Hiking

When it comes to trails, you’ve hit the jackpot with Oconee County!

Photo by Sean Hogan

Simple park trails to ambitious steep climbs, from rivers edge to lakeside, on foot or by horseback, the trails of this region offer something for everyone. The high adventurer and those with more modest physical ability can find a trail that suits them, one that leads to better fitness or another that leads to a beautiful waterfall.

A great source of information regarding trails is the website maintained by the South Carolina State Trails Program, www.sctrails. net. Trails on this site are well-described, include good directions, hike distance, length of time required, and difficulty levels.

For more trails than those listed here, you can also visit www.VisitOconeeSC.com/uploads/Experience/Hiking.asp. For hikes to some of the nearly 150 waterfalls in Oconee County, please see the waterfall section of this guide.

The Free Map Insert has the trails listed as well as numbered symbols that indicate the general location of each of the trails. The trails listed here are in order of length and type.

Foothills Trail (Map – Trails 4)

This National Recreation Trail has its western terminus in Oconee State Park and extends to the north and east for 77 miles to Table Rock State Park. Divided into sections of various lengths, it hugs the banks of the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River, passes beautiful Whitewater Falls (highest waterfall in the east ), and meanders through the magnificent Jocassee Gorges. The sections vary in length and difficulty, and day-hikers can access them from a dozen different points, including by boat from Devils Fork State Park. The Foothills Trail is also a favorite with backpackers from all parts of the country because hiking on the trail can be accomplished by a simple overnight campout to a thru-hike lasting a week. Day-hikes may be made on additional spur trails to Eastatoe Gorge, Ellicott Rock, and the more remote Lower Whitewater Falls. The Foothills Trail is maintained and promoted by the Foothills Trail Conference, a non-profit, membership organization which has a website that is filled with information about the Trail, its activities, and how to

join. Visit the site at www.foothillstrail.org. Detailed information about the Trail can be found in the Foothills Trail Guidebook and on the Foothills Trail Map, both of which can be ordered through the website, obtained at local outfitter stores, or at the state parks at either end of the Trail. Contact Foothills Trail Conference by email at info@foothillstrail.org.

Chattooga Trail (Map – Trails 2)

This moderately difficult, 15.5-mile trail runs parallel to the famous Chattooga River, and shares 8.5 miles with the Foothills Trail as it passes through some of the finest wilderness in South Carolina. It can be accessed from SC Highway 28, Burrell’s Ford Campground in Sumter National Forest, Bullpen Rd in NC, or from the Foothills Trail. Waterfall lovers shouldn’t miss this trail because they can see a number of them here, including King Creek, Spoonauger, Big Bend, Pigpen, and Licklog Falls. Ellicott Rock, found on the upper portion of the river, is the historic corner of SC, NC, and Georgia. Fork Mountain Trail (Map – Trails 5)

This moderate 6.4-mile trail, which is a spur of the Foothills Trail, starts in South Carolina at the Sloan Bridge Picnic Area and ends in NC where it joins the Bad Creek Trail in the Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area. From here the trail eventually joins the Chattooga Trail and continues southwest to Burrell’s Ford. The trail weaves along the northern flanks of Fork Mountain, ascending and descending through numerous coves and ravines. At the junction with the Bad Creek Trail, you can return or extend your hike approximately 1.3 miles to historic Ellicott Rock.

Winding Stairs Trail (Map – Trails 7)

A 75-foot waterfall tucked away along this accessible 3.5-mile trail makes this an interesting choice for a hike. If you start at the northern trailhead at the Cherry Hill Recreation Area, this meandering path is an easy hike as it drops 1,100 feet over its length. The return trip then becomes moderately difficult due to that elevation change.

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Foothills Trails

26 • Visitors GuideCourtesy of South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism with Amick Designs

Blue Ridge Railroad Historic Trail

(Map – Trails 9)

Yellow and Red blazes mark this moderate to strenuous 3.5-mile trail. The trail follows an incomplete section of a 19th century railbed near Walhalla, and has to hiked out-and-back ( 7 miles total )

Big Bend Trail (Map – Trails 1)

This 2.7-mile, out-and-back trail begins at the Cherry Hill Recreation Area and eventually ends at a junction with the Foothills Trail along the Chattooga River. An adventurous scramble on an unmaintained trail along the river affords views of 30-ft Big Bend Falls, largest drop on the Chattooga River.

East Fork Trail (Map – Trails 3)

Beginning at the picnic area adjacent to the Walhalla Fish Hatchery, this 2.5-mile trail is an easy hike along the bank of the scenic, fastmoving east fork of the Chattooga River, and it takes you to the Chattooga River itself. Beginning or ending the hike at Burrell’s Ford adds an additional 2.1 miles.

Oconee Bells Nature Trail (Map – Trails 10)

This easy, 1-mile loop within Devils Fork State Park gets its name from a rare wildflower that has gorgeous white blooms in the early spring. Many native plant species are indentified with markers along the trail. The trailhead is behind the park office and has an informative kiosk at the beginning of the trail.

Bad Creek Spur Trail (Map – Trails 8)

This easy 0.8-mile spur trail provides a connection to the Whitewater River, the Foothills Trail, Coon Branch Trail, and to Lower Whitewater Falls ( via the Foothills Trail ). Enter the gate to Duke Energy’s Bad Creek Hydro Station on SC 130, and proceed two miles down to the marked entrance to the large trailhead parking area. Fishing, but no camping, is allowed along the Whitewater River. A designated campsite is located 0.5 miles past the junction with the river.

■ BIKING/HIKING TRAILS

Oconee Connector of the Palmetto Trail

(Map – Trails 12)

Once the Palmetto Trail is complete, this moderate to difficult trail will end in Walhalla, but for now you can start from either Oconee State Park or Oconee Station. The Oconee Connector is a moderate to difficult 3.2-mile trail that is steeply uphill from Oconee Station. Mountain bikes are allowed on the Oconee Connector.

If hiking is your game, then discovering all or part of the Foothills Trail is one way to play in Oconee County, SC. Hikers from all over the country come to enjoy the solitude and scenery of this National Recreation Trail, which was listed as “ one of the best long trails (50 + miles) in the country “ by Backpacker Magazine in 2011. Stretching from its western terminus in Oconee State Park and extending to the north and east for 77 miles to Table Rock State Park, nearly half of the Trail is in Oconee County and can be accessed from numerous trailheads on SC Highway 107 and SC 130.

Day hikes of all sorts are possible from various trailheads, including the one in Oconee State Park. Leaving the park a hiker has options of a 4.5 mile or 6.0 mile hike, or a visit to a small waterfall. From Burrell’s Ford a hiker may go upstream along the Chattooga River and find Ellicott’s Rock, the point where GA, NC, and SC come together, or meander downstream with gorgeous views of the rocky rapids and shoals. The USFS parking lot at Whitewater Falls (SC130/ NC281) is the gateway to a 3.5 mile hike along the Whitewater River, and includes the crossing of two 60-ft bridges that span the river and a stroll through an area of tall White Pines. A tremendous viewing point can be reached by taking the Foothills Trail across the highway from Whitewater Falls parking area and hiking uphill one mile to twin benches placed there for the enjoyment of the hiker. After visiting the Walhalla Fish Hatchery, an easy 4-mile stretch of the Trail leads from the Fish Hatchery Road downhill to Burrell’s Ford.

Visitors interested in backpacking can launch off from any of the same trailheads as day-hikers and tackle terrain that is rated from easy to strenuous, and allows for camping at most places except along the Whitewater River. The USFS campground at Burrell’s Ford has picnic tables, lantern posts, bearbag cables, and leveled sites. Fishing (with proper license) is allowed in the Whitewater and Chattooga Rivers. If a car shuttle is required, the Foothills Trail Conference maintains a list of volunteer drivers on their website.

An orientation map can be found on page 26 in this guide, but more detailed information is available in the “Foothills Trail Guidebook “ and on the Foothills Trail Map, both of which are available at the Visit Oconee SC office, 105 West South Broad Street in Walhalla; ordered through foothillstrail.org, obtained at local outfitter stores or at the state parks at either end of the Trail. The Conference may be contacted by email at info@foothillstrail.org or writing to Foothills Trail Conference, P.O. Box 3041, Greenville, SC, 29602.

■ HORSE TRAILS Rocky Gap – Willis Knob Horse Trails (Map

– Trails 6)

Rocky Gap Trail in South Carolina and Willis Knob Trail in Georgia combine to offer some of the most scenic horseback riding in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Winding across deeply dissected ridges, the trails descend into the beautiful Chattooga Wild and Scenic River corridor. For a fee the Whetstone Horse Camp in South Carolina serves as a base camp for many users of both trails. Earls Ford Road, located near Whetstone, provides a parking area and hiking trail access to the Chattooga River. If you stay at Chattanooga Trails Bed & Barn you can ride there directly to this trail system.