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. We were on the trail by 9am on day 2. During this middle section of trail, the hiker will also get their first introduction to another essential attribute on the Foothills Trail. 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. Thx The consistent signage makes finding the trailheads easy, and the mileage makes section hiking attainable. We had the overlook to ourselves and time to kill, so we broke for lunch and I read while Spencer napped in the sun. Not unlike the AT, the Foothills Trail is more challenging at one end. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. While youll spend a good deal of time in the proverbial green tunnel, the trail still offers abundant views. The day started with "heartbreak ridge". Great weather with clear cool nights. A view from the flanks of Pinnacle Mountain in Table Rock State Park, along the Foothills Trail. Around 4:15 we started the hike to the Bad Creek parking lot. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Blue Ridge Mountains are well known for their three hundred sixty degree views from their bare summits. Lots of Stairs. Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around South Carolina. This trail is awesome . I have only done a small portion of this beautiful trail but every step is well worth the effort. Check out this 19.1-mile point-to-point trail near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. 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). Flowers, and other Flora abound, birds aplenty, There are even plants that only exist in this part of the world. On top of Heartbreak Ridge, we heard 4 large birds . Click link for details and directions. Greenville SC 29602. Additional Bridge over Whitewater River now complete! Steep Steps (Heart Break Ridge) Longest Suspension Bridge on the Foothills Trail Crosses the Toxaway River Hiking along Lake Jocassee Shoreline Trail Head: Cane Brake Trail to Frozen Creek Access All orders over $60 receive FREE shipping! Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail. NC 28762, http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge. 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. For the full 4x4 trail guide please visit:https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/812-2n61y-heartbreak-ridgeHidden on the east side of Big Bear in Southern Cali. 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. Day 2 we hiked to Cross Bear Creek campsite. I had planned on making camp for the evening along the spur trail below Grassy Knob that led to 281, but there was too much snow on the ground. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). The trail is strenuous throughout. And for those who like to get wet, there are frequent swimming opportunities, waterfalls, lakes, and unspoiled riversincluding the Chattooga River, where some of the famous movie Deliverance was filmed. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. It wasnt the perfect site but it was perfectly timed! 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. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls.But you earn the views. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. The last 2.5 hours were just wonderful hiking through quiet woods - sometimes up and sometimes down - as we crossed from ridge to ridge. Until we meet again. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. 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). 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. After a week on the trail I had made it to my last night. Click on any map and youll see what Im talking about. Most of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. Meet at the Devils Fork boat ramp at 9:00 a.m. Bring snacks, lunch, water and appropriate footwear and clothing. Following a long ridge that begins high atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment, this trail plunges over 2000 ft. in four miles. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Cars can be left at both state parks. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. In early April 2022, gistrailblazer and I thruhiked the Foothills Trail eastbound, from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park. Geology Guide to the Foothills Trail NOW AVAILABLE! Description. Moderate to strenuous on the eastern/northern portion of the trail. Whitewater falls is breathtaking, and the climb out will leave you breathless! We took a quick break at the falls to enjoy the view and snap some pics and then pushed on towards bad creek. A bear canister is probably overkill. It offers multiple distance choices with a challenging hill climb and scenic views of surrounding . Not sure if i would start at the southern or northern terminal, Looking to trail run about 13-17 miles on foothills trail but really want to get on the most scenic section. The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. Terms under which this service is provided to you. The Foothills Trail is a part of the nearing completion Southern Appalachian Loop Trail. more. Ill have to download some gps coordinates for my favorites. I got to meet several interesting and nice people that were making the short hike to Lick Falls. Mike/Asheville. The part we loved most about the trail was how desolate it was. A very special place to wander and enjoy!!! The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. The trail is clearly marked throughout. 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. First . Your IP: Photos (139) Directions. Print/PDF map. Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. Well maintained trail. The western half of the trail covers significantly less grueling terrain overall. Hikers get a neat patch, a membership with the Foothills Trail Conference and a subscription to Backpacker Magazine. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. 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. I was very impressed by the size and power of this waterfall! Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. North/eastbound hikers start with a gentle descent to the Chattooga River and make the mere 2,000-foot climb to Sassafrass after several days of hiking. 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. We had reached Sassafras by 10 till noon. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. 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. 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. 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. But from its well blazed path to its active trail conservancy, it is a trail well worth the walk. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. More. Easy and downhill. Mountain Bike Trails Play Young's Ridge Mill Creek Road and Old US Hwy. Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. Today I am climbing Heartbreak Ridge! This self supported marathon begins in the Laurel Valley Parking Lot off HWY 178 . Dismiss. I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. Mountain Streams, Suspension Bridges, Waterfalls Exclusive to the state of Florida, its dirt and paved paths can be hiked in 60-90 days. A rat snake, coiled alongside the Foothills Trail. This mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. We finished up with 9.4 miles for the day. Experience this 30.4-mile point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. Thanks for your support! There is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The first 60 minutes consisted mostly of climbing steeply up, assisted by wood steps nailed into the hill side. Discover this 48.9-km point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. Additional one mile loop, "Last of the Mohicans" and "Hunt for Red October" were filmed along the shores of this picturesque lake. The trail goes through typical southern Appalachian forest, with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain laurel, pine, and oak. A trail corridor linkingTable Rock State Park in the north/east toOconee State Park to the south/west, was completed in 1981. Bugs were bad at this location. The largest climb of the hike begins at mile 62 and gains 1,839 feetin 4.4 miles before topping out at Sassafrass Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. These wooden stairs make appearances at many points on the Foothills Trail most notably on Heartbreak Ridge, where 302 stairs ascend the ridge and 294 stairs descend the ridge. This is a great "beginner" long-distance trail, as you're always close enough to bail out, if need be. 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. However from Sassafras Mountain there is a 14.2 mile spur trail to Ceasars Head State Park in South Carolinathat some choose as an alternate northern terminus for the trail. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. 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. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. Heart Break Ridge Ballater Circular route near Ballater Overview Photos Videos Reports Map 3D Tour Add / Edit 10.7 miles Distance 1,604 ft Climb -1,615 ft Descent 1,960 ft High Point 1950ft 1300ft 650ft 0ft 0.00miles 3.50miles 7.00miles 10.50miles A circular ride from Ballater taking in Heart Break Ridge Detailed Description Local Trail Association To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. virtually impossible to get lost. The trail is not heavily used by long-distance hikers, regardless of season. Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. The Foothills Trail is well-marked with white blazes. The Foothills Trail in South Carolina and North Carolina is a National Recreation Trail. Thru-hikers travel both north/eastbound and south/westbound, but theres no question that those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher. I hiked solo from Maine to Georgia in 2014 and from Denver to Durango in 2015. We finished the section and hiked a little over a half mile into the next so we could get a site in Gorge State Park along the Toxaway River. 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. Maybe even us. By Clay Bonnyman Evans, 2019 Foothills Trail Thru-Hiker. Length: 76.2 miles (the Foothills Trail Conservancy rounds this off to 77 miles). What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. Day 5s goal was to get to Canebrake and finish the section. Oconee State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table Rock State Park is about 45 minutes away. Hikers should plan ahead for shuttle transport. 13.1 miles total for the day! The trail is well-marked and well-graded. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. Volunteers should be reimbursed fairly for their generous donations of time and gasoline. Heartbreak Ridge Steps' 2020 Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge First Previous Next Last Monday, July 27, 2020 Destination: Lake Jocasse Today's Miles: 19.10 Start Location: Cantrell Campsite Trip Miles: 27.10 Evening view This morning's highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. 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. 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 trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. From there we pushed on towards Laurel Valley. NC 226-A to Armstrong Fish Hatchery Rd.. 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. We made quick work of the rest of the section and had made it to Upper Whitewater Falls a little after noon. As hard as our Colorado hike minus elevation. After taking a 45 minute pontoon ride across Lake Jocassee to the trail connector - we lumbered off on our 3.5 hour hike. On my fourth day thru hiking the Foothills Trail alone, I started with the climb up and over Heartbreak Ridge and ended up at the Chimneytop Campsite, just b. Along this extended spur lies views of the East Fork of the French Broad River, as well as the sheer rock faces of Raven Cliff Falls. This presented the perfect opportunity to make the hike to Lower Whitewater. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. 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. Sassafras Mountain, South Carolina's highest peak, Obeservation Tower atop Sassafras Mountain, For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps. This was really the only section that had a few technical parts. The Bartram Trail is a 102-mile trek through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. It's Day 5 on the . This is considered d the most difficult section of the Foothills Trail. Day 7 was going to be one of our shorter and easier days! My girlfriend and I backpacked this trail last night. 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. 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. Great camping areas. Clay Bonnyman Evans is a freelance writer living in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and his hometown, Boulder, Colorado. Cross Bear Creek campsite is nice but you have to hang your own bear line. 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. Heartbreak Ridge via Star Gap Trail. Tougher than expected but had a great time. An off-road running race held in the northwestern foothills of your Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. It is a beautiful site at the top of the waterfalls. Slept well, heard the popping of the campfire a few sites over for awhile. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. I dread the descents more than the climbs. It features frequent stream crossings, numerous waterfalls, and skirts around Lake Jocassee, a major recreation destination. Jurisdiction: The Foothills Trail crosses land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, state parks, and Duke Energy. 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 steps are so long that in the middle there is a bench for folks to rest before they tackle the remainder of the climb. Along this section and the next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the ground from the previous weeks winter storm. Percent of the course on un-paved trails: 90%. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. Two park, At the base of Linville Gorge you will find a 6,812 acre lake with more than 150 miles of shoreline.. Length 11.0 miElevation gain 3,188 ftRoute type Out & back. 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. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. 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. I have thru-hiked it, speed hiked it and section hiked it. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. The Foothills Trail is a dream for section hikers. The FTC could improve their map by adding to it some trails that intersect or at least some labels/notes regarding the other trails. 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. The trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding. 24 miles backpacking. 54.36.118.98 Hard 4.4 (195) Pisgah National Forest. We took our time breaking camp and were on the trail by 11am. Summer heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time winter temperatures typically sink into the 20s. We would maintain about a 2.5 mile per hour pace for the day. PARKING (Laurel Valley Parking Area) - From the intersection of US 178 and SC 11, drive north on US 178 to the bridge over Eastatoe Creek (approximately one mile past the community of Rocky Bottom). The group will go by boat to Laurel Fork and hike the Foothills Trail to Canebrake, a distance of about 5.8 miles. Happy hiking! It was a great trip. There are also ten other easy access points between the two termini for non-thru-hikers. 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. Lots of inclines and declines so pack light! We really enjoyed the short hike to Hidden Falls. 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. Along the sandy banks of the Chattooga River and just above Laurel Fork Falls are two of many excellent camping spots on the trail. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. Overall, we hiked around 6 miles to and from. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Hikers who travel westbound from Table Rock State Park face the challenge of 3,553-foot Sassafras Mountain, the high point of South Carolina, right out of the gate, while those who start at Oconee State Park get a much gentler introduction to the trail along the banks of the Chattooga. Day 3 we hiked approximately 10 miles and camped at Whitewater campsite. 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. Did the 5 day plan. . It was very strenuous and not for the out-of-shape. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. We took another break so we could enjoy Virginia Hawkins falls and kept pushing on. Will Hike this in a few weeks. There I set up camp. It was an evening of mixed emotion for me. We arrived at camp by 3:30 and explored the Cliffs and the Lighthouse. It got our heart rates elevated but it failed to break us! But theres more to love about this trail than the wilderness it passes through. Another great waterfall and we got to see a wild turkey, actually flying which was rare. Thank you to Heyword Douglass, Executive Director of the Foothills Conference, for your encouraging emails and photographs! The heat and humidity can be intense from mid-May through September. The Foothills Trail, though steep in places, is not especially rugged, so trail runners are more than adequate. Its unfair to reduce the Foothills Trail to a warm-up for the Appalachian Trail. 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. We started with two short sections to Chimney Gap and then to Sassafras. We planned on hiking to Drawbar Cliffs and making camp there so we would only have a 5 mile hike on our final day. 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. The hiker is treated to their first of many waterfalls at mile 8.2 at Lick Log Creek. Oconee State Park is about two hours from both cities. PO Box 3041 There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. What an experience! In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. This alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections. 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. We parked the truck at a red gate and began hiking down the service road. Elevation is 3,165, Mail me We wanted to be moving by 8am so we could avoid the crowds in table Rock state park and be home with the families by early afternoon. The Bartram Trail can be found (somewhere, I havent done it yet) on the other side of the Chattooga crossing the road bridge just up stream of the Burrells Ford campground, which leads to the AT in the Wayah Bald area. 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. 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. Day 1 we hiked to Laurel Fork Falls campsite. 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. Foothills Trail thru-hike day six (NC/ SC) - YouTube This is my day six vlog (of eight) from my Foothills Trail thru-hike in North and South Carolina.