Foothills Trail Explained

Foothills Trail
Length Mi:	76.2
Trailheads:	Table Rock State Park Oconee State Park
Use:	Foot trail for recreational hiking and backpacking
Difficulty:	Easy to strenuous

The Foothills Trail is a 760NaN0 National Recreation Trail in South and North Carolina, United States, for recreational hiking and backpacking. It extends from Table Rock State Park to Oconee State Park. It passes through the Andrew Pickens Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest, Ellicott Rock Wilderness, Whitewater Falls, and Lake Jocassee.

The U.S. Forest Service built the section in the Sumter National Forest starting in 1968. Duke Power Company built the middle portion of the trail as a recreational resource in conjunction with its Bad Creek pumped storage hydroelectric project. The trail is maintained by the Foothills Trail Conference.

The trail

Table Rock State Park to Sassafras Mountain is an 8.81NaN1 section of the trail that ascends over 2300feet. It passes near peak of Pinnacle Mountain and ends near the peak of Sassafras Mountain. There is a spur trail at Sassafras Mountain to Caesars Head State Park described below.
Sassafras Mountain to Chimneytop Gap is a 2.71NaN1 section of the trail. It goes over the peak of Sassafras Mountain, descends about 1000feet, and ends at Chimneytop Gap.
Chimneytop Gap to Laurel Valley is a 2.11NaN1 section of the trail that descends about 800feet and ends near U.S. Highway 178. There is a spur trail to the Eastatoe Gorge Natural Area that is described below.

Laurel Valley to Laurel Fork Falls is an 8.11NaN1 section of the trail that ascends about 800feet, then descends about 1200feet, and ends at Lower Fork Falls. There are a number of bridges on the trail that cross Laurel Fork Creek. At Laurel Fork Falls, there is a boat access to Lake Jocassee.
Laurel Fork Falls to Canebrake is a 5.81NaN1 section of the trail that has steep ascents and descents. It crosses into North Carolina. There is a boat access to Lake Jocassee at Canebrake.
Canebrake to Bad Creek Access is a 16.41NaN1 section of the trail that has steep ascents and descents. There are foot bridges crossing the Toxaway River, the Thompson River, and Bearcat Creek. It crosses back into South Carolina. At the Bad Creek Access, there are two short spur trails to Lower Whitewater Falls Overlook and the Bad Creek Visitors Center.
Bad Creek Access to Upper Whitewater Falls is a 2.31NaN1 section of the trail. Much of it parallels the Whitewater River. It crosses back into North Carolina. There is net ascent of about 800feet.
Upper Whitewater Falls to Sloan Bridge is a 5.51NaN1 section of the trail that crosses into North Carolina and back into South Carolina. It ends at SC Highway 107.
Sloan Bridge to Fish Hatchery Road is a 3.31NaN1 section of the trail that starts at SC Highway 107 and ends at Fish Hatchery Road. There is an alternate trail, which is described below, from Sloan Bridge to rejoin the Foothills Trail at the Chattooga Trail intersection.
Fish Hatchery Road to Burrell's Ford Road is a 3.91NaN1 section of the trail descends into the Chattooga River gorge. The last portion of this trail intersects the Chattooga Trail. It end at Burrell's Ford campground. There is a net descent of about 800feet.
Burrell's Ford Road to Cheohee Road is a 10.41NaN1 section of the trail that parallels the Chattooga River. It intersects the Bartram Trail, which connects to the Appalachian Trail. The trail ascends from the Chattooga River back to SC Highway 107.
Cheohee Road to Jumping Branch Trailhead is a short 1.41NaN1 section of the trail that travels east of SC Highway 107 and bends back to this highway.
Jumping Branch Trailhead to Oconee State Park is a 4.61NaN1 section of the trail travels from SC Highway 107 to the trail's terminus at Oconee State Park.

Spur Trails

Sassafras Mountain to Caesars Head State Park is a 14.2miles trail that passes through Headwaters State Forest and ends at U.S. Highway 276. There is another trail connecting to Jones Gap State Park.
Eastatoe Gorge Spur is a 2.3miles dead-end spur that goes into the Eastatoe Gorge Natural Area.
Fork Mountain Trail is a 12.2miles long, alternate route from Sloan Bridge that rejoins the Foothills Trail above Burrell's Ford. A section of the trail parallels the Chattooga River in the Ellicott Rock Wilderness. The trail passes by Ellicott's Rock, which is on the Chattooga River.
Jocasse Gorges Passage of the Palmetto Trail. At Table Rock State Park, there is a 12.5miles long section of the Palmetto Trail and goes west into Jocassee Gorges.
Oconee Passage of the Palmetto Trail. At Oconee State Park, there is a 3.2miles long section of the Palmetto Trail that goes east toward Oconee Station State Historic Site.

References

de Hart, Allen, South Carolina Trails, 2nd ed., Globe Pequot Press,Chester, CT, 1989 .
Edgar, Walter, ed. The South Carolina Encyclopedia, University of South Carolina Press, 2006
Foothills Trail Conference, Guide to the Foothills Trail, 1998, 110 pp.
Foothills Trail Conference, Foothills Trail, 2001 (color map).

External links

35.0129°N -83.0493°W