For the first time ever, I was taking that left. But how do you pass up taking in that view?!?!! I didn’t quite realize this was going to involve 600 vertical feet on a series of rocks, steps, and switchbacks, but it’s cool. Avg: 6mi. Highlights: Fall colours: I hiked the Foothills Trail in early November, 2011. I do a lot of traveling alone. 8%. Loop. If a vehicle is left in the parking area, a parking fee is required at Oconee and Table Rock State Parks when hiking/backpacking on the Foothills Trail. And Taz. I wanted a shower and a cheeseburger and my feet were about to fall off and somehow I was still a little sad packing up. I told myself that tomorrow is my last day and every step I take today is one I don’t need to take tomorrow. The Foothills Trail. For some reason, the Foothills Trail people don’t tell you where the good camping spots are online. But you better believe I’m in contact with home when I can be. Type. Yes, even from overseas. And between Table Rock and Whitewater, they’re even marked with the site before it and after it, with mileage, and most have fire rings, benches, and bear cables for your food. Otherwise, there are several campsites around the Virginia Hawkins Falls. Nearby Pickens, South … It doesn’t matter how far I have to go. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. This is part one of three. The 77-mile Foothills Trail straddles the North Carolina and South Carolina border for much of its trek through the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment. Overview of the Foothills Trail The Foothills National Recreation Trail extends 77 miles from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park along the South Carolina/ North Carolina border. The second, much more impressive, crosses the Toxaway River. Scott Lynch’s “Hiking South Carolina’s Foothills Trail” and the Foothills Trail Conservancy’s guidebook are two excellent resources for planning a hike. The trail turns west to meet the Chatooga after crossing SC 107. 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. Put the phone away!! You’re getting up 3 times to go to the bathroom tonight. It was an easy stream crossing and the falls are incredible. It’s such a beautiful view; I just can’t understand the people who rush past me while I’m sitting there eating my M&Ms. Stretch out the approach by walking 9.1 miles on the Foothills Trail from Table Rock State Park to the summit. Lots of dead and newly downed timber thru this area. Oh well. The Foothills Trail is a 76-mile (122 km) National Recreation Trail trail in South and North Carolina, United States, for recreational hiking and backpacking. This is where it felt real. We spent 3 nights along the trail. I made it. I began at the southern terminus, Oconee State Park in Mountains Rest, South Carolina. Lady Bug Trail Hike along the South Fork of the Kaweah in the upper foothills (moderately steep). To an extent. It is often overlooked in favor of big mountain hikes, but the Foothills Trail makes up for lack of majestic views and elevation by being a true back country experience, where you … 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. Hike your own hike. I spent my evening with my feet in the creek. I had visions of it raining all the next day and I convinced myself I’d be better off hiking than sitting and freaking out about weather that I can’t control. This is a campground made near an old homesite on Sassafras Mountain. Day 9 - 9 Miles - From Laurel Valley Camp To Cantrell Camp - A bit chilly this morning, around 40 and cloudy. “THRU HIKER MAGIC. The Foothills Trail is well marked and easy to follow from start to finish. Last day. You’re basically driving to Spartanburg, then spending another hour on some South Carolina rural highways. I could do without the blisters, but I quite enjoyed the rest of it. What was I rushing for? I agree. Foothills Trail Hike Info. Scott Lynch’s “Hiking South Carolina’s Foothills Trail” and the Foothills Trail Conservancy’s guidebook are two excellent resources for planning a hike. And maybe rightfully so. For some reason, the Foothills Trail people don’t tell you where the good camping spots are online. Well, guess what, when you’ve been walking 5 days and your feet are 60% blisters nothing is easy. It passes through four states and consists of a combination of the Foothills, Bartram and Benton Mackaye trails, along with the Smokies section of Read More … 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. This trail and its spurs link Oconee, Table Rock, Caesars Head and Jones Gap state parks along with DNR-owned Laurel Fork Heritage Preserve and Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve. I’d hear Sherpas muttering “om mani padme hum” to themselves with each step up the mountains. This was more of a mental challenge for me than a physical one. For more information, visit the Foothills Park Towle Campground page or call 650-329-2423. I got up to Bald Knob in what was likely record time for me—I was so excited I basically ran up there. It is only 0.1 mile to the main observation area, but you need to h up a lot of small wooden steps - I would say close to a hundred. Between the two bridges another trail joins the Foothills Trail from the right. Ascent. Trail Facts. It’s a competition with myself. So my feet are starting to hurt more, but I am determined to make it to Rock Creek in Gorges State Park so I can do heartbreak ridge first thing in the morning. The trail begins at South Fork Campground. You’d think I’d like running for the same reasons, but no. I’m still on pace finish in 5 days at this point, and I got to the Thompson River. You’re in nature!! So when I’m in the middle of the forest by myself for a week, I want to be able to tell someone “I’m currently here, I plan on being here tonight, and I plan on finishing on this day.” I don’t check Facebook, I don’t check Instagram, I don’t read any news. This is a paved trail that stretches for 21 miles between eastern Puyallup and the White River in the town of Buckley. I decided to just go as far as I could. Gorgeous. Followed Or was the climb breathtaking? I said, “hello” and one jokingly asked, “you come from Table Rock?” Actually, yes. Day two. 76.2 miles. About the Trail. OK, maybe “high country” is a stretch. I didn’t get wet at all. I got to this bridge, my feet are on fire, and I just wanted to sit and…listen. Join the 55,778 smart Charlotteans that receive our daily newsletter. South Fork Campground. This expedition lengthens the 76 mile trail to over 120 miles. In the end, we only ended up hiking about 48 miles of… How easy is it to find campsites? 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. This campground that’s “a mile outside the corridor”…bullshit. I stayed at Bearcamp Creek on night number 3. You can buy a mapahead of time, or wait until you get there and scout one out. Either way, I sat there and caught my breath for a while. If you’re a monster, you could double back and finish this as a 22-mile day hike. ;). Except the first part, 3 miles down to US 178. Crossed Horsepasture River and many smaller streams. There’s no camping in the Whitewater area, so it’s either camp here or get through the whitewater corridor to the next campground. To make a reservation for camping, use the city's online reservation system. I’d never heard of the Thompson River, I had no expectations for it—it was just another place to pace how far I’ve gone. 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. It’s straight up luxurious primitive camping. Thank you. Might as well, right? FOOTHILLS TRAIL MAP SOUTH CAROLINA 75 miles. Celebrating 46 Years of the Foothills Trail Over 2,481 volunteer hours in 2020 Planning a hike? Finding a place to sleep isn’t a big deal. Hiking along the river, taking mental notes of places to camp next time. I got irrationally angry at a sign that said “Oconee State Park, 2 miles” on it. 18 Trip Reports for this trail, below Hike by WTA Staff: Charlie Wakenshaw. Relax. The Foothills Trail proper ends at Table Rock State Park, about ten miles from Sassafras Mountain. Total mileage for these hikes will be 113+ miles. I did. This trail profile appeared originally in The Trek.. We descended the 800 feet of Sassafras mountain to climb right back up Pinnacle Mountain to 3200 feet. Easy. Camping. Never a single problem. Day three, I wake up early, pack up camp, wrap my feet in duct tape, and mentally prepare myself for heartbreak ridge. This is a campground made near an old homesite on Sassafras Mountain. While I’m gone I’m in contact with my husband every single day. I was going to do it. I made it. Foothills Trail: Whitewater River is a 4.7 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Sapphire, North Carolina that features a lake and is rated as moderate. If a vehicle is left in the parking area, a parking fee is required at Oconee and Table Rock State Parks when hiking/backpacking on the Foothills Trail. A spur trail connects it to Caesars Head State Park. It passes through the Andrew Pickens Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest, Ellicott Rock Wilderness, Whitewater Falls, and Lake Jocassee. Otherwise, there are several campsites around the Virginia Hawkins Falls. Hiked up to Sassafras, and continued on to Chimneytop Gap where I set up camp. Garfield Grove Trail Suddenly I see a truck go by and the road is a lot closer than I realized. The Foothills Trail Conservancy publishes a map and guidebook that divides the trail up into 14 shorter segments, and shows access points (trailheads). I slept right through it and all that was left in the morning was a beautiful fog. 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. You’re hiking! One particularly good one you can ready by way of the Eastatoe Gorge Spur Trail. I am a strong tomato. Oconee State Park- Day 1 - 3.90 Miles - From Oconee State Park To Foothills Trail ___ first camp site - Six hour travel to Bad Creek access on Duke Energy property at 31.9 mile marker for the FHT. See more ideas about hiking, camping, camping backpack. And between these “named” campsites are plenty of unnamed little makeshift sites. Am. You'll pass 400-foot cliffs, the highest waterfall drop in the East, and the wild Chattooga River (where Deliverance was filmed).-Mapped by Shannon Davis. The Foothills Trail is a 76-mile National Recreation Trail in South and North Carolina, for hiking and backpacking. It tops out at 3,563 feet — roughly half as tall as Mount Mitchell. Two people are having a lazy morning and they couldn’t have been nicer. PARKING. You guys, this tomato got to just before Burrells Ford and found a bag hanging on the sign with a cooler on the ground with a note on it. I headed west on the trail toward Laurel Valley. If you want to train for an upcoming AT attempt, keep the principle of specificity in mind and try a training hike on the Foothills Trail. I’ll go spend a week in the woods or a couple months in Asia and I’ll leave my husband at home. I love these encounters. I’m not even complaining. How do I know where they are? Part 1 of our Backpacking Trip along the Foothills Trail in SC and NC. And why shouldn’t I?! The campground is near the Kaweah River, 20 minutes from the Foothills Visitor Center and 40 minutes from the Giant Forest. If you’re not sure if you really want to hike the AT, consider the Foothills Trail as a test. The Port Angeles Washington Foothills is a local trail, too short or interesting to be a destination ride, but worth checking out if camping in the area. If you complete the 77 miles of the main trail you are eligible for the really nice Peregrine Patch. Every sign up until now has said “Oconee State Park” and it didn’t bother me, but this one did. Camping: Towle Camp is a seasonal campground available for tent camping from May 1 to October 31. I continued up and there it was. The trail crosses the creek on a slanted wooden footbridge. The first one is a small span that crosses the Toxaway Creek. Trail Map New! Quite a few good looking isolated camping spots the further down you go with swimming and fishing points all down the river. Luckily, there are plenty of established campsites along this stretch of trail, with water access and fire rings. Three miles later, you’ll hit a much bigger waterfall — the Laurel Fork Falls. It runs from Table Rock State park to Oconee State Park. Enjoy! Everything I read was like “haha, don’t even worry about it” and that annoyed me. It was a different sign and I think part of me couldn’t believe it was only 2 miles to the end, so it must mean park boundary? The wind picked up considerably and these are really not my favorite conditions for being on top of a mountain. It wasn’t that bad! I will never find the words to describe how amazing this was. One blister is now a few blisters. Every time I hike up Pinnacle I make sure I have time to sit on Bald Knob for a while. But there are still plenty of waterfalls, gorges and steep trails to explore. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. For sure. Before heading out on your Foothills Trail adventure it is VERY IMPORTANT to Pay the Parking & Entrance Fees at the State Parks and U.S. Forest Service parking area at Whitewater Falls.. Like I said…irrational. I think the camping was my biggest concern before leaving. I’m unplugging for a bit. I tried living zero-waste in Charlotte — and was wildly unsuccessful, 2020 Rankings: The 20 best restaurants in Charlotte, right now, The 21 best chicken sandwiches in Charlotte, 11 best new restaurants in Charlotte, right now, What’s your ‘1 big thing’ for 2021? The second, much more impressive, crosses the Toxaway River. Left at 0745 and reached Toxaway camp at 1500. Still, it offers some pretty nice views. I nearly cried. The trail was very easy to follow and connects up with the foothills trail at a point. I’d recommend starting at Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. This is not its official name. The climbing up and down and up and down is starting to get to me. breathtaking. TH:2150' Avg Ascent:1850' Ascent Incline. Along the way it parallels the Carbon River for a stretch just east of Orting. Honestly, looking back, I would do this whole thing in like 10 days and take my sweet time. For some reason, the Foothills Trail people don’t tell you where the good camping spots are online. Keowee-Toxaway A hike on the Raven Rock Trail to sites along the scenic shoreline of Lake Keowee at Keowee-Toxaway will be rewarding for anyone ready for a true, rugged backcountry camping and hiking experience. Well, is it 2 miles to the park boundary? You can buy a map ahead of time, or wait until you get there and scout one out. Luckily, there are plenty of established campsites along this stretch of trail, with water access and fire rings. Foothills Trail . Tomato.”  It’s become my hiking mantra. Description: Perhaps no other trail in South Carolina provides such an extraordinary backcountry experience as the difficult, Foothills Trail in the northwest corner of the state. This is a paved trail that stretches for 21 miles between eastern Puyallup and the White River in the town of Buckley. As much as I like to joke otherwise, I know he can take care of himself and he’s just fine when I leave, but I’m more calm knowing everything is okay at home and I feel safer when someone knows where I am. EASY. The trail for today was rated easy most of the way. Foothills Trail: Whitewater River - North Carolina | AllTrails And there were two guys up there, one of them on his phone. But I'll eventually forget that my left arm is covered in bruises or that my feet hurt so bad right now that I haven't moved from the couch all day…because it’s so worth it. From the campground, cross the river via a footbridge to find the trailhead. Everyone who tells you it’s easy after Whitewater to Oconee is a dirty liar. But the full moon shining so brightly on the racing water somehow made it okay. The Foothills Trail Conservancy’s website is a great resource for finding up-to-date trail conditions, but pay careful attention to weather patterns before your hike. There’s a spur trail that’s more direct, but I didn’t know and it doesn’t matter because that’s cheating and I’m doing the foothills. FOOTHILLS TRAIL MAP SOUTH CAROLINA 75 miles. Think of the trail as a “short” 100-Mile Wilderness. We descended the 800 feet of Sassafras mountain to climb right back up Pinnacle Mountain to 3200 feet. I don’t care. Primitive camping opportunities are available at Jones Gap and Caesars Head state parks and along the 80-mile Foothills Trail, which intersects the interior of the Jocassee Gorges tract. As soon as they reopen the parking area, that’s the first hike I’m doing. I dropped my bag and immediately checked if I had signal too. This also meant I wasn’t going to have time to do the Lower Whitewater spur trail and I was sooooo sad about that. I’ve worn these shoes on a million hikes. Foothills Trail - A4 to A8 is a 30.4 mile point-to-point trail located near Sunset, South Carolina that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. I laid in my hammock and just listened to the birds turn over the show to the owls and crickets and eventually drifted off to sleep. This is the campsite along the Eastatoe River. You are going to have to check the Foothills Tr Guidebook to make sure I have this correct as I don't have current access to the Foothills Tr Guidebook/Trail Description or Foothills Tr map, but yes there is a good flat campsite near, I believe, what is called Hickorynut Gap about 8 miles in from the Table Rock SP Foothills TH going from east to west. Lynch’s book has some itineraries for 5, 6, and 7 day thru-hikes and for all of them they end day 1 at the Cantrell homesite campground. In my researching the trail I really liked reading others experiences, so I figured I should throw mine out there too. I considered stopping and checking my book and decided that was a complete waste of time. The Foothills is a great trail and if anyone lives in the area and plans on doing the AT, it is great preparation for a thru-hike. It’s what hikers call it because it’s, well, heartbreaking. 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