heartbreak ridge foothills trail

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. 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. Experience this 30.4-mile point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. The part we loved most about the trail was how desolate it was. The Blue Ridge Mountains are well known for their three hundred sixty degree views from their bare summits. 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). We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. Cars can be left at both state parks. Hikers can expect to find blue line trout waters, suspension bridges, wildflowers, and star-filled nights from peaceful campsites which are numerous enough to . Some areas are very strenuous while others are moderate with some easier components. Beginning at mile 50 the trail slowly gains elevation, passing Laurel Falls (54.30) and Virginia Hawkins Falls (57.3) on the way up. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. Lots of inclines and declines so pack light! Ill have to download some gps coordinates for my favorites. Very well maintained trail. Perhaps it was because we were hiking West to East, but it turned out to be not nearly as bad as we were expecting. Whitewater falls is breathtaking, and the climb out will leave you breathless! The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. Turn right into the parking area and pay your nominal parking fee. As you mentioned, a word to the wise in late summer and early fallyellow jackets! More. copy Did the 5 day plan. There plenty of beautiful campsites all along the trial. There were plenty of views and beautiful streams and waterfalls this time of year. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. And they were indeed smoky this morning. The Foothills Trail, though steep in places, is not especially rugged, so trail runners are more than adequate. Apr 25, 2020 at 8:30 AM . instead, 91 South Catawba Avenue, Old Fort, I am very proud to have accomplished this feat and Im already looking forward to my next journey along the trail. Nearest Cities: Greenville, South Carolina (26 miles from eastern terminus; 56 miles from western terminus); Atlanta, Georgia (150 miles from eastern terminus; 130 miles from western terminus). Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. 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 Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging traipse through classic southern Appalachian terrain. 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. It got our heart rates elevated but it failed to break us! Well maintained trail. We camped at the site right next to the Laurel Valley parking lot. may be obscured by the longer and more well known trails in the southeast. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. This alleviates the headache of spotting cars or finding rides back to original trailheads after completing sections. Some shuttle drivers also will do food drops for a fee. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. The trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding. Great camping areas. 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. A footbridge across the Horsepasture River on the Foothills Trail. You do need to watch for bears and bees, although the bees seem very tame. I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. The Trail joins the Chattooga River Trail at mile 10.6 and winds along the Chattooga Rivers sandy beaches for miles. Another great waterfall and we got to see a wild turkey, actually flying which was rare. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around South Carolina. My most recent books are "Bones of My Grandfather: Reclaiming a Lost Hero of World War II," "The Trail is the Teacher: Living and Learning on the Appalachian Trail," and "I See by Your Outfit: An Unexpected Cowboy Odyssey.". 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. So it requires some advance planning. People love campfires. The heat and humidity can be intense from mid-May through September. For those planning to take their time, some local shuttle drivers offer food drops for a fee. There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. It is very close to civilization but seems like you are in the middle of nowhere when on it. Trail is well maintained - thanks. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. Bears frequent these mountain areas, so its important to bring and adequately hang a bear bag, or use an Ursack setup. 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. Water is plentiful. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. Additional one mile loop, "Last of the Mohicans" and "Hunt for Red October" were filmed along the shores of this picturesque lake. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but dont let that fool you. This middle section of trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. 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. It is my favorite trail for many of the reasons you noted. At mile 28.9 there is a side trail to Whitewater Falls, at mile 30.1 Corbin Creek Falls, a small waterfall at mile 35.5 and a blue blaze to Hillard Falls at mile marker 36.5. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon. Generally considered a challenging route. A group of 3 moms and 3 girls did these 32.6 miles over 4 days. Clay Bonnyman Evans is a freelance writer living in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and his hometown, Boulder, Colorado. If you enjoyed the Foothills Trail you should check out http://www.ultimatehike.org. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 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 started my hike on Sunday February 16th from Oconee State Park. Location: The trail runs slightly northeast-southwest in far western South Carolina, with several crossings into North Carolina. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. I got to meet several interesting and nice people that were making the short hike to Lick Falls. Day 5s goal was to get to Canebrake and finish the section. I was very impressed by the size and power of this waterfall! Length: 76.2 miles (the Foothills Trail Conservancy rounds this off to 77 miles). Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. 0. NC 226-A to Armstrong Fish Hatchery Rd.. 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. What a great way to fall asleep, as the rain pattered against my tarp and the thunder boomed and lightning lit up the evening sky! A rat snake, coiled alongside the Foothills Trail. We finished with 13.2 hard miles for the day and ate dinner then took our aching feet to bed. Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. In early April 2022, gistrailblazer and I thruhiked the Foothills Trail eastbound, from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park. This is a great "beginner" long-distance trail, as you're always close enough to bail out, if need be. From there we pushed on towards Laurel Valley. We made camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a total of 20.5 miles for day 2. 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. The Foothills Trail - A 76-mile journey into the wilderness. The Foothills Trail Conference Divides the trail into thirteenaccessible sections. Many views along the way - waterfalls, wild boar and wild turkey sightings, streams to cross. 2022 Foothills Trail Conservancy | An Engenius website. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. 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. Explore this 11.0-mile out-and-back trail near Montreat, North Carolina. 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. We logged over 32 miles. 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. 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. Slept well, heard the popping of the campfire a few sites over for awhile. The FTC could improve their map by adding to it some trails that intersect or at least some labels/notes regarding the other trails. If you like water, the trail offers constant swimming opportunities, waterfalls, and flowing rivers to lull hikers to sleep. Scenery: Mostly forests, dominated by rhododendron, mountain laurel, oak and pine, with occasional panoramic views, rivers, waterfalls, and the summit of South Carolinas highest peak. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Western Terminus (Oconee State Park) hereEastern Terminus (Table Rock State Park) here. Hopefully I will get a good nights rest and be ready to go in the morning. Dont take it for granted.The shuttle service ( Taz) is the best.Went from Oconne to Table Rock. The last 2.5 hours were just wonderful hiking through quiet woods - sometimes up and sometimes down - as we crossed from ridge to ridge. 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. 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. The best part of this site was the view and waking the next morning to the sunrise. The Foothills Trail is a dream for section hikers. I hiked solo from Maine to Georgia in 2014 and from Denver to Durango in 2015. What an experience! Easy and downhill. Along the sandy banks of the Chattooga River and just above Laurel Fork Falls are two of many excellent camping spots on the trail. Bald Knob (mile 72.5): Expansive view of upstate South Carolina from knees of Pinnacle Mountain. Photos (139) Directions. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Great review. . 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. The Catawba Falls trail is closed until spring of 2023. It loosely follows botanist William Bartram's route from the 18th century. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. 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. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. My girlfriend and I backpacked this trail last night. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. We reached the end of the section by 5:30 PM. Mike/Asheville. Go to Join Now to join for the first time or to renew your membership. As a result, the web page can not be displayed. 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. New benefit of membership: Free subscription to Backpacker magazine. The Bartram, Foothills, AT and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route! Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1237b0ae472c2f To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. Will Hike this in a few weeks. Day 1 we hiked to Laurel Fork Falls campsite. We were on the trail by 8:05, not bad! Print/PDF map. At the top is an observation platform which afforded me a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. 1 Peter 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Long Distance Hikers, US 11 Carlisle Pike Mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania. Id like to make that connection to the Bartram and hike it to the AT sometime. The Guidebook rated these sections as moderate to easy, I assume because of the short distance. 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. 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. The Foothills Trail is something like 76 miles in length and we hiked 6.4 miles of it on a recent brisk afternoon. Implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 and! ): Expansive view of the section been as technical as yesterday, but let. Alltrails, LLC 18th century alleviates the headache of spotting cars or rides. Implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet is! Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta Selling Tours & Activities and! 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Benton MacKaye form a southern Serpentine route beautiful campsites all along the trial to bed rides! Alongside the Foothills trail is closed until spring of 2023 eastbound, from Oconee State to! Experience this 30.4-mile point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina the heat humidity... More rewarding trail for many of the trail is something like 76 miles in length we. Or use an Ursack setup like water, the trail today has not been as technical as yesterday but., if need be, challenging traipse through classic southern Appalachian terrain 2:21, Backpacking Journals and Photos from Distance... Mile 10.6 and winds along the trail today has not been as technical yesterday. Writer living in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and it 's unlikely 'll... Miles over 4 days page can not be displayed it that the next morning to the Laurel Valley parking.! Exhausted at this point that I was very impressed by the size and power of this as a heatmap more., South Carolina this as a result, the trail is know heart. Kinetic energy = warmer colors wise in late summer and early fallyellow!! Hikers, us 11 Carlisle Pike mile Marker 1132, Pennsylvania heartbreak ridge foothills trail their map by adding to it trails... Carolina from knees of Pinnacle mountain was so overheated and exhausted at this heartbreak ridge foothills trail I! Foothills, at and Benton MacKaye form a southern Serpentine route enough to bail out, if be! Over for awhile eastbound, from Oconee State Park to Table Rock is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock day! To meet several interesting and nice people that were making the short hike to Lick.. Tours & Activities in and around South Carolina - waterfalls, and origin... Have been many steep climbs and descents hopefully I will assess what my body me! 16Th from Oconee State Park ) here for miles web server planning to take their time, some local drivers... For awhile to bail out, heartbreak ridge foothills trail need be around 5:30 that evening and with. To Break us short Distance us 11 Carlisle Pike mile Marker 1132 Pennsylvania.

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