Backpacking the Foothills Trail

Looking to get outdoors for the New Years Holiday weekend?  Come join a fun dog friendly backpacking trip!

We will start our trip at Whitewater Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States and enjoy the stunning views of the cascading water and the surrounding forest.  We will backpack a 32 miles section and ending at Laurel Valley.

The Foothills Trail in South Carolina is a 77-mile-long trail that traverses the scenic foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It offers diverse landscapes, including waterfalls, rivers, and mountainous terrain. Hikers on this trail can expect a mix of challenging sections and more moderate stretches, providing opportunities for both experienced and novice backpackers.

Here's the tentative itinary:

Day 1:  Set up the shuttles and hike in then set up camp, aproximately 10-13 miles mostly downhill.

Day 2: Break camp and hike most of the day for aproximately 15 miles with rolling moderate elevation.

Day 3: Break camp early and hike to our cars aproximately 5 miles.

We will plan to get back to Atlanta early, in time to celebrate New Year's eve.

We will split the cost for parking at least $18 for two cars at each end of the trail ($3/day per car.)

The trip leader reserves the right to consider participant's past history and to make the final determination for participation on this hike.

Starting location, Upper Whitewater Falls trailhead

Ending location, Laurel Valley trailhead