Scroll over the images to see section titles. For this reason it’s often called “The Crown Jewel”. The 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail, 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, and 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail are collectively known as the “Triple Crown,” America’s trio of epic long-distance trails. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/south-carolina/foothills-trail-a4-to-a8 Sliding down the river bank, clothes were off and we dove into the river. The maps were consulted and we determined that we had roughly 2 more miles to descend and the sections ahead of us were some of the steepest yet. This starts as a 0.2-mile paved trail and then becomes gravel and later a dirt track running between pasture fence lines. Nice! Eventually, with more funding, the trail will run the entire length, from Puyallup to Buckley. As interest in the establishment of the Foothills Trail increased, a formal unifying entity was needed. The trail mellows out in this section with mountain laurel tunnels and lots of shade – it’s very characteristic of the Foothills Trail and it’s a nice change of pace after the beating we’ve taken over the last 6 or so miles. we respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously, Deception Pass State Park: an Unforgettable Hike in the Puget Sound, The Best Shorts I’ve Ever Worn: A Review of the Abit Gear Enduro MTB Short, Sleeping at the Foot of a Giant: Backpacking to Burnt Lake. Table Rock can be seen behind us and Paris Mountain can be seen off into the distance. Hike back out the same way the next day. Our pace picks up and bit until we stumble across some ripe wild blackberries. This hike along the creek is a great day hike for families and there are many great spots to cool off in the water! After thoroughly refreshing ourselves we retrieved car #1 and drove back to Table Rock to pick up car #2. That will be the end of the line until a bridge across the White River is added, a step not expected until perhaps 2023. It runs from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park, crossing the area north of 7,656-acre Lake Jocassee, in the northwest corner of the state. The campsite is a large multi-party site. It also has a soft shoulder path for equestrians. Laurel Valley & Eastatoe Gorge. After what feels like hours we find the Cantrell Campsite (clearly marked), our home for the night! But maybe that’s because we picked the hottest day of the year to make the 3,500 foot trek to South Carolina’s highest point – 95 degrees with our packs on was no easy feat. Outsmarted by crustaceans, but full of turkey sandwiches, we carry on. After about 3 hours we find a nice little waterfall and pool with shade that we utilize for lunch and water filtration. Uploaded: 4/12/2012. Then the Foothills Trail veers off to the left and is a part of Pinnacle Mountain Trail. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/south-carolina/foothills-trail-a9-to-a11 This section is highly trafficked due to it’s accessibility and beauty. Shortly after leaving the falls the trail begins the steepest ascent and descent on the Duke Power section of trail. Please read metadata for additional information. Just last year the summit was clear-cut and a large viewing platform was built. Our water is running low but we’re lucky to find a stream flowing over a slick rock face. Upper Whitewater Falls Trail Access. Finally we see blue sky in front of us and reach a bald outcrop called Bald Rock – clever right? this middle section of the Foothills Trail. The Foothills Trail shares a trail with Table Rock Trail for a few hundred feet. There are plans to connect this section of trail with the Enumclaw Trail which picks up on the opposite shore and heads into the town of Enumclaw. After leaving that strenuous climb behind you, the grade of trail … I am not new to hiking as I have done it with my parents since I was 9 years old, how ever, I am new to overnight backpacking. We have done overnight trip in Paris Mountain State Park to the North Lake and camp on the lake. We top off our water and then hold onto the heavy-duty cable spanning the gap that’s been installed to help us over the slippery rock. Connor goes off ahead to see if he can find it. We find some shade on the rock to cool off and take in the view. At this point, we reach a part of the forest that burned in a wildfire in 2016. The trail continued losing elevation and off in the distance we could see the road where our hike finished. County close to opening new section of Foothills Trail to Boise Creek. As the trail leveled out, we hiked through fern-filled valleys and white pine forests that had been planted in the ’70s after the forest was logged. Spirits high, we carried on. Black-eyed Susan, foam flowers, and phlox line the trail. In the center of the site is a fire pit ringed with stone chairs. Eventually, we find ourselves hiking through rhododendron and pine forests. Foothills Trl Crossing Hwy 178. This is the guide that we have used for all of our trips on the Foothills. Posted on January 17, 2019 January 28, 2019 by admin. The Foothills Trail Conference was established on May 23, 1974 as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization to promote and support the development of the Foothills Trail. Chimneytop Gap Trail Access. Spark and I wanted to tackle the Foothills Trail, a long trail that was a short drive from our home place of Asheville, North Carolina. About the Trail. Fall or spring would surely be a great time backpack this section! Posted on January 12, 2002 by Admin. Camp there near Hillard Falls (or the site one mile past there). They provide a cooling respite with shade and trickling water. to Hillard Falls. View Full Version : Best section of the Foothills Trail to hike with my gf? They were nearly vertical and dropped about 40 feet. Continuing down a steep staircase the trail levels out and follows a contour line around the mountain. When we could hear car doors slamming from the parking lot, we knew we were close to the top. The ghostly skeletons of mighty hemlocks, denuded by the invasive hemlock wooly adelgid, pose a stark contrast to the vibrant fall display, strangely beautiful in their own way. Feel free to ask them about the trails and natural areas. The Foothills National Recreation Trail sits atop a historic railroad bed and snakes through the river valley southeast of Tacoma. At this point there was another great campsite that had just been claimed – it had new fire rings and benches, nice flat tent spots and a view to die for. Photo by Kevin Hanson . On such a hot day it would have been a welcomed sight, but here there was only a slow trickle. The Foothills Trail finally splits off to the left to traverse the ridge and leave Table Rock State Park. The terrain here is pretty rugged. Section 2 starts at Laurel Valley Access (where we ended our Round Mountain Gap. There's a highway crossing where you could get picked up (or dropped off) at around there too. The same can be said of our overnight hike of the Foothills Trail section 1 – once we were out of Table Rock State Park where the trail starts, we didn’t see another person until the next day when we reached the crowds who drove to the top of Sassafras Mountain. It was short but a nice intro into the addiction known as backpacking. It makes up the eastern part of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, while Caesars Head makes up the western part. Sep 13, 2018: A Day Well Spent on Lake Jocassee. Frozen Creek Access. That's 5 (or 5.7) miles, depending on how you read the map and guidebook, which are confusing at Bad Creek. Foothills Trail section centerlines that were gps'd and include information regarding surface type, maintenance responsibility, improvements, etc. Off to our right is a small bald that looks north to North Carolina and the Blue Ridge mountains. Spend some time at Hillard Falls. We came out of the woods onto the parking lot, and climbed the paved path to the top. The cold water felt amazing and we rinsed off two days of dirt and sweat. Lake Jocassee shimmers in the distance, embraced by hills covered in a patchwork of autumn colors. We keep hiking but our pace is slowed. We keep trudging along and pass half a dozen bridges with no campsite in sight. Get the app Foothills Trail ... A beautiful trail through the foothills in North and South Carolina. No luck. We crested the final hill and below us was the road we were looking for and a beautiful river running along side it. ), so I was a bit rusty after a long hiatus from backpacking to raise little kids! If we were to continue straight up the mountain we would be on the Ridge trail that takes you back to Table Rock. It features numerous waterfalls and stunning views on the eastern half. Amy had one mission: find a swimming hole. I have spent two seasons hiking sections of the foothills trail. It follows Carrick Creek and crosses over it a number of times. All Sections 13 Spur Trails 6. While sections of the trail can be quite popular, like at Table Rock State Park or Whitewater Falls (the tallest falls east of the Rockies), once you’re a mile or so past the nearest trailhead it feels like you have the forest to yourself. We soon come across a natural cave and can’t help but take a peek. Soon the vegetation starts to close in on us and it makes our way even harder as the trail hasn’t mellowed out at all. it was a beautiful hike, but cold at night(reaching the 30s both nights). There are lots of rock outcrops and some cool overhangs that we walk under. Contacts. Now I am trying to find a good long weekend section of the Foothills Trails to take her on to show a multi-day trip, but I don't want to take her on something she can't handle. We were high on the ridge and had an incredible view of the forest below us. We finished eating and were in the tent before it was even dark. FOOTHILLS TRAIL Bicyclists yield to horses and hikers. This 72-miler has the trail’s highest point, its longest stretch above treeline, and a shag carpeting of wildflowers in late summer. There are many flat tent spots and new fire rings installed by Boy Scouts. We slept almost 12 hours after the exhausting first day. Fatigue is setting in at this point. We dropped our packs and set up our tent, collected water and made dinner. We kept a good pace for much of the morning and stopped for lunch early. Just watch out for the Hatfield's and McCoy's! I am wondering what section of the Foothills Trail would be the best to take my girlfriend on. 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