Momentous Adventures-Foothills Trail (Part 1)
Hillard Falls
After a little research and an ice storm, we hit the road to start a 6 day trip on the Foothills Trail. This 76 mile trail is a mix of everything that makes a longer hike special, long river walks, ridge walks, interesting flora and fauna and solitude. We started in Oconee State Park and went to Table Rock. You can go the other way but it has a merciless climb up Whitewater Canyon that has more stairs than anyone would want to count and any “non forbidden” camps on either side in a legitimate distance.. Also, the scenery improves and the trail gets rougher heading to Table Rock letting you condition yourself early on the trip if need be. Do yourself a favor and start at Oconee along a quiet stretch of trail that sets your mind at ease right off the bat. First you should call Taz the shuttle driver. He was nice enough to show us sights and intersections along the way that gave us a glimpse of what the first couple of trail days would look like. Also he uses old military boxes to let you leave a resupply along the way making us start with only 2 and a half days of food which is nice. Definitely one of the best shuttle drivers that I have had the pleasure to ride with. We started out on an easy grade that lead us into a richly diverse yet sparse forest. This trek can be a simple thru hike or you can go in for a longer experience to tempting side spots than undoubtedly beautiful. Keep on past an intersection with a trail to Oconee Mountain and then another to a interesting sounding Disappearing Falls plus two others. We’ll, you get the picture. The Foothills TR has lots of water sources along its way. You head along Tamassee Creek, Lick Log and others before dropping the lovely and remote section along the Chattooga River. Find a nice camp above this wild river by a perfect sized side stream. Enjoy a nice evening thoroughly stoked about the other 5 days ahead of you on this surprisingly stunning chunk of true wilderness.
The start of the hike
Lots of controlled burn pockets here and there
Spicebush
Lots of interesting information and tributes in store
The Chattooga River
the Get up and enjoy this quiet perch before heading out along the River. Cruise along this lovely section of this protected waterway as it showcases its rapids which make it famous nationally. Soon you climb away from the River and meet up with King Creek that you cross on a footbridge. It’s good to note that there are no river or creek fords on this trail at all! Next you stay in the woods for a bit before dropping down to the next wonderful riverwalk along the East Fork Chattoogga River which features a grip of nice as it cascades through steep terrain. First is Hiker’s Peril Falls which is decorated with a charming sign, one of many along your way on this trail. Next is Lower and Upper Sloan Bridge Falls. The Upper Falls can be reached by a short decent to a hammock strap that leads you riverside, it’s worth your while. Next you climb away from the River and by a sign telling you that you are on North/South Carolina State Line. Cruise on to the Round Mtn intersection where a nice camp is and some water slightly downhill. This is one of the last camps before Whitewater Falls and the “Forbidden” campsites. Relax knowing you have 4 more days on this lovely and legendary trail while you let this feeling settle into your soul.
The flower diversity in the spring is outrageous
The spring wildflowers on this trail are outrageous
After a great nights sleep get moving in the direction of Whitewater Falls. Cross by a couple of questionable water sources while dropping to a road that connects folks to the Falls and beyond. Right before the road we left a resupply waiting for us. I’ve done quite a lot of different methods of getting grub in the woods and this by far is my favorite. No wacky retreats or post office hours to contend with just grab your supplies and cover it with leaves and go! Go up the road and then down to the right split to the parking lot, it’s a short 5 minute stroll. Take signs pointing to Whitewater Falls and the Foothills TR. Get to the paved overlook where you get to check out this massive 411 foot Falls. Actually, folks say that it begins cascading 400 feet higher but is not considered a fall worthy grade I guess? The trail drops down a heap of steps fairly abruptly and you quickly learn why going to Oconee rather then Table Rock would suck in this location. Also, the lack of “by the book”camping before or after the Falls makes it lame too. Anyway get down to this West Coast looking torrent of a waterway and say damn. Cross it on a sturdy bridge and keep following it downstream. Climb away from the River for a bit until you drop down to Thomson River where we took a nice dip. It looked like you can also take a short .5 mile side trail to Standing Stone Falls and then connect to a series of side trails or even more falls ahead if you were so inclined. Next you do the now familiar climb out and back into another drainage thing that make this hike so special. This time it’s down to Bear Camp Creek which as more nice cascades and falls with their adjacent labeled camps. Nearing your camp for the night you feel a sense to relief that can settle in and soak in the quiet and wild wilderness you are in.
Where are the falls?
