Exited at Bad Creek parking lot access. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. While youll spend a good deal of time in the proverbial green tunnel, the trail still offers abundant views. 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. Click link for details and directions. Steep Steps (Heart Break Ridge) Longest Suspension Bridge on the Foothills Trail Crosses the Toxaway River Hiking along Lake Jocassee Shoreline Trail Head: Cane Brake Trail to Frozen Creek Access All orders over $60 receive FREE shipping! We made camp around 5:30 that evening and finished with a total of 20.5 miles for day 2. Terrain: Easy to moderate on the western/southern part of the trail, with occasional short, steep climbs. Hikers should plan ahead for shuttle transport. I tackled the Foothills Trail during a three day two night fastpack in early January. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls.But you earn the views. Click here to find alternative waterfall and hiking trails. I started my hike on Sunday February 16th from Oconee State Park. Flowers, and other Flora abound, birds aplenty, There are even plants that only exist in this part of the world. As hard as our Colorado hike minus elevation. I can usually will myself to keep going but not in this case. The steps are so long that in the middle there is a bench for folks to rest before they tackle the remainder of the climb. The park also has a store and gift shop with limited groceries to fuel your post thru hike hunger. Thanks again. Lots of inclines and declines so pack light! The trail goes between Table Rock State Park and Oconee State Park. From there we pushed on towards Laurel Valley. The Foothills Trail Conservancy has a detailed, informative website, including maps, elevations profiles, shuttle information and more. A wonderful weekend hike. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. 6.6 - 13.6 miles 2,350 feet: 34.266172,-117.62684: 740 There are multiple easy access points to the Foothills Trail. But from its well blazed path to its active trail conservancy, it is a trail well worth the walk. Insects can be troublesome, especially mosquitoes and biting flies in warmer months. Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around South Carolina. And they were indeed smoky this morning. Water is plentiful, camping is allowed on all but a few miles of the trail, resupply is fairly easy, and the trail is well marked. Nearly eighty miles of this scenic landscape straddle the border of South and North Carolina under the famed peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Cold nights in 30s and pleasant days in 50s. Day 2 we hiked to Cross Bear Creek campsite. The trail epitomizes the green tunnel phenomenon, but that just makes its periodic panoramic views even more rewarding. We camped at Bear Creek (not bear camp creek) and actually did have a bear sighting. I suppose the guidebooks will have that and will purchase soon I got to meet several interesting and nice people that were making the short hike to Lick Falls. Well maintained trail. We took our time there taking a lot of pics and talking to a nice couple. Primitive trail connects Woods Mountain & Armstrong Creek Trails. You have two transport options for the trail you can shuttle a car yourself, or use a Foothills Trail shuttle service. Generally considered a challenging route. Resupply: The trail is short enough that it can be easily hiked without resupply. We planned on hiking to Drawbar Cliffs and making camp there so we would only have a 5 mile hike on our final day. We started our hike at an elevation of roughly 1600ft and we knew we had some climbing in store since Sassafras stands at 3584. For those planning to take their time, some local shuttle drivers offer food drops for a fee. Hikers spend a good deal of time in the green tunneljust like the ATbut ample opportunities to swim, gorgeous waterfalls, and occasional vistas to the south make this a truly enjoyable trail. This is a four-season trail, hikeable even in winter. Thanks for your support! That said, its hard to think of a better trail to help newbies figure out if they are going to enjoy the AT. Expect a high speed experience with very fast straight sections. This vlog is from mid-May. Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. Especially in warm weather, the slog out of Laurel Valley, up Sassafrass, over Pinnacle Mountain, and down, down into Table Rock will tax many a hikers glutes and quads. Dont forget the insect repellent youll want it. Thanks for your support! Upon the completion of the Foothills Trail hikers can apply for the Peregrine Award to commemorate their hikes. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 14.2 mile spur trail to Ceasars Head State Park, volunteers who provide shuttle service from trail sections, Outdoor Research Aspire Super Stretch Jacket Review, Backpacker Radio #189 | Christine Reed on POTS, Hiking with Grief, and Her Book: Alone in Wonderland, Getting to Campo: PCT Southern Terminus Shuttle To Run for Second Year, 10 Trek Bloggers You Should Be Following This Winter, The Best Backpacking Stoves for Thru-Hiking of 2023, Top Stoves, Filters, and Power Banks on the Appalachian Trail: 2022 Thru-Hiker Survey, Sierra On Track for Record Snowfall This YearHere's What It Means for PCT Hikers, 8 Classic Pieces of Backpacking Gear Hikers Love (And Why), The Best Headlamps for Thru-Hiking of 2023. Dont take it for granted.The shuttle service ( Taz) is the best.Went from Oconne to Table Rock. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Thru hiked with a buddy and my dog. Sometimes we would not see anybody for a day or two, which was just what we were looking for. Clay Bonnyman Evans is a freelance writer living in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and his hometown, Boulder, Colorado. Absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls. Wildflowers were just blooming. Day 3 we hiked approximately 10 miles and camped at Whitewater campsite. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and more. Devil's Backbone This ridge-top trail between Baldy Notch and the summit of Mount Baldy is probably LA's greatest ridge hike, with incredible views over the San Gabriel Mountains and the Mojave Desert. 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. Description. Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. For the full 4x4 trail guide please visit:https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/812-2n61y-heartbreak-ridgeHidden on the east side of Big Bear in Southern Cali. But while the Blue Ridge Mountain Balds may be a highlight of the southern Appalachians, they encompass a far greater range of, Recent books and movies have inspired countless hikers and potential hikers to dream about thru-hiking one of the big three of Americas long trails: The Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or the Continental Divide Trail. Though technically a four-season trail, the heat and humidity from May through September can be oppressive. Heartbreak Ridge - 19.10 Miles - From Cantrell Campsite To Lake Jocasse - This morning's highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. We actually drove past the designated parking lot on Horsepasture Rd (in a truck) to the intersection of Horsepasture and Laurel Fork Valley Rd (marked by a road sign on a fallen tree. Sassafrass Mountain (mile 66.4):At 3,553 feet, the highest point in South Carolina, with 360-degree views from the fire tower on top (note: the tower was closed for construction in late 2018). The Toxaway River flows into Lake Jocassee along the Foothills Trail. What I had failed to realize it that the next mile of the trail is know as Heart Break Ridge. The route, which features miles of blueberry bushes and campsites with perfect sunrise views, can be hiked in 2-4 days. copy The western half of the trail covers significantly less grueling terrain overall. Trail. This is a worthy trail in its own right, but many hikers use the Foothills Trail as a kind of shakedown, warm-up, or training-wheel expedition for an AT thru-hike. Region: Deep South, Lower Appalachians (South Carolina)Length: 76.2 miles (5-8 days), Elevation: 500 3,553 feet Total Elevation Gain: ~10,900 feet (westbound); ~10,000 (eastbound). The Foothills Trail is a 76 mile long collection of trails that run through 3 state parks, through North and South Carolina, and within view of the Georgia border. As a result, the web page can not be displayed. This middle section of trail bumps along at low elevations and sports spectacular runoff that forms beautiful waterfalls. This trail is in South Carolina and North Carolina. There is abundant wildlife and hikers have a good chance of seeing deer, snakes, toads, frogs, raccoons, waterfowl, raptors, and even black bears.While youll 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. Thx Oconee is about 2.5 hours and Table Rock is about three hours from Atlanta. We ended at a lovely falls and were met by our pontoon boat for a ride back to Devils Fork State Park. The afternoon left me completely exhausted. The section of the trail from Laurel Fork Creek to the Whitewater River is often referred to as the Gorges Section and was initially built and maintained by Duke Power Company as part of a licensing agreement for the construction of Lake Joccasee. Difficult at times but worth it. Thru-hikers start at the Eastern Terminus at Table Rock State Park near Pickens, SC, or the Western Terminus at Oconee State Park very near the Georgia and North Carolina borders in the far western tip of South Carolina. What were the generally areas where you made camp each night? We had gotten to the more strenuous sections of trail and it was quite noticeable. You can hike for a few hours or spend days or a week or so hiking here and never do the same hike twice. This was a hard day of almost 12 miles. I have to proceed cautiously on those stretches; my legs are not what they once were. I was sad to see the simple existence I had while in the woods coming to an end but at the same time I was excited to be accomplishing this thru-hike and going home to see my wife. Check out this 19.1-mile point-to-point trail near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Click to reveal The Art Loeb Trail is a 30-mile point-to-point trail in North Carolina that offers jaw-dropping 360- degree views of the Southern Appalachians. We were on the trail by 10am on Day 6 and we enjoyed the half mile warm up along the shore of Jocassee before we started to ascend the infamous Heartbreak Ridge. The Foothills Trail is a remarkably well blazed path, has easy section hiking access, and the unrivaled support of the conference that supports it even providing volunteer coordinated shuttles. The Foothills Trail Conference Divides the trail into thirteenaccessible sections. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Around 4:15 we started the hike to the Bad Creek parking lot. Living in Greenville, the FHT is just a few miles away. My friend arrived at 5:30 and I restocked my food and we decided to night hike to the site on the ridge above the Thompson River. Mountain Streams, Suspension Bridges, Waterfalls Location | Western North Carolina and Northern South Carolina, Highlights | 13 Waterfalls, Gorges, Wooden Steps, Multiple Suspension Bridges, State High Point, Volunteer Coordinated Shuttles, Maps and Guidebooks | Anti-Gravity Gear Pocket Profile ($3.95), Foothills Trail Conference Trail Map ($15.00), Foothills Trail Conference Guidebook ($16.00). The Foothills Trail climbs gently out of Oconee State Park on a wide, flat trail that becomes increasingly tight before transforming into traditional single track. Hikers can fly into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. There I set up camp. I am very proud to have accomplished this feat and Im already looking forward to my next journey along the trail. My wife dropped me, and my dog Spencer, off at 10:45am and after our goodbyes and a few pictures, we set off on our journey. 0. Unlike the tall and unforgiving crests of the great range, the foothills are alive and lush. Heartbreak Ridge Curtis Creek Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762 Avid bikers will love Heartbreak Ridge, an exciting two-mile bike trail that begins along the top ridge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and descends 2,000 feet! There were plenty of views and beautiful streams and waterfalls this time of year. Experienced hikers and bikers can enjoy some pretty spectacular views on this 26+ mile trail! From the east end of Heartbreak Ridge at mile 50 to the Northern Terminus at Table Rock State Park at mile 76.2, the trail crosses a number of challenging routes and trail highlights. We were on the trail by 8:05, not bad! We had reached Burrells Ford by 1pm and pushed on towards Fish Hatchery Road. While there are often more people around features such as Whitewater Falls and Lake Jocassee, hikers will find plenty of solitude on most of the trail, including quiet, secluded campsites. It was a short 5 mile hike to finish up our journey, and the majority of that was downhill. We finished with 5 miles on the day. I continue to log miles and slay summits in Asheville North Carolina. Check out the Foothills Trail, we're sure you'll love it. About an hour later we put the packs back on and headed toward the Cliffs. The trail features sturdy bridges crossing over numerous rivers, beautiful waterfalls, a jaunt around a corner of Lake Jocassee, and, on the eastern half of the trail, steep climbs of up to 2,000 feet that rival anything on the southern Appalachian Trail. Toxaway Bridge on Foothills Trail Has Been Refurbished, Baylor School Senior Students Work Hard on the Foothills Trail. Streams, creeks, and engorged rivers mark the land with deep gorges and sandy beaches. We ended up creating a website (www.thefoothillstrail.com) with the hopes of informing others of the difficulty of the trail, the terrain type, how to read the guidebook (published by The Foothills Trail Conference), and other insider tips. Any suggestions. Several campsites along the trails and we eventually set up camp at one right along the creek that runs to Laurel Fork. We were on the trail by 9am on day 2. The group will go by boat to Laurel Fork and hike the Foothills Trail to Canebrake, a distance of about 5.8 miles. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. A very special place to wander and enjoy!!! There plenty of beautiful campsites all along the trial. Trail is well maintained - thanks. The southern/western portion of the trail is fairly gentle, but dont let that fool you. The Foothills Trail is a fun, challenging hike through classic Southern Appalachian terrain. Mother Nature smiled upon me with great weather! Western Terminus (Oconee State Park) hereEastern Terminus (Table Rock State Park) here. We feel that this has prepared us for longer trips we're looking at The Mountains to Sea Trail in NC next (900 miles, we'll have to do it in sections since we work). Be careful! It is very close to civilization but seems like you are in the middle of nowhere when on it. Today's miles: 17 Total miles: 65.4 Camped: Boulder about a mile before Sassafras peak What a day. This mornings highlight was the climb to the top of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. This is classified as a strenuous section of trail which includes Heartbreak Ridge. Day 7 was going to be one of our shorter and easier days! Foothills Trail Journal Heartbreak Ridge. Hikers should fill up before ascending Sassafrass Mountain, particularly northbound; the climb is long and steep, and there are no water sources for 4.5 miles. Start and stop your timer on the first wooden step heading into Laurel Valley . Below is more information about our experience. Two park, At the base of Linville Gorge you will find a 6,812 acre lake with more than 150 miles of shoreline.. We logged over 32 miles. The trail is clearly marked throughout. Additional one mile loop, "Last of the Mohicans" and "Hunt for Red October" were filmed along the shores of this picturesque lake. We had the overlook to ourselves and time to kill, so we broke for lunch and I read while Spencer napped in the sun. We were exhausted by the time we set up camp so we ate dinner and then hit the sack. Water: Water is plentiful all along the trail from streams, rivers, and lakes, except in drought conditions. Greenville SC 29602. Explore this 11.0-mile out-and-back trail near Montreat, North Carolina. Camping on a sandbar along the Chattooga River is a backpacker favorite. Permits: No permit is required to hike the Foothills Trail. Not unlike the AT, the Foothills Trail is more challenging at one end. This is a week that will stay with me forever. Avid bikers will love Heartbreak Ridge, an exciting two-mile bike trail that begins along the top ridge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and descends 2,000 feet! The day started with "heartbreak ridge". Your IP: We briefly paused at bald rock to take in the spectacular views and snap a few more pics. A rat snake, coiled alongside the Foothills Trail. What a great way to fall asleep, as the rain pattered against my tarp and the thunder boomed and lightning lit up the evening sky! In fact, its 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. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). I have thru-hiked it, speed hiked it and section hiked it. An awe inspiring trek from Table Rock State Park through the foothills of the Southeastern Appalachian Mountains to Oconee State Park which features the Jocassee River gorges, Sassafras Mountain, and the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River. We really enjoyed the short hike to Hidden Falls. This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. gain about 10,000 feet (the Foothills Trail Conservancy does not offer exact totals; approximations are based on an overall elevation profile). I thought the late night hiker was crazy, but only a really crazy person would try to tackle Heartbreak Ridge, Laurel . Its unfair to reduce the Foothills Trail to a warm-up for the Appalachian Trail. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans photo. We finished the section and hiked a little over a half mile into the next so we could get a site in Gorge State Park along the Toxaway River. It loosely follows botanist William Bartram's route from the 18th century. I was so overheated and exhausted at this point that I was having dry heaves. But the eastern/northern third of the trail, in particular, is as steep and rugged as the southern Appalachian Trail. We parked the truck at a red gate and began hiking down the service road. Great campsites, I went off roading Sunday and I left my Sony nex-6 camera. Heartbreak Hill Trail This hike offers a condensed workout, shooting up a ridge to a panoramic crest above Agoura Hills in the Santa Monica Mountains. Often one can hike for an entire day and not encounter another person. Woods Mountain Trail is not for the faint of heart! Lots of climbing and switchbacks. So it requires some advance planning. Heartbreak's tread is narrow, and often constricted even more by Laurel and Rhododendron encroaching into the corridor. If anyone finds it please message me 8644096466. For those who wish to follow the white blazes of the Foothills Trail, the trail continues down Sassafras Mountain, makes one last climb to up Pinnacle Mountain, and winds its way down to Table Rock State Park. The consistent signage makes finding the trailheads easy, and the mileage makes section hiking attainable. As the name implies, this down hill, four mile bike trail descends approximately 2,000 feet and is a true heart breaker. I hiked solo from Maine to Georgia in 2014 and from Denver to Durango in 2015. 'Heartbreak Ridge,' Foothills Trail, SC - YouTube AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy & SafetyHow YouTube worksTest new features 2022 Google LLC A footbridge across the Horsepasture River on the Foothills Trail. As always, take care of our trail angels! The FTC website lists shuttle services that cater to long-distance hikers. We started with two short sections to Chimney Gap and then to Sassafras. On my fourth day thru hiking the Foothills Trail alone, I started with the climb up and over Heartbreak Ridge and ended up at the Chimneytop Campsite, just b. Thank you to Heyword Douglass, Executive Director of the Foothills Conference, for your encouraging emails and photographs! Fortunately, once I got to the lake I came upon a perfect hammock site on a cliff overlooking Lake Jocassee. Additional Bridge over Whitewater River now complete! virtually impossible to get lost. Whitewater Falls (miles 30-31.7): Six different falls that tumble a total of 800 feet, making it the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Whitewater falls is breathtaking, and the climb out will leave you breathless! Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. The incidence of Lyme disease is very low in South and North Carolina (less than .5 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents), but the black-legged (or deer tick) is present, so be diligent about tick checks. Foothills Trail Conservancy Nantahala National Forest - (828) 526-3765. Along this extended spur lies views of the East Fork of the French Broad River, as well as the sheer rock faces of Raven Cliff Falls. We had reached Sassafras by 10 till noon. Turn right into the parking area and pay your nominal parking fee. Waterfalls abound at mile 16.3 via a side trail at King Creek Falls, and another at mile 23.2. An off-road running race held in the northwestern foothills of your Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Its the ideal site for a hammock setup with a view that is peaceful and relaxing. There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. I dread the descents more than the climbs. The plan is to make a full loop of about 375 miles (I think). The Bartram, Foothills, AT and Benton MacKaye form a Southern Serpentine Route! Find us on Facebook! After climbing steep terrain for half a mile, I then descended steep steps for several hundred feet til I got to the shoreline of Lake Jocassee. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Log In. The trail crosses several roads leading to nearby small towns. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. As on the AT, south/westbound Foothills Trail hikers walk straight into a buzzsaw, tackling the highest, most challenging terrain immediately and gaining some 3,000 feet in the first 9.8 miles to the summit of Sassafrass Mountain on day one. Navigation: The trail is well-marked with white blazes and easily navigable, though as always, you can get off track if you arent paying attention. It is my favorite trail for many of the reasons you noted. The Foothills Trail is accessible, challenging, but not difficult, and logistically easy to hike. Fitness Trail consists of 7 stations, two exercises per station on a 1/4 mile jogging path. By Clay Bonnyman Evans, 2019 Foothills Trail Thru-Hiker. Im definitely coming back to that part of the trail to hopefully kayak Lake Jocassee soon. Tougher than expected but had a great time. Did the 5 day plan. Cross the NC/SC state line into North Carolina and continue for about a mile to the Whitewater Falls parking area which is marked with a large U.S. Forest Service sign. Enjoy your next adventure. This was an awesome site and from atop the giant rocks we could see for miles and got the privilege of watching a beautiful sunset. Immediately bear right onto the unpaved fork and continue to the Foothills Trail parking area about 0.3 mile on the left. NC 28762, http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/1368860/heartbreak-ridge. This route was very challenging, but worth it in the end, when you are back home with your feet up :), Laurel Fork Falls to Canebrake Point-to-point using boat shuttle. We reached the end of the section by 5:30 PM. Experience this 30.4-mile point-to-point trail near Sunset, South Carolina. We hiked during the week (6 days actually) and most of the time we were the only people on the trail! This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The idea for the Foothills Trail, a National Recreation Trail located in far western South Carolina, began in the 1960s as an effort to preserve and protect the beauty of the Appalachian Foothills. It looks like a small pool of water but it is the top of the falls. Put in at Frozen Creek Access then hiked to Canebrake. Will Hike this in a few weeks. The part we loved most about the trail was how desolate it was. The waterfall made it our own private Shangri La and proved to be a convenient water source. Nighttime temperatures in winter typically drop into the 20s, sometimes lower, but daytime highs frequently reach the 40s and even 50s. Photo: Clay Bonnyman Evans. Photos (139) Directions. No permits are required, but if you camp in either Oconee or Table Rock state parks, there is a fee. The Bartram Trail can be found (somewhere, I havent done it yet) on the other side of the Chattooga crossing the road bridge just up stream of the Burrells Ford campground, which leads to the AT in the Wayah Bald area. A trail corridor linkingTable Rock State Park in the north/east toOconee State Park to the south/west, was completed in 1981. I really need to recover tonight. We camped at the site right next to the Laurel Valley parking lot. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1237b0ae472c2f Elevation change: 535 feet, hikes around the Santa Monica Mountains on the Hike Finder Map, Social Distancing hikes around Los Angeles, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. On top of Heartbreak Ridge, we heard 4 large birds . I was very impressed by the size and power of this waterfall! 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. Thru-hikers travel both north/eastbound and south/westbound, but theres no question that those who travel south/westbound have it a bit tougher. Table Rock State Park offers a myriad of amenities from camping to cabins, swimming to fishing. This trail is awesome . There are numerous road crossings, and hitching into small towns such as Salem, SC, or Sapphire, NC, isnt too difficult. For safety's sake, you can almost always get a cell phone signal with Verizon also. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Hikers can expect to find blue line trout waters, suspension bridges, wildflowers, and star-filled nights from peaceful campsites which are numerous enough to . Table Rock State Park is about an hours drive from both Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, SC. Length: 76.2 miles (the Foothills Trail Conservancy rounds this off to 77 miles). Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 5 min to complete. Im much more inclined to fall going down one of these steep descents. This is a great "beginner" long-distance trail, as you're always close enough to bail out, if need be. I had many great campsites along the trail but this one would prove to be the best. There are plenty of non-thru options, as well, including the so-called crown jewel route, southbound from Laurel Valley to just below Whitewater Falls. The largest climb of the hike begins at mile 62 and gains 1,839 feetin 4.4 miles before topping out at Sassafrass Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. Of a better trail to a warm-up for the Appalachian trail encounter another.! 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