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Foothills Trail
Hiking Trail
Hard
72.24 mi
14,618 ft
A lesser-known thru hike through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
Lesser known than the iconic Appalachian, Benton MacKaye, or Pinhoti Trails, the Foothills Trail is a hidden gem that deserves credit of its own. The Foothills Trail Conference proudly proclaims that Backpacker Magazine rated it as “one of the best long trails [fifty plus miles] in the country".
Conceived in the 1960's, the development of the trail involved collaboration between several agencies, including the USFS, Clemson University, and Duke Power Company - among others. The 70+ mile trail, completed in the early 1980's, now links Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park in an epic, rugged traverse through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
lists 5 major trailheads, one at each terminus and others at US-178, SC-130, and SC-107. Getting to any of the trailheads from the nearby interstates is quite easy and "Kiosk registration is required for both day and overnight hikers."
Don't let the name "Foothills" fool you into thinking there going will be easy trek - the trail climbs an incredible 15,000' along the way! The Foothills Trail Conservancy suggests allocating 5 - 10 days to complete an entire thru-hike and overnight campsites are prevalent along the way. Water is also abundant along the way, but should always be filtered or treated first.
Nearing 3,600', the highest point of the trail comes at Sassafras Mountain. Sweeping views from this grandstand make it a popular destination for shorter day hikes. The summit is also accessible by car for anyone looking to snag some views without the hike.
Both commercial and volunteer shuttle services are available, making it even easier to complete a thru-hike of the entire trail. More information can be found [here](
Sources:
Written by Brendon Voelker
Lesser known than the iconic Appalachian, Benton MacKaye, or Pinhoti Trails, the Foothills Trail is a hidden gem that deserves credit of its own. The Foothills Trail Conference proudly proclaims that Backpacker Magazine rated it as “one of the best long trails [fifty plus miles] in the country".
Conceived in the 1960's, the development of the trail involved collaboration between several agencies, including the USFS, Clemson University, and Duke Power Company - among others. The 70+ mile trail, completed in the early 1980's, now links Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park in an epic, rugged traverse through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
lists 5 major trailheads, one at each terminus and others at US-178, SC-130, and SC-107. Getting to any of the trailheads from the nearby interstates is quite easy and "Kiosk registration is required for both day and overnight hikers."
Don't let the name "Foothills" fool you into thinking there going will be easy trek - the trail climbs an incredible 15,000' along the way! The Foothills Trail Conservancy suggests allocating 5 - 10 days to complete an entire thru-hike and overnight campsites are prevalent along the way. Water is also abundant along the way, but should always be filtered or treated first.
Nearing 3,600', the highest point of the trail comes at Sassafras Mountain. Sweeping views from this grandstand make it a popular destination for shorter day hikes. The summit is also accessible by car for anyone looking to snag some views without the hike.
Both commercial and volunteer shuttle services are available, making it even easier to complete a thru-hike of the entire trail. More information can be found [here](
Sources:
Written by Brendon Voelker
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oconee St Park to Whitewater Falls | 28.44 mi | 1,667 ft | 0.6% |
| Big Bend Trail Climb | 0.43 mi | 295 ft | 12.7% |
| Big Bend Trail Climb | 0.27 mi | 131 ft | 9.2% |
| Burrells Ford Road Climb | 0.30 mi | 135 ft | 8.5% |
| Burrells Ford Rd Climb | 0.81 mi | 423 ft | 9.8% |
| Burrells Ford Rd Climb | 0.35 mi | 144 ft | 7.7% |
| Round Mount Road Climb | 0.26 mi | 157 ft | 11.2% |
| Round Mount Road Climb | 0.64 mi | 256 ft | 7.5% |
| National Forest Road Climb | 0.60 mi | 361 ft | 11.3% |
| National Forest Road Climb | 0.29 mi | 138 ft | 8.9% |
| Wash Rock Trail Climb | 0.50 mi | 358 ft | 13.4% |
| Vanclayton Memorial Hwy Climb | 1.53 mi | 837 ft | 10.3% |
| F Van Clayton Memorial Highway Climb | 0.21 mi | 157 ft | 14.1% |
| F Van Clayton Memorial Hwy Climb | 1.58 mi | 846 ft | 10.1% |
| F Van Clayton Memorial Hwy Climb | 0.45 mi | 348 ft | 14.5% |
| Pinnacle Mountain Trail Climb | 0.24 mi | 174 ft | 13.5% |