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. Thankfully volunteers have put steps into the dirt and rock to enable hikers to negotiate the steep trail. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. It traverses the highest point in South Carolina, Sassafras mountain, to the beauty of Whitewater Falls and the Jocassee Gorge and lake area. Hikers can expect to find blue line trout waters, suspension bridges, wildflowers, and star-filled nights from peaceful campsites which are numerous enough to . 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). 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. 70, Old Fort, NC, 28762 Click link for details and directions. Unlike the tall and unforgiving crests of the great range, the foothills are alive and lush. A solid and steady climb with a few short downhills just to give you a quick break. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1237b0ae472c2f We camped at the site right next to the Laurel Valley parking lot. 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. Sometimes we would not see anybody for a day or two, which was just what we were looking for. Hopefully I will get a good nights rest and be ready to go in the morning. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. One of the classic mountain bike descents in Pisgah is one of the most infamous hiking climbs in Pisgah when paired with the Star Gap Trail. The western half of the trail covers significantly less grueling terrain overall. Overall, south/westbound hikers (SWOBOs?) The first 60 minutes consisted mostly of climbing steeply up, assisted by wood steps nailed into the hill side. Exited at Bad Creek parking lot access. Nantahala National Forest - (828) 526-3765. The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. It was breathtaking to be able to turn all the way around and see the smoky mist below me in every direction. I dread the descents more than the climbs. Fork Mountain Trail (S5) - (S6) Eastatoe Gorge Spur (S3) - (S4) Sassafras Mountain (S1) to Caesar's Head State Park (S2) . It is just under three miles long, beginning at the Old Fort picnic area. Excellent article. Another great waterfall and we got to see a wild turkey, actually flying which was rare. Thanks again. 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. The Foothills Trail Conservancy website lists local shuttle services. virtually impossible to get lost. Terms under which this service is provided to you. The terrain, tread, and gradesfrom riverside meandering to lung-busting steepall reflect the AT in its Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina incarnations. 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. Expect a high speed experience with very fast straight sections. We arrived at camp by 3:30 and explored the Cliffs and the Lighthouse. We hiked back up to the Whitewater River and took another break killing time until the hike to the access area. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging traipse through classic southern Appalachian terrain. Additional Bridge over Whitewater River now complete! 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. Primitive trail connects Woods Mountain & Armstrong Creek Trails. It was an evening of mixed emotion for me. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. 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. Great camping areas. Thx If you enjoyed the Foothills Trail you should check out http://www.ultimatehike.org. Since we only had about 3.5 miles left to camp, we lounged around after eating basking in the warm sun. Day 1 we hiked to Laurel Fork Falls campsite. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. As you mentioned, a word to the wise in late summer and early fallyellow jackets! No permits are required, but if you camp in either Oconee or Table Rock state parks, there is a fee. Photos (139) Directions. Be careful! 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 mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. So beautiful! Most of the year, hikers can leave cold-weather gear at home. Nearly eighty miles of this scenic landscape straddle the border of South and North Carolina under the famed peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Terrain: Easy to moderate on the western/southern part of the trail, with occasional short, steep climbs. The FTC website lists shuttle services that cater to long-distance hikers. Good views at spots along the trail as well. We completed this section then broke for lunch at Laurel Fork Falls. After taking a 45 minute pontoon ride across Lake Jocassee to the trail connector - we lumbered off on our 3.5 hour hike. What were the generally areas where you made camp each night? Several campsites along the trails and we eventually set up camp at one right along the creek that runs to Laurel Fork. 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. As a result, the web page can not be displayed. NC 226-A to Armstrong Fish Hatchery Rd.. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging hike through classic Southern Appalachian terrain. 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. But the eastern/northern third of the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged as the southern Appalachian Trail. Start and stop your timer on the first wooden step heading into Laurel Valley . Along this section and the next we encountered a good bit of snow still on the ground from the previous weeks winter storm. This vlog is from mid-May. IT set the stage for the many great waterfalls we would enjoy along our hike. Generally considered a challenging route. 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. 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. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but dont let that fool you. So it requires some advance planning. The trail crosses several roads leading to nearby small towns. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). I really need to recover tonight. And many a Foothills Trail hiker has found herself sprinting away from the occasional swarm of irritable hornets, especially in fall. 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 Lots of climbing and switchbacks. Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. This is a lovely hiking area with lots of camping spots and scenic views. 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. 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. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Did the 5 day plan. On top of Heartbreak Ridge, we heard 4 large birds . The plan is to make a full loop of about 375 miles (I think). Check out this page at the Foothills Trail Conservancy. . It was a short 5 mile hike to finish up our journey, and the majority of that was downhill. 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. 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. 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. That said, its hard to think of a better trail to help newbies figure out if they are going to enjoy the AT. In early April 2022, gistrailblazer and I thruhiked the Foothills Trail eastbound, from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park. Length 11.0 miElevation gain 3,188 ftRoute type Out & back. For safety's sake, you can almost always get a cell phone signal with Verizon also. 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. This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. It is my favorite trail for many of the reasons you noted. 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. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. 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. While the solitude of the first part of my hike was very nice it was good to have company. Water is plentiful. Day 4 was a short 3 miles but much of it was uphill. Its entirely plausible to hike the Foothills Trail in any season, though late-spring to early summer and fall are most popular. The day started with "heartbreak ridge". Trail is well maintained - thanks. Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. A wonderful weekend hike. Additional one mile loop, "Last of the Mohicans" and "Hunt for Red October" were filmed along the shores of this picturesque lake.
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