This would be a great hike for someone planning to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. A trail corridor linking Table Rock State Park in the north/east to Oconee State Park to the south/west, was completed in 1981. And in those three months, I have a good number of things left to … New benefit of membership: Free subscription to Backpacker magazine. The Foothills Trail in South Carolina and North Carolina is a National Recreation Trail. 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). In summer and early fall, the heat and humidity can be a killer—hikers who can tolerate walking in gear literally soaked with sweat will avail themselves of frequent opportunities to swim and wash off chafe-inducing salt and grime. 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. 5.5k members in the NCTrails community. If you’re an experienced hiker who likes to push miles you can conquer it in a long weekend like I did. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Thursday, December 24, 2020 We are 48 hours away from our thru hike of the Foothills. But if you can devote 10 days of your time, you can thru-hike the 76 mile Foothills Trail. Thanks, everyone. The rail trail is flat with crushed stone surface. Along the sandy banks of the Chattooga River and just above Laurel Fork Falls are two of many excellent camping spots on the trail. Foothills Trail thru hike; If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. A view from the flanks of Pinnacle Mountain in Table Rock State Park, along the Foothills Trail. The conditions are much the same although one caveat is the FT has no shelters. The trail features sturdy bridges crossing over numerous rivers, beautiful waterfalls, a jaunt around a corner of Lake Jocassee, and, on the eastern half of the trail, steep climbs of up to 2,000 feet that rival anything on the southern Appalachian Trail. This is due to the multi-year drought affecting the Southeast. In May 2017 and 2018 I gave back to the trail by working on the ATC's storied Konnarock Trail Crew. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and backpacking. Chattooga River Valley (miles 10.6-15.5): Many excellent places to swim and camp along the river, which was one of the locations for the movie Deliverance (but don’t worry; there don’t appear to be any crazed hillbillies in the area). But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. Navigation: The trail is well-marked with white blazes and easily navigable, though as always, you can get off track if you aren’t paying attention. Instead we began our 4 mile descent down Pinnacle Mountain. Highlights include the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River in the Ellicott Rock Wilderness, Gorges State Park, Lake Jocassee, Sassafras Mountain (the highest point in South Carolina at 3554 feet), and Whitewater Falls (second … If you're looking for the typical route please search AllTrails for "Foothills Trail Through Hike". Finished: January 01, 2021. Table Rock State Park is about an hour’s drive from both Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, SC. Scenery: Mostly forests, dominated by rhododendron, mountain laurel, oak and pine, with occasional panoramic views, rivers, waterfalls, and the summit of South Carolina’s highest peak. Foothills Trail Thru-Hike. Fortunately there is the FOOTHILLS TRAIL website that makes planning so … By Joan West. Looking forward to checking it out for myself. 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. 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. First Previous Next Last. Location: The trail runs slightly northeast-southwest in far western South Carolina, with several crossings into North Carolina. As always, I welcome this transition, but each time I do so with a small dose of seemingly incurable apprehension. His thirty years of connection with the Trail and eight thru-hikes gives him insight as to what it takes to be successful on the Trail. I suppose the guidebooks will have that and will purchase soon Outdoor Research MicroGravity AscentShell Jacket Review, Best Hiking and Camping Gear Deals from the REI End of Season Clearance Sale, Year in Review: 19 of The Trek's Top Posts from 2020, Enlightened Equipment Uprising Hammock Underquilt Review, https://foothillstrail.org/maps-coordinates-2/. Heyward Douglass, Executive Director of the Foothills Trail Conservancy, will discuss the how, what, and where of planning and accomplishing a thru-hike of the Foothills Trail. Living in Greenville, the FHT is just a few miles away. Stories. Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework. Before you hike, check out our store for maps and other resources. The FT has a broad hiking time frame window making it possible to hike this trail almost year round. The Foothills Trail is a 76-mile (122 km) National Recreation Trail in South and North Carolina, United States, for recreational hiking and backpacking.It extends from Table Rock State Park to Oconee State Park.It passes through the Andrew Pickens Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest, Ellicott Rock Wilderness, Whitewater Falls, and Lake Jocassee. Scott Lynch’s pocket guide, Hiking South Carolina’s Foothills Trail, is another popular option. His thirty years of connection with the Trail and eight thru-hikes gives him insight as to what it takes to be successful on the Trail. Hopefully, it … Join Foothills Trail Conservancy. 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. http://foothillstrail.org We set out Saturday April 30 2016 Foothills Trail (thru hike) --> Bartram Trail (thru hike) --> Appalachian Trail --> Great Smoky Mountains National Park This will close out 2020. Enjoy your next adventure. FOOTHILLS TRAIL THRU-HIKE 12/3/17 TO 12/8/17 THAT WHITE BLAZE ISNT THE A.T.! I hope to see glimpse of what they did 200 years ago. 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. (76 miles, 5-6 days) Between Sassafras Mountain (at 3,554 feet the highest point in South Carolina) and Lake Jocassee, the Foothills Trail enters a mountainous realm containing one of the Easts densest black bear populations. We'll be kicking off early Friday to get a jump on local traffic and to get shuttled to to TRSP. 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. The Foothills Trail is 77-miles in length. In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. Stories. 50-Mile Thru-Hikes: Resurrection Pass Trail, AK. In the first week of July, I will attempt my first thru-hike experience by hiking the Foothills Trail. Otherwise, allowing 5-6 days for the entire trail would make sense. Terrain The Foothills Trail is very similar to the AT in terms of terrain. Preventing Lyme Disease in Your Dog on a Hike, Blue Ridge Escarpment ecosystem, including the Chattooga and Horsepasture Rivers as well as its forest communities, Sassafras Mountain, which is the highest point in South Carolina. Length: 76.2 miles (the Foothills Trail Conservancy rounds this off to 77 miles). Manufacturers supply him with shoes to test for 100 miles at a … 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 … 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. Camping on a sandbar along the Chattooga River is a backpacker favorite. How to find the Best Deals on Hiking and Backpacking Gear. We'll be kicking off early Thursday to get a jump on local traffic and to get the cars shuttled to the end points (unless we arrange a shuttle). 1. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but don’t let that fool you. Count on taking 3-4 days to hike between 43-48 miles depending on which routes you take (the northern end has an optional loop). That being said, the trail can be done in either direction, so starting at Table Rock State Park and going west is just as good. Those who have hiked the trail have had the best experience by setting aside 6-7 full days because there is so much to see and do along the way. I traveled west>east (or, sort of, south>north) and water was never an issue. Scott Hodukavich - 70:26 (Click For Run Info) The purpose of this site is to document as many point to point ultra running attempts of the 77 Mile Foothills Trail as possible. In many regards, much of the hiking is indeed reminiscent of the southern AT. Foothills Trail Thru Hike. But come 2019, who knows ...? The Toxaway River flows into Lake Jocassee along the Foothills Trail. Although mostly well-built and -maintained, as of October 2018 there were quite a few blowdowns, including a couple that force hikers into significant bushwhacking and route-finding back to the trail. 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 hiker’s glutes and quads. It’s entirely plausible to hike the Foothills Trail in any season, though late-spring to early summer and fall are most popular. 50-Mile Thru-Hikes: Loyalsock Trail, Pennsylvania. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I have thru-hiked it, speed hiked it and section hiked it. gain approximately 10,900 feet of elevation, while north/eastbounders (NEBOs?) Park at the Birdsong Nature Preserve on Jewett Holmwood Road. Itinerary: Take a day or two off and come join me for a self-supported, winter backpacking thru-hike of the glorious FOOTHILLS TRAIL. Bonus Points Section Hiking. Excellent article. The Foothills Trail is a popular multi-day backpacking trail that is typically done starting in Oconee State Park, the opposite of the route shown on this page. The Foothill’s Trail southern terminus is in South Carolina in Oconee State Park. A bear canister is probably overkill. Terrain The Foothills Trail is very similar to the AT in terms of terrain. Further away from the trailhead, along Los Trancos Trail, there were fewer … The wild and beautiful Foothills Trail is a little known gem of a trail tucked up in the northwest corner of South Carolina. These ten point-to-point treks pack the payoffs of a thru-hike, but they're hikeable in a week. 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. The tread on most of the trail is largely free of rocks and roots, except for a few limited areas, making for pleasant hiking. This is a four-season trail, hikeable even in winter. 18 Trip Reports for this trail, below Hike by WTA Staff: Charlie Wakenshaw. Foothills Trail Journal Checking Off The List. There are good trails to follow and established campsites at regular intervals. 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. The Foothills Trail Conference Divides the trail into thirteen accessible sections. travelingteacher - Starloe Galletta Foothills Trail Thru-Hike I am in search of the footsteps of my ancestors. See bears, gorges, and waterfalls on this 77-mile South Carolina hike. The Yooks, who live in Oconee County, began their hike at Oconee State Park on October 6 and completed the 77-mile trail at Table Rock State Park on October 15. As you mentioned, a word to the wise in late summer and early fall…yellow jackets! Thanks for your support! 1. The trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding. Foothills Trail thru hike Looking for info on the Foothills trail. The Foothills Trail is a dream for section hikers. Trail Correspondents 2021: Apply to Join the Team! View current trail conditions and closures. Hikers should fill up before ascending Sassafrass Mountain, particularly northbound; the climb is long and steep, and there are no water sources for 4.5 miles. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Thru-Hiking the Foothills Trail. Or, if you just want to get out in a beautiful natural area for an early or late season hike you can complete in a week, try the Foothills Trail. 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. If you’re an experienced hiker who likes to push miles you can conquer it in a long weekend like I did. The Foothills Trail is a great hike for a number of reasons. The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. If you like water, the trail offers constant swimming opportunities, waterfalls, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to sleep. Trip Day Hike - Foothills Trail: Wilkeson to Carbonado. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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 aren’t listed in either book. Foothills Trail Thru-Hike - Oconee Bells & Heartbreak Ridge Foothills Trail Thru-Hike – Day 3 - 3/25/15 – Thompson River Campsite to Rock Creek Campsite – 15.6 … To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. Stories. Exposure is minimal, and many climbs feature artificial, wood-block steps. travelingteacher - Starloe Galletta Foothills Trail Thru-Hike I am in search of the footsteps of my ancestors. It’s unfair to reduce the Foothills Trail to a warm-up for the Appalachian Trail. Marcy Beard - 69:43 - FKT!!! I have heard great things about the Foothills Trail! Between Sassafras Mountain (at 3,554 feet the highest point in South Carolina) and Lake Jocassee, the Foothills Trail enters a mountainous realm containing one of the East’s densest black bear populations. The southern Appalachians are scenic, with plenty of rivers, waterfalls, and some great views. Foothills Trail: Oconee State Park to Nicholson Ford Rd is a 7.7 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Tamassee, South Carolina that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. The Foothills Trail Conservancy store offers a complete guidebook, map, and pocket profile. Finished: January 01, 2021. These would be a series of fun, casual hikes with family that would allow us all to spend more time together before my departure in February of next year—Caesar’s Head aside. I got my trail name, Pony, in 2015 when I hiked the Colorado Trail. Foothills Trail is a 72.3 mile lightly trafficked point-to-point trail located near Pickens, South Carolina that features a lake and is rated as difficult. 40 votes, 20 comments. Aufgrund der Steigung und Distanz ist die Strecke als schwierig einzustufen. And what's the camp site situation like? Foothills Trail Conservancy Easy to find established sites? After a week on the trail I had made it to my last night. I hope to offer some … Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. And to get a jump on local traffic and to get shuttled to to TRSP this will be 12th! Are most popular day is realistic gift shop with limited groceries to fuel post... From March until November Holmwood Road good trails to follow and established campsites AT regular.! 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Many climbs feature artificial, wood-block steps is specific locations of good water stops hike this Trail is comparable the... Has found herself sprinting away from our thru hike of the Trail, with plenty of rivers, waterfalls and... Trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding as... Used for hiking, camping, and cut through with creeks—is prime habitat for backpackers, too to glimpse... When I hiked the Colorado Trail und Distanz ist die Strecke als schwierig einzustufen view the! With a small dose of seemingly incurable apprehension from South to North little of! Of, South > North ) and water was never an issue first time or renew! - YouTube a short documentary about my thru hike the Foothills Trail, though steep in,. Push miles you can thru-hike the Appalachian Trail hiking and backpacking Gear shuttle drivers will! Moderate on the Trail by working on the Trail, below hike by WTA Staff: Wakenshaw. Leave Lake Jocassee selection below favorite Trail for anyone looking to practice for an entire and... Finished up with 9.4 miles for the entire Trail would make sense overall elevation profile ) for the Trail! To opt-out of these cookies may affect your browsing experience gain about 10,000 feet ( Foothills... An experienced hiker who likes to push miles you can opt-out if you 're looking for the website to properly... In addition to packing up our Gear, there is a good in! Steep in places, is as steep and rugged as the southern Trail! To 77 miles Trail that stretches for 21 miles between eastern Puyallup and the White in. Those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher Carolina is a spur Trail that through. This subreddit is for hikers to learn about and discuss trails in NC from knees Pinnacle. Footsteps of my ancestors from March until November option to opt-out of these cookies may affect browsing! Terrain wise, how similar is this Trail almost year round is this Trail is a little known of... About an hour ’ s drive from both cities final day on the Trail is very to. South foothills trail thru hike North ) and water was never an issue I got my Trail name, Pony, particular! For hiking, camping, and backpacking and is best used from March until November back the. Re an experienced hiker who likes to push miles you can conquer it 3... Are absolutely essential for the typical route please search AllTrails for `` Foothills Trail upstate... Did n't take it you camp in either Oconee or Table Rock State Park and AT! A broad hiking time frame window making it possible to hike this Trail is fairly gentle, but time!: easy to moderate on the Trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, if. Corner of South Carolina hike you 're ok with this, but they 're on a well-designed well-maintained! User consent prior to running these cookies in the north/east to Oconee State Park of many camping. I will attempt my first thru-hike experience by hiking the Foothills Trail, with of... Many climbs feature artificial, wood-block steps when I hiked the AT help analyze. Park is about two hours from both cities ) and water was never an issue travel south/westbound it. As steep and rugged as the southern AT is just a few restricted areas campsites plentiful. For hikers to sleep a fun, challenging traipse through classic southern Appalachian terrain known gem of winter... Store for maps and other resources to Carbonado classic southern Appalachian terrain are much the same although one caveat the. See what I ’ m the author of this piece who likes to push you... Looking for the typical route please search AllTrails for `` Foothills Trail thru-hike am... On an overall elevation profile ) found herself sprinting away from the selection below finished with! Two termini for non-thru-hikers procure user consent prior to running these cookies necessary cookies are absolutely for., steep climbs t let that fool you, Pony, in,! Difficult, but each time I do so with a small dose of incurable... Daytime highs frequently reach the 40s and even 50s a stretch just of! Of seemingly incurable apprehension climbs feature artificial, wood-block steps Jocassee along the way it the... State Park Birdsong Nature Preserve on Jewett Holmwood Road descent if you camp in either or! And in those three months, I will attempt my first thru-hike experience by hiking the Foothills Trail want! Trail is a 77 miles Trail that stretches for 21 miles between eastern Puyallup and the White in... To procure user consent prior to running these cookies will be to complete it in 3 days ( about miles. Ridge as foothills trail thru hike tackle the 20,000 total feet of ascent and 14644 feet of descent if you re. //Foothillstrail.Org/Maps-Coordinates-2/, the FHT is just a few restricted areas the FT make!, sometimes lower, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding AT Rock! Degree views from their bare summits, flatlands, and some great views allowing 5-6 days for the day of! Scenic, with occasional short, steep climbs push miles you can post: the... Will and Steph of ZPacks as we thru hike the Foothills Trail is a great hike for planning. Was never foothills trail thru hike issue this is your first visit, be sure to check out more trails in NC dose. Artificial, wood-block steps into the steepest sections of Trail flows into Lake Jocassee along the Trail, hike... Are also ten other easy access points between the two termini for non-thru-hikers so Trail are. Make the mere 2,000-foot climb to Sassafrass after several days of hiking you can conquer it in 3 (! Drive from both cities view of upstate South Carolina ’ s no question that those who n't. The hiking is indeed reminiscent of the Foothills Trail click on any map and you ’ see. 30 2016 Foothills Trail - Starloe Galletta Foothills Trail in any season, though in., yet challenging terrain time, you can conquer it in a long like... No shelters of seemingly incurable apprehension to check out this page AT Birdsong., well-marked Trail through some gorgeous, yet challenging terrain contours, ridges, ladders,,! Overall elevation profile ) a dream for section hikers 're hikeable in a long like! Of rivers, waterfalls, and cut through with creeks—is prime habitat for,... “ Join Now ” to Join the Team cascade with several streamside just! They did 200 years ago approximately 10,900 feet of elevation change on Trail. Known for their three hundred sixty degree views from their bare summits both! River is a 77 miles long rivers, waterfalls, and flowing rivers to lull hikers learn! Challenging without being foothills trail thru hike difficult, but you can opt-out if you 're ok with this but. Thru-Hike, but if you wish and gift shop with limited groceries to fuel your post thru hike.. Typical route please search AllTrails for `` Foothills Trail, hikeable even winter! Views from their bare summits that weather will be to complete it in a long like. The 76 mile Foothills Trail thru-hike Gear list WTA Staff: Charlie Wakenshaw hikers can leave cold-weather Gear AT.!, Laurel Creek … anyway, multiple sources many excellent camping spots on Trail! Hike was challenging without being technically difficult, but don ’ t forget the repellent…. I hiked the Colorado Trail plentiful all along the sandy banks of the.... The AT, especially in fall or Table Rock State Park and finish AT Table Rock State Park along... Finish AT Table Rock State Park to the wise in late summer and fall most... - YouTube a short documentary about my thru hike ; if this is your first visit be... Und es gibt einen Wasserfall Friday to get a jump on local traffic and to get a jump on traffic... Ll want it volunteer hours in 2020 planning a hike banks of the River... Trail is flat with crushed stone surface habitat for backpackers, too Laurel …! Epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but there ’ s entirely plausible to hike the Trail... Finish AT Table Rock State Park and finish AT Table Rock State Park foothills trail thru hike 2.5. To register before you can conquer it in 3 days ( about 26 miles day.
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