View source for Foothills Trail

{{short description|Long-distance hiking trail in the United States}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
 |name= Foothills Trail
 |photo= Whitewatercreek.jpg
 |caption= Picture of a creek along the Upper Whitewater Falls section
 |location=[[South Carolina]] and [[North Carolina]], [[United States]]
 |length_mi=76.2
 |trailheads= Table Rock State Park<br />Oconee State Park
 |use= Foot trail for recreational hiking and backpacking
 |elev_change=
 |highest= [[Sassafras Mountain]]
 |lowest=
 |difficulty= Easy to strenuous
 |season=
 |sights=
 |hazards=
 |map={{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=line}}
}}
The '''Foothills Trail''' is a {{Convert|76|mi|km|0|adj=on}} [[National Recreation Trail]] in South and North Carolina, [[United States]], for recreational hiking and backpacking. It extends from [[Table Rock State Park (South Carolina)|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 (North Carolina)|Whitewater Falls]], and [[Lake Jocassee]].

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

==The trail==
* [[Table Rock State Park (South Carolina)|Table Rock State Park]] to [[Sassafras Mountain]] is an {{Convert|8.8|mi|km|1|adj=on}} section of the trail that ascends over {{Convert|2300|ft|m|-2}}. 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 {{Convert|2.7|mi|km|1|adj=on}} section of the trail. It goes over the peak of Sassafras Mountain, descends about {{Convert|1000|ft|m|-2}}, and ends at Chimneytop Gap.
* Chimneytop Gap to Laurel Valley is a {{Convert|2.1|mi|km|1|adj=on}} section of the trail that descends about {{Convert|800|ft|m|-2}} and ends near [[U.S. Highway 178]]. There is a spur trail to the Eastatoe Gorge Natural Area that is described below.

[[File:JocasseeWaterfall.jpg|thumb|Virginia Hawkins Falls, located between Laurel Valley and Laurel Fork Falls]]
* Laurel Valley to Laurel Fork Falls is an {{Convert|8.1|mi|km|1|adj=on}} section of the trail that ascends about {{Convert|800|ft|m|-2}}, then descends about {{Convert|1200|ft|m|-2}}, 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 {{Convert|5.8|mi|km|1|adj=on}} 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 {{Convert|16.4|mi|km|1|adj=on}} 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 {{Convert|2.3|mi|km|1|adj=on}} section of the trail. Much of it parallels the [[Whitewater River (Keowee River)|Whitewater River]]. It crosses back into North Carolina. There is net ascent of about {{Convert|800|ft|m|-2}}.
* [[Upper Whitewater Falls]] to Sloan Bridge is a {{Convert|5.5|mi|km|1|adj=on}} section of the trail that crosses into North Carolina and back into South Carolina. It ends at [[South Carolina Highway 107|SC Highway 107]].
* Sloan Bridge to Fish Hatchery Road is a {{Convert|3.3|mi|km|1|adj=on}} 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 {{Convert|3.9|mi|km|1|adj=on}} 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 {{Convert|800|ft|m|-2}}.
* Burrell's Ford Road to Cheohee Road is a {{Convert|10.4|mi|km|1|adj=on}} 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 {{Convert|1.4|mi|km|1|adj=on}} 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 {{Convert|4.6|mi|km|1|adj=on}} 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 {{Convert|14.2|mi|km|1}} 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 {{Convert|2.3|mi|km|1}} dead-end spur that goes into the Eastatoe Gorge Natural Area.
* Fork Mountain Trail is a {{Convert|12.2|mi|km|1}} 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 {{Convert|12.5|mi|km|1}} 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 {{Convert|3.2|mi|km|1}} 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 {{ISBN|0-87106-647-5}}.
* Edgar, Walter, ed. ''The South Carolina Encyclopedia'', University of South Carolina Press, 2006 {{ISBN|1-57003-598-9}}
* Foothills Trail Conference, ''Guide to the Foothills Trail'', 1998, 110 pp.
* Foothills Trail Conference, ''Foothills Trail'', 2001 (color map).

==External links==
* [http://www.foothillstrail.org/ Foothills Trail Conference]
* [http://www.purebound.com/trails/foothills/ Photos, journal and information on thru hiking the Foothills Trail]
*{{gnis|1025014}}

{{NorthCarolinaTrails}}
{{South Carolina hiking trails}}
{{Rail trails in South Carolina}}

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[[Category:Hiking trails in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Rail trails in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Hiking trails in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Jackson County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Long-distance trails in the United States]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Oconee County, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Pickens County, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Sumter National Forest]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Transylvania County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Nantahala National Forest]]
[[Category:Pisgah National Forest]]
[[Category:National Recreation Trails in North Carolina]]
[[Category:National Recreation Trails in South Carolina]]