The Foothills Trail has lots of ups and downs, so 5 miles is harder than it sounds. I am not new to hiking as I have done it with my parents since I was 9 years old, how ever, I am new to overnight backpacking. We have done overnight trip in Paris Mountain State Park to the North Lake and camp on the lake. As interest in the establishment of the Foothills Trail increased, a formal unifying entity was needed. Soon the vegetation starts to close in on us and it makes our way even harder as the trail hasn’t mellowed out at all. The day started with a 1-mile moderate climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain. Thanks for all for all the info. Can you trailside camp on the anywhere Foothills or only at designated campsites, they don't really answer this question on the Foothills website. For this reason it’s often called “The Crown Jewel”. The grade steepens even more and there isn’t much shade – while the undergrowth is making a comeback, the trees have not. Frozen Creek Access. we respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously, Deception Pass State Park: an Unforgettable Hike in the Puget Sound, The Best Shorts I’ve Ever Worn: A Review of the Abit Gear Enduro MTB Short, Sleeping at the Foot of a Giant: Backpacking to Burnt Lake. After tackling the 76 miles of the Foothills Trail’s main walkway in September my dad and I decided it would be fun to hike every spur trail it had to offer. 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 corridor linking Table Rock State Park in the north/east to Oconee State Park to the south/west, was completed in 1981. If you purchase the guide through the link, you won’t pay anything extra, but we’ll get a small commission. Scroll over the images to see section titles. Hike back out the same way the next day. Our pace picks up and bit until we stumble across some ripe wild blackberries. As the trail leveled out, we hiked through fern-filled valleys and white pine forests that had been planted in the ’70s after the forest was logged. Length| 77 Miles 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) Alternatively, the Foothills Trail Conservancy publishes a guide that you can find on their store page. Cane Brake Trail. If we were to continue straight up the mountain we would be on the Ridge trail that takes you back to Table Rock. To pass the time we complained about the heat and humidity and how we would never do something like this again, which is almost certainly a lie. Sassafras Mountain Trail Access. We only had 7 miles to go today and we took our time in the morning. After a short pep talk (including discussions of burgers and fries), we carried on. Just watch out for the Hatfield's and McCoy's! This 72-miler has the trail’s highest point, its longest stretch above treeline, and a shag carpeting of wildflowers in late summer. This trail is popular with cyclists, hikers, and horseback riders, and there are several trailheads depending on the stretch you would like to travel. I am wondering what section of the Foothills Trail would be the best to take my girlfriend on. Amy had one mission: find a swimming hole. There are great views of the foothills out to the south. Thanks for all the ideas, I really like Rain Man's idea but I don't want to double back if possible. That's 5 (or 5.7) miles, depending on how you read the map and guidebook, which are confusing at Bad Creek. Subscribe to our mailing list and get newsletters to your email inbox. At this point, we reach a part of the forest that burned in a wildfire in 2016. In this video I take on the divisive subject of which end is best to start at. We broke the 30.7 mile hike into a 2 night, 3 day trip. With pass in hand, we drove across the road to the park entrance and readied our packs. Section 2 starts at Laurel Valley Access (where we ended our You can find my written blog posts about our hikes on the Foothills Trail and how we tackled it section by section right here. After acquiring burgers and fries and a banana pudding milkshake, we made it home to our cat Cooper who had been maintaining the household in our absence. Off to our right is a small bald that looks north to North Carolina and the Blue Ridge mountains. We keep trudging along and pass half a dozen bridges with no campsite in sight. No luck. Lake Jocassee shimmers in the distance, embraced by hills covered in a patchwork of autumn colors. All Sections 13 Spur Trails 6. Contacts. Sliding down the river bank, clothes were off and we dove into the river. Posted on January 17, 2019 January 28, 2019 by admin. But maybe that’s because we picked the hottest day of the year to make the 3,500 foot trek to South Carolina’s highest point – 95 degrees with our packs on was no easy feat. My first whack at it was about ten years ago covering sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 from the Laurel Fork to Upper Whitewater Falls. We were disappointed we never came across a swimming hole since we left the park. The Wilkeson section is awaiting connection to the rest of the Foothills Trail Two more Foothills Trail sections start in Enumclaw, located in southern King County. We finished eating and were in the tent before it was even dark. Photo by:johndoreen Dowhill descent on the Wilkeson Foothills Trail. The 21-mile Foothills Trail was built on a former historic railroad bed and snakes through the Puyallup River valley southeast of Tacoma in Pierce County. Outsmarted by crustaceans, but full of turkey sandwiches, we carry on. The Foothills Trail sections 2 and 3 start in upstate South Carolina and contain some of the most beautiful and difficult parts of the trail. If you want to give her more adjustment to backpacking there is also the option of hiking the trails in Jones Gap state Park. The current Enumclaw section of the Foothills Trail ends at the historic Boise Creek Bridge. It’s exciting, but a little treacherous, when the trail has us climbing over and around them. It follows Carrick Creek and crosses over it a number of times. Bearcamp Creek Hilliard Falls. We’re treated to our first descent of the day and we couldn’t be happier. Small potatoes compared to some of the huge climbs in the Smokies. 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. It is a popular 12-foot wide paved commuter route and recreational destination for hikers, bikers and in-line skaters. We find some shade on the rock to cool off and take in the view. We top off our water and then hold onto the heavy-duty cable spanning the gap that’s been installed to help us over the slippery rock. Breakfast was instant oats as usual, but lately we’ve been supplementing it with mixed seeds and freeze-dried raspberries to make it extra tasty and filling. The cold water felt amazing and we rinsed off two days of dirt and sweat. FOOTHILLS TRAIL Bicyclists yield to horses and hikers. Even though he was exhausted from his last week as an instructor in wilderness therapy he still packed his bag and came with me. The proceeds go back into the trail and help with maintenance and conservation. Get the app Foothills Trail ... A beautiful trail through the foothills in North and South Carolina. A spur trail connects it to Caesars Head State Park. Best Trails & Photos. Burrell’s Ford Trail Access. The ghostly skeletons of mighty hemlocks, denuded by the invasive hemlock wooly adelgid, pose a stark contrast to the vibrant fall display, strangely beautiful in their own way. The same can be said of our overnight hike of the Foothills Trail section 1 – once we were out of Table Rock State Park where the trail starts, we didn’t see another person until the next day when we reached the crowds who drove to the top of Sassafras Mountain. With boots on dirt again we started heading down the other side of the mountain and, thankfully, back into the shade. After a short nap, we push our way back into the forest and through the weeds. We kept a good pace for much of the morning and stopped for lunch early. Sign In To Add To Favorites Loading Trails The Best Section Hikes on the AT, CDT, and PCT. This section is highly trafficked due to it’s accessibility and beauty. Start at 10,899-foot Molas Pass and climb east through Elk Creek drainage to the barely there trail. The Foothills Trail finally splits off to the left to traverse the ridge and leave Table Rock State Park. Photo by Kevin Hanson . Foothills Trail Map & Directions. Lake Joccasee from the Foothills Trail. Table Rock can be seen behind us and Paris Mountain can be seen off into the distance. It features numerous waterfalls and stunning views on the eastern half. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/south-carolina/foothills-national-recreation-trail Now I am trying to find a good long weekend section of the Foothills Trails to take her on to show a multi-day trip, but I don't want to take her on something she can't handle. Over the years we have hiked and backpacked a few sections and have fallen in love with it’s beauty and remoteness. Black-eyed Susan, foam flowers, and phlox line the trail. Then the Foothills Trail veers off to the left and is a part of Pinnacle Mountain Trail. The 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail, 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, and 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail are collectively known as the “Triple Crown,” America’s trio of epic long-distance trails. 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. Local Club: Foothills Trail Conservancy. The Foothills Trail Conference was established on May 23, 1974 as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization to promote and support the development of the Foothills Trail. This National Recreation Trail is South Carolina’s longest trail. The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas and Trails Rangers frequently patrol here. FOOTHILLS TRAIL MAP SOUTH CAROLINA 75 miles. Some ominous clouds were forming in the distance and we could hear the storm getting closer. This is the guide that we have used for all of our trips on the Foothills. After what feels like hours we find the Cantrell Campsite (clearly marked), our home for the night! The campsite is a large multi-party site. Hikers yield to horses. Rangers 970-416-2147 For life-threatening emergencies call 911. All in all, the Foothills Trail section 1 was an incredible hike but I don’t know that I would recommend it in the heat of a South Carolina summer. ), so I was a bit rusty after a long hiatus from backpacking to raise little kids! Finally we see blue sky in front of us and reach a bald outcrop called Bald Rock – clever right? Sep 3, 2019: Toxaway Bridge on Foothills Trail Has Been Refurbished. We keep hiking but our pace is slowed. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/south-carolina/foothills-trail-a9-to-a11 Posted on January 12, 2002 by Admin. There are lots of wildflowers growing here. The 2.1-mile southern segment starts east of downtown and heads south toward Buckley on asphalt for 1.2 miles. Start at the Bad Creek Access and hike north (east?) Unfortunately our clothes were still sweat-soaked from the day before. Following a short path behind the site leads to a wire and pulley system that makes hanging our bear bag a cinch. County close to opening new section of Foothills Trail to Boise Creek. Once at the trailhead, we filled out some more hiker information at the Nature Center just to be safe, and then we were on our way! Early on Thursday, July 4, we drove separate cars up to the Laurel Valley access (A4 in Google Maps) where we left a car, and then to the Table Rock Visitor Center to apply for an overnight parking pass. We crested the final hill and below us was the road we were looking for and a beautiful river running along side it. However, we have not yet used their guide for any of our trips. We came out of the woods onto the parking lot, and climbed the paved path to the top. it was a beautiful hike, but cold at night(reaching the 30s both nights). See Pierce County’s newest section of the Foothills Trail from Buckley to South Prairie. The following is an affiliate link. Camp there near Hillard Falls (or the site one mile past there). Where fall meets winter in GSMNP. I am wondering what section of the Foothills Trail would be the best to take my girlfriend on. We soon come across a natural cave and can’t help but take a peek. 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