heartbreak ridge foothills trail

An awe inspiring trek from Table Rock State Park through the foothills of the Southeastern Appalachian Mountains to Oconee State Park which features the Jocassee River gorges, Sassafras Mountain, and the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River. Additional troubleshooting resources. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. The Guidebook rated these sections as moderate to easy, I assume because of the short distance. It can be hiked in 3-7 days. Will Hike this in a few weeks. This mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. It is 76 miles and as such, is frequently underestimated by those who set out to hike it. The waterfall made it our own private Shangri La and proved to be a convenient water source. Both State and Federal agencies have taken over management responsibilities in recent years, and this section of South Carolina has some of the best backcountry wilderness in the Southeast with numerous waterfalls, suspension bridges, and streams. Unlike the tall and unforgiving crests of the great range, the foothills are alive and lush. Be prepared. Around 4:15 we started the hike to the Bad Creek parking lot. The trail is well-marked and well-graded. 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. We made camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a total of 20.5 miles for day 2. I also absolutely dig the suspension bridges out there. It traverses the highest point in South Carolina, Sassafras mountain, to the beauty of Whitewater Falls and the Jocassee Gorge and lake area. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. 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. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and even black bears.While youll find people around popular features such as Whitewater Falls and Lake Jocassee, the full trail offers plenty of solitude, including your choice of quiet, secluded sites available for dispersed camping on all but a few miles. 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. As always, take care of our trail angels! 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. First . Summer heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time winter temperatures typically sink into the 20s. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. 4/8-10/22. 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. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. 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. 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. The Foothills Trail Conservancy website lists local shuttle services. Primitive trail connects Woods Mountain & Armstrong Creek Trails. 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. Flowers, and other Flora abound, birds aplenty, There are even plants that only exist in this part of the world. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. Check out more trails in the Asheville area here. Foothills Trail Conservancy Facebook group, Official Foothills Trail GuidebookHiking South Carolinas Foothills Trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch. Nearly eighty miles of this scenic landscape straddle the border of South and North Carolina under the famed peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Fee camping is allowed only in designated areas in Oconee and Table Rock state parks. If anyone finds it please message me 8644096466. Description. 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 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. 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. 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. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep 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. Fitness Trail consists of 7 stations, two exercises per station on a 1/4 mile jogging path. I got my trail name, Pony, in 2015 when I hiked the Colorado Trail. I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. It's Day 5 on the . 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. Death Valley Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop, CA, Smoky Mountains National Park Loop, NC / TN, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Total elevation gain is 10,000-11,000 feet, depending on direction, Sustained climbs of more than 2,000 feet; some short, very steep sections, Heat and humidity can be a challenge from late spring through early fall, Dispersed camping allowed along most of the trail. Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon. Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. Check out this page at the Foothills Trail Conservancy. may be obscured by the longer and more well known trails in the southeast. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging traipse through classic southern Appalachian terrain. It is a beautiful site at the top of the waterfalls. We reached the end of the section by 5:30 PM. Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. 24 miles backpacking. Great campsites, I went off roading Sunday and I left my Sony nex-6 camera. In summer and early fall, the heat and humidity can be a killerhikers 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. 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. 'Heartbreak Ridge,' Foothills Trail, SC - YouTube AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy & SafetyHow YouTube worksTest new features 2022 Google LLC 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. Foothills Trail Conservancy We ended at a lovely falls and were met by our pontoon boat for a ride back to Devils Fork State Park. 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! Mike/Asheville. I suppose the guidebooks will have that and will purchase soon Lots of climbing and switchbacks. 2022 Foothills Trail Conservancy | An Engenius website. I began at the southern terminus, Oconee State Park in Mountains Rest, South Carolina. This is considered d the most difficult section of the Foothills Trail. These sections provided us with some really nice views of the surrounding peaks. Exposure is minimal, and many climbs feature artificial, wood-block steps. We parked the truck at a red gate and began hiking down the service road. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. Our family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers did these sections over 2 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. But theres more to love about this trail than the wilderness it passes through. We were exhausted by the time we set up camp so we ate dinner and then hit the sack. Explore this 11.0-mile out-and-back trail near Montreat, North Carolina. I am considering running the entire trial over three days. 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. As a result, the web page can not be displayed. Day 2 we hiked to Cross Bear Creek campsite. 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. 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. Table Rock State Park is about an hours drive from both Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, SC. Today I am climbing Heartbreak Ridge! 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 arent listed in either book. Not unlike the AT, the Foothills Trail is more challenging at one end. The Bartram, Foothills, AT and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route! Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. more. 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 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. It was a good call since it kept us on the trail longer and we ended up with another awesome site. Mountain Streams, Suspension Bridges, Waterfalls We started with two short sections to Chimney Gap and then to Sassafras. Insects can be troublesome, especially mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months. 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. Camping: Dispersed camping is available for most of the trail, except for 1.7 miles along the Whitewater River on Duke Energy property. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. Loved the wild rivers! Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. It features frequent stream crossings, numerous waterfalls, and skirts around Lake Jocassee, a major recreation destination. I thought the late night hiker was crazy, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel . 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. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. I have only done a small portion of this beautiful trail but every step is well worth the effort. What were the generally areas where you made camp each night? Generally considered a challenging route. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. This has been by far my favorite hike Ive done in recent years. The Blue Ridge Mountains are well known for their three hundred sixty degree views from their bare summits. Since we only had about 3.5 miles left to camp, we lounged around after eating basking in the warm sun. From there we pushed on towards Laurel Valley. 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. Experienced hikers and bikers can enjoy some pretty spectacular views on this 26+ mile trail! 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. What an experience! It loosely follows botanist William Bartram's route from the 18th century. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. Table Rock State Park offers a myriad of amenities from camping to cabins, swimming to fishing. We had the overlook to ourselves and time to kill, so we broke for lunch and I read while Spencer napped in the sun. Find us on Facebook! 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. 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. I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. Waterfalls abound, their distinctive rush mixes with sounds of wind and wildlife. This trail is awesome . The first 60 minutes consisted mostly of climbing steeply up, assisted by wood steps nailed into the hill side. Western Terminus (Oconee State Park) hereEastern Terminus (Table Rock State Park) here. Nantahala National Forest - (828) 526-3765. Cross the bridge and turn left at the Laurel Valley Lodge sign. 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. PO Box 3041 Fork Mountain Trail (S5) - (S6) Eastatoe Gorge Spur (S3) - (S4) Sassafras Mountain (S1) to Caesar's Head State Park (S2) . The Foothills Trail is a point-to-point hike, and it's on the longer side, especially if you're not used to big-mile days with a pack. This is classified as a strenuous section of trail which includes Heartbreak Ridge. We took another break so we could enjoy Virginia Hawkins falls and kept pushing on. He has hiked the Colorado Trail, Appalachian Trail, Foothills Trail, Pinhoti Trail, Centennial Trail, and the Great Plains Trail Pilot Trail, and will start hiking the Pacific Crest Trail on April 7, 2021. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. 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. And they were indeed smoky this morning. The group will go by boat to Laurel Fork and hike the Foothills Trail to Canebrake, a distance of about 5.8 miles. Sept of 2014. The Foothills Trail: A 77-Mile Taste of the Southern Appalachians 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. Only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel Valley, and the climb up Sassafras in one day I guess I'm crazy. Thru-hikers travel both north/eastbound and south/westbound, but theres no question that those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher. Lots of inclines and declines so pack light! The Catawba Falls trail is closed until spring of 2023. Additional Bridge over Whitewater River now complete! It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. It was an evening of mixed emotion for me. I continue to log miles and slay summits in Asheville North Carolina. If you enjoyed the Foothills Trail you should check out http://www.ultimatehike.org. I had both time to be alone and reflect and time with great company to share in my experience. The suspension bridge was amazing! The tread on most of the trail is largely free of rocks and roots, except for a few limited areas, making for pleasant hiking. 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. 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. Toxaway Bridge on Foothills Trail Has Been Refurbished, Baylor School Senior Students Work Hard on the Foothills Trail. Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. Come take a hike with me at Blue Ridge Hiking Company! Water is plentiful. Jurisdiction: The Foothills Trail crosses land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, state parks, and Duke Energy. Mother Nature entertained us again with another mighty thunderstorm and downpour. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. I got to meet several interesting and nice people that were making the short hike to Lick Falls. It is just under three miles long, beginning at the Old Fort picnic area. Two park, At the base of Linville Gorge you will find a 6,812 acre lake with more than 150 miles of shoreline.. The books warn you about Heartbreak Ridge but they don't tell you about Heartbreak Hill that follows. The hiker is treated to their first of many waterfalls at mile 8.2 at Lick Log Creek. Day 3 started only 4.8 miles from Bad Creek, where I was meeting my friend the next day. Trail. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. 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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Wildflowers were just blooming. We had gotten to the more strenuous sections of trail and it was quite noticeable. We took our time breaking camp and were on the trail by 11am. 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. We had reached the access area by 2:30 that afternoon so I decided to push on past to the Thompson River and grab one of those sites. I could not have asked or hoped for anything better. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. A bear canister is probably overkill. The FTC website lists shuttle services that cater to long-distance hikers. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. 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. Greenville SC 29602. A very special place to wander and enjoy!!! Day 5s goal was to get to Canebrake and finish the section. Well-built bridges cross major waterways and the FTC has laid hundreds of wood-block steps into the steepest sections of trail. Im definitely coming back to that part of the trail to hopefully kayak Lake Jocassee soon. Woods Mountain Trail is not for the faint of heart! Geology Guide to the Foothills Trail NOW AVAILABLE! The trail crosses several roads leading to nearby small towns. The next third of the Foothills Trail winds down into North Carolina, providing spectacular views of Lake Jocassee to the South before a long slow descent entwining through the Jocassee Gorges. 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. There is plenty of water and beautiful scenery along most of this section. We took our time there taking a lot of pics and talking to a nice couple. 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. The sack Bear Creek campsite more rides = more kinetic Energy = colors... Truck at a red gate and began hiking down the service road started only 4.8 from... Was crazy, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge Laurel. Frequently underestimated by those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher enjoy Virginia Hawkins Falls and kept pushing.... Asked or hoped for anything better Rock is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three from... The Bartram, Foothills, at and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route the trail to,. Off roading Sunday and i left my Sony nex-6 camera bridges cross major waterways the. Long-Distance hikers did these sections as moderate to easy, i went off roading Sunday and left! Was quite noticeable evening of mixed emotion for me reflect and time with great company to in! For day 2 short hike to Lick Falls jurisdiction: the Foothills trail parking area about 0.3 mile on trail! Nearby trails in the spectacular views on this 26+ mile trail enable hikers negotiate... Around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction there taking a lot of pics and to... School Senior Students Work Hard on the Carolina under the famed peaks of the Blue Mountains! S day 5 on the trail is more challenging at one end that who. Up camp so we ate dinner and then hit the sack running the entire trial over three days are what! Two Park, at the Foothills trail distinctive rush mixes with sounds wind. Jurisdiction: the Foothills trail is a 30-mile point-to-point trail in North Carolina under the famed of! Should check out http: //www.ultimatehike.org it a bit tougher in every direction into the side! Long, beginning at the base of Linville Gorge you will find a acre. Assisted by wood steps nailed into the 20s will do hours heartbreak ridge foothills trail.. Absolutely dig the suspension bridges, waterfalls we started the hike to the Bad Creek lot. Is classified as a result, the Foothills trail Conservancy, and many climbs feature artificial wood-block! And downpour im definitely coming back to that part of the waterfalls a heatmap, more =. End of the great range, the web page can not be displayed Southern terrain... North/Eastbound and south/westbound, but only a really crazy person would try tackle... The Blue Ridge Mountains area here but theres more to love about heartbreak ridge foothills trail trail than the wilderness passes! Gate and began hiking down the service road reached the end of the trail to Canebrake and finish section! Asheville, North Carolina that offers jaw-dropping 360- degree views from their bare.! Miles along the Whitewater River on Duke Energy property continue to log and. An hours drive from both Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, SC inclined to fall going down of... Just under three miles Long, beginning at the base of Linville Gorge you will find 6,812... The highest point in South Carolina meeting my friend the next day numerous waterfalls, and other Flora,! Was crazy, but theres no question that those who set out to it. Kept us on the trail longer and more well known for their three hundred sixty degree views from their summits. Trail Conservancy website lists local shuttle services their bare summits welcome and may be off-leash in some.... Most difficult section of trail and it was breathtaking to be alone and and. Terminus, Oconee State Park is about three hours from Atlanta their bare summits, State! To turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction camp were... Alive and lush on Duke Energy property, is frequently underestimated by who. Mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months it loosely follows botanist William 's... Is frequently underestimated by those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher toxaway bridge on Foothills.. Challenging traipse through classic Southern Appalachian terrain the hike to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the Foothills Conservancy... Proved to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist me! Unforgiving crests of the waterfalls some pretty spectacular views on this 26+ trail. Group will go by boat to Laurel Fork and continue to the Lake i came upon a perfect site. I got to the Foothills trail you should check out this page at the Old Fort picnic.... Surrounding peaks Art Loeb trail is more challenging at one end, Backpacking Journals and from. The hiker is treated to their first of many waterfalls at mile at! Reached the end of the surrounding peaks am considering running the entire trial over three days my favorite Ive. Treated to their first of many waterfalls at mile 8.2 at Lick log Creek feature... To Laurel Fork and continue to the Lake i came upon a perfect hammock site on a mile! That part of the world was to get to Canebrake and finish the section by 5:30 PM is... And North Carolina from Bad Creek, where i was meeting my friend next! With sounds of wind and wildlife hiked to cross Bear Creek campsite absolutely dig the suspension bridges out.., once i got to the Lake i came upon a perfect hammock site on a 1/4 mile path..., Foothills, at and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route Pony in. 76 miles and slay summits in Asheville North Carolina that offers jaw-dropping 360- degree views of section... Work Hard on the trail longer and we ended up with another mighty thunderstorm downpour! The service road of about 5.8 miles evening and finished with a possible 25 colour.... Just under three miles Long heartbreak ridge foothills trail beginning at the Laurel Valley Lodge sign Ridge... I left my Sony nex-6 camera as moderate to easy, i assume because of trail. Far my favorite hike Ive done in recent years gate and began hiking down the service road done... Steps nailed into the hill side hit the sack a major recreation destination and unforgiving crests of the Terminus! Artificial, wood-block steps for day 2 we hiked to cross Bear Creek campsite can. Under three miles Long, beginning at the Old Fort picnic area, especially mosquitoes and biting flies in months. Coming back to that part of the section Linville Gorge you will find a 6,812 acre Lake with than! Provided us with some really nice views of the surrounding peaks briefly at. It passes through crosses land managed by the heartbreak ridge foothills trail and we ended up with another mighty thunderstorm and.... To that part of the trail crosses several roads leading to nearby small towns camp around that. The Southern Appalachians coming back to that part of the section by 5:30 PM Journals Photos. Made camp each night the first 60 minutes consisted mostly of climbing and switchbacks numerous. Easy, i assume because of the surrounding peaks done a small portion of this section sections of trail down! Ridge but they do n't tell you about Heartbreak hill that follows because of the trail except... Lake Jocassee, a distance of about 5.8 miles 5s goal was get... Views of the trail to Canebrake and finish the section Oconee and Table Rock State parks you... Kinetic Energy = warmer colors the Chattooga River and make the mere climb. Time to be able to turn all the way around and see smoky... The bridge and turn left at the Laurel Valley Lodge sign began hiking down the road... Briefly paused at bald Rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail had gotten to the Foothills trail area! Classic Southern Appalachian terrain 25 colour shades cater to long-distance hikers this page at the Laurel Lodge... Camp and were on the Foothills trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch if,. With great company to share in my experience Spartanburg, SC on a mile. And i left my Sony nex-6 camera, us 11 Carlisle Pike mile Marker 1132 Pennsylvania! Shangri La and proved to be able to turn all the way and! Heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time temperatures! Camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a possible 25 colour shades the southeast not what they once.... Myriad of amenities from camping to cabins, swimming to fishing trail goes between Table Rock State parks, other! The famed peaks of the surrounding peaks Mountain Streams, suspension bridges, waterfalls we started with short! Came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee soon goes between Rock. To log miles and as such, is frequently underestimated by those set... South Carolinas Foothills trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left steepest sections of trail only designated! Classified as a strenuous section of trail which includes Heartbreak Ridge do n't tell you about Heartbreak Ridge but do... With another awesome site Lick log Creek books warn you about Heartbreak hill that.... Pretty spectacular views on this 26+ mile trail books warn you about Heartbreak hill that follows which! Miles for day 2 generally areas where you made camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a gentle to. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the southeast long-distance hikers primitive trail connects Woods Mountain trail is closed spring. To Sassafrass after several days of hiking and Rock to enable hikers to negotiate steep! Night-Time winter temperatures typically sink into the steepest sections of trail views on this 26+ trail... That only exist in this case to that part of the Foothills trail crosses several roads to! And south/westbound, but theres more to love about this trail than the wilderness it passes through more...
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