By Clay Bonnyman Evans, 2019 Foothills Trail Thru-Hiker
The Foothills Trail is a 76-mile point-to-point hike in the Appalachian Mountains of western South Carolina best hiked in fall, winter, or spring. The trail is well-marked and well-graded. It can be hiked in 3-7 days.
Region: Deep South, Lower Appalachians (South Carolina)
Length: 76.2 miles (5-8 days)
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
- Tread is good; grade is mostly moderate
- Total elevation gain is 10,000-11,000 feet, depending on direction
- Sustained climbs of more than 2,000 feet; some short, very steep sections
- Heat and humidity can be a challenge from late spring through early fall
Logistical Difficulty: Easy
- No permit required
- Local shuttles available
- Water is abundant
- Dispersed camping allowed along most of the trail
Elevation: 500 – 3,553 feet
Total Elevation Gain: ~10,900 feet (westbound); ~10,000 (eastbound)
Hiking the Foothills Trail
The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging hike through classic Southern Appalachian terrain. In fact, it’s not unlike a condensed version of the southern Appalachian Trail, and many prospective hikers have tackled the Foothills Trail as a shakedown for a future AT hike.
Not unlike the AT, the Foothills Trail is more challenging at one end. Hikers who travel westbound from Table Rock State Park face the challenge of 3,553-foot Sassafras Mountain, the high point of South Carolina, right out of the gate, while those who start at Oconee State Park get a much gentler introduction to the trail along the banks of the Chattooga.
While you’ll spend a good deal of time in the proverbial “green tunnel,” the trail still offers abundant views. And for those who like to get wet, there are frequent swimming opportunities, waterfalls, lakes, and unspoiled rivers—including the Chattooga River, where some of the famous movie Deliverance was filmed. Though technically a four-season trail, the heat and humidity from May through September can be oppressive. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and even black bears.While you’ll find people around popular features such as Whitewater Falls and Lake Jocassee, the full trail offers plenty of solitude, including your choice of quiet, secluded sites available for dispersed camping on all but a few miles.
How to Get to the Foothills Trail
Nearest Cities: Greenville, South Carolina (26 miles from eastern terminus; 56 miles from western terminus); Atlanta, Georgia (150 miles from eastern terminus; 130 miles from western terminus).
Western Terminus (Oconee State Park) here
Eastern Terminus (Table Rock State Park) here
Hikers can fly into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. Oconee State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Greenville, while Table Rock State Park is about 45 minutes away. Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. The Foothills Trail Conservancy website lists local shuttle services. Cars can be left at both state parks.
When to Hike the Foothills Trail
While the relatively mild winters of South Carolina make the trail hikeable year-round, early to mid-spring and fall are the preferred seasons. Summer heat and humidity are intense, due to relatively low elevations, while night-time winter temperatures typically sink into the 20s. Insects can be bothersome in warmer months. Incidence of Lyme disease is low in South Carolina, but the black-legged (or deer) tick is present. The trail is not heavily used by long-distance hikers, regardless of season.
Foothills Trail Terrain
The trail goes through typical southern Appalachian forest, with dense growth of rhododendron, mountain laurel, pine, and oak. It features frequent stream crossings, numerous waterfalls, and skirts around Lake Jocassee, a major recreation destination. The eastern end of the trail includes some strenuous climbing, including the infamous 500 steps up “Heartbreak Ridge” and the summit of Sassafras Mountain, but there are also long stretches of easy strolling.
Logistics: Camping, Water, Resupply
Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail.
Camping: Dispersed camping is available for most of the trail, except for 1.7 miles along the Whitewater River on Duke Energy property. Fee camping is allowed only in designated areas in Oconee and Table Rock state parks.
Jurisdiction: The Foothills Trail crosses land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, state parks, and Duke Energy. There is a small amount of roadwalking.
Water: Water is plentiful all along the trail from streams, rivers, and lakes, except in drought conditions.
Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. For those planning to take their time, some local shuttle drivers offer food drops for a fee. The trail crosses several roads leading to nearby small towns.
Know Before You Go
The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. Hikers should plan ahead for shuttle transport. The heat and humidity can be intense from mid-May through September. 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.
Foothills Trail Resources
The Foothills Trail Conservancy has a detailed, informative website, including maps, elevations profiles, shuttle information and more.
Foothills Trail Conservancy Facebook group
Official Foothills Trail Guidebook
Hiking South Carolina’s Foothills Trail pocket guide by Scott Lynch
Clay Bonnyman Evans is a freelance writer living in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and his hometown, Boulder, Colorado. He’s the author of several books, including the Amazon bestseller, Bones of My Grandfather: Reclaiming a Lost Hero of World War II,” and his most recent, The Trail Is the Teacher: Living and Learning on the Appalachian Trail. He has hiked the Colorado Trail, Appalachian Trail, Foothills Trail, Pinhoti Trail, Centennial Trail, and the Great Plains Trail Pilot Trail, and will start hiking the Pacific Crest Trail on April 7, 2021.