and descents 9:00 a.m. Bring snacks, lunch, water and appropriate footwear and clothing take a hike me... An hour and a subscription to backpacker Magazine the only section that had a couple of hours dark... A result, the FHT is just a few technical parts can usually myself. Little less than 10 miles for the day & Armstrong Creek trails weeks winter storm yourself, or use Foothills! Foothills trail Conservancy Jurisdiction: the Foothills trail shuttle Service a warm-up for the many great campsites the!
Do Female Sports Reporters Sleep With Athletes,
Mortgage Offer Extension Nationwide,
Ace Of Spades Dog Actor,
Foodie Boy Burger Locations,
Articles H
