heartbreak ridge foothills trail

We took our time there taking a lot of pics and talking to a nice couple. 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. Check out the Foothills Trail, we're sure you'll love it. Generally considered a challenging route. I was very impressed by the size and power of this waterfall! We had the overlook to ourselves and time to kill, so we broke for lunch and I read while Spencer napped in the sun. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. gain about 10,000 feet (the Foothills Trail Conservancy does not offer exact totals; approximations are based on an overall elevation profile). 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. There was a nice campsite, but I still had a couple of hours before dark so I pushed on. 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. Thanks for your support! 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. It was very strenuous and not for the out-of-shape. This has been by far my favorite hike Ive done in recent years. Day 8, my final day on the trail, started early. Elevation is 3,165, Mail me I dread the descents more than the climbs. The trail is not heavily used by long-distance hikers, regardless of season. Region: Deep South, Lower Appalachians (South Carolina) Length: 76.2 miles (5-8 days) Physical Difficulty: Moderate Additional Bridge over Whitewater River now complete! Insects can be bothersome in warmer months. The Foothills Trail is something like 76 miles in length and we hiked 6.4 miles of it on a recent brisk afternoon. (Upper Whitewater Falls Parking Area) - From the South near Salem, SC on SC 11, turn north onto SC Highway 130 (which is also called Whitewater Road) and travel about ten miles. . Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. The books warn you about Heartbreak Ridge but they don't tell you about Heartbreak Hill that follows. The Trail joins the Chattooga River Trail at mile 10.6 and winds along the Chattooga Rivers sandy beaches for miles. The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. Thanks for your support! Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. Hey, Mike N. Im the author of this piece. 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). What an experience! Moderate to strenuous on the eastern/northern portion of the trail. We made quick work of the rest of the section and had made it to Upper Whitewater Falls a little after noon. Insects can be troublesome, especially mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months. We took another break so we could enjoy Virginia Hawkins falls and kept pushing on. Did the 5 day plan. Click on any map and youll see what Im talking about. Once as high as the Rocky Mountains or Alps, some 480 million years of erosion have substantially decreased the elevation of the Appalachian Mountains (which extend, believe it or not, into Scotland). 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! If you enjoyed the Foothills Trail you should check out http://www.ultimatehike.org. There I set up camp. We finished with 5 miles on the day. I actually JUST FINISHED the Bartram Trail. Exposure is minimal, and many climbs feature artificial, wood-block steps. Camping: Dispersed camping is available for most of the trail, except for 1.7 miles along the Whitewater River on Duke Energy property. Experienced hikers and bikers can enjoy some pretty spectacular views on this 26+ mile trail! This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. It was a good call since it kept us on the trail longer and we ended up with another awesome site. Living in Greenville, the FHT is just a few miles away. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. 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. This vlog is from mid-May. Flowers, and other Flora abound, birds aplenty, There are even plants that only exist in this part of the world. Water is plentiful. We were always close to Lake Jocassee but we couldn't see it. Lots of inclines and declines so pack light! 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. I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. Jessica Lane. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. Terrain: Easy to moderate on the western/southern part of the trail, with occasional short, steep climbs. This was really the only section that had a few technical parts. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. It was a great trip. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. The trail is well-marked and well-graded. Cross the bridge and turn left at the Laurel Valley Lodge sign. 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. The Foothills Trail, though steep in places, is not especially rugged, so trail runners are more than adequate. 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. In a normal season, there is plentiful water all along the trail. Cold nights in 30s and pleasant days in 50s. I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. 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. You can hike for a few hours or spend days or a week or so hiking here and never do the same hike twice. Thx I started my hike on Sunday February 16th from Oconee State Park. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. The first 60 minutes consisted mostly of climbing steeply up, assisted by wood steps nailed into the hill side. Id like to make that connection to the Bartram and hike it to the AT sometime. If not, then I will assess what my body tells me it will do. Fitness Trail consists of 7 stations, two exercises per station on a 1/4 mile jogging path. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Maybe even us. The trail is clearly marked throughout. Well maintained trail. The Foothills Trail proper ends at Table Rock State Park, about ten miles from Sassafras Mountain. Its unfair to reduce the Foothills Trail to a warm-up for the Appalachian Trail. Jurisdiction: The Foothills Trail crosses land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, state parks, and Duke Energy. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 58 min to complete. Bugs were bad at this location. . Around 13 miles into the run touch the bench on top of Heart Break Ridge at Lake Jocassee and return back to the parking lot. 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. Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. Wandering Monk Hikes Day 5 on the Foothills Trail | Climbing Heartbreak RidgeHello everyone welcome! Will Hike this in a few weeks. 2022 Foothills Trail Conservancy | An Engenius website. That was my favorite part of the trail. 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. Geology Guide to the Foothills Trail NOW AVAILABLE! Oconee State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table Rock State Park is about 45 minutes away. Cars can be left at both state parks. 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. 0. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). The heat and humidity can be intense from mid-May through September. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. 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. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 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! Our family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers did these sections over 2 days. Mountain Bike Trails Play Young's Ridge Mill Creek Road and Old US Hwy. Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. Since we only had about 3.5 miles left to camp, we lounged around after eating basking in the warm sun. I thought the late night hiker was crazy, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel . Mother Nature smiled upon me with great weather! 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. 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! Woke up to the popping of the same campfire. 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. Turn right into the parking area and pay your nominal parking fee. It's possible drive to within a few miles of our trail section and hike in - but the pontoon boat ride to the trail was a pleasure in its self. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging hike through classic Southern Appalachian terrain. Its entirely plausible to hike the Foothills Trail in any season, though late-spring to early summer and fall are most popular. The Foothills Trail is a remarkably well blazed path, has easy section hiking access, and the unrivaled support of the conference that supports it even providing volunteer coordinated shuttles. The trail today has not been as technical as yesterday, but there have been many steep climbs and descents. Heartbreak Ridge - 19.10 Miles - From Cantrell Campsite To Lake Jocasse - This morning's highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. We decided to climb to the ridge and found the perfect site for the evening atop the ridge. We made camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a total of 20.5 miles for day 2. Great one night trip. Hikers get a neat patch, a membership with the Foothills Trail Conference and a subscription to Backpacker Magazine. The trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding. Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. I traveled west>east (or, sort of, south>north) and water was never an issue. Dismiss. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. You have two transport options for the trail you can shuttle a car yourself, or use a Foothills Trail shuttle service. Whitewater Falls (miles 30-31.7): Six different falls that tumble a total of 800 feet, making it the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. The western half of the trail covers significantly less grueling terrain overall. 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. 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. These sections provided us with some really nice views of the surrounding peaks. It wasnt the perfect site but it was perfectly timed! Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. instead, 91 South Catawba Avenue, Old Fort, There is a small amount of roadwalking. Hikers should plan ahead for shuttle transport. While the solitude of the first part of my hike was very nice it was good to have company. We would maintain about a 2.5 mile per hour pace for the day. 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. It is 76 miles and as such, is frequently underestimated by those who set out to hike it. 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