Laurel Valley to Table Rock State Park
Sunday November 9, 2014
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Start Location: Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles)
End Location: Laurel Valley (61.8 miles) Start Location: Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles) Parking Location: Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles); Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles); Chimney Gap (64 miles); and Laurel Valley (61.8 miles).Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles)Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles)Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles)Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles Views: Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles). Water Sources: Literally everywhere. Campsites: none Siler Bald (114.4 miles)Foothills Trail Distance: 4.6 miles. Hiking Distance: 4.7 miles. |
I got to Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles), the highest point in South Carolina, around 8:45 am. Sassafras observation tower offers from pretty nice views. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to take many pictures and really enjoy it. I was supposed to meet Kestrel at Laurel Valley in an hour. Sleep, again, was more important this morning, and now I was running an hour late. I didn't start hiking until close to 9. I had to hike 4.6 miles down to Laurel Valley (61.8 miles). Luckily, when you are on the highest point in a state, there is really no place to go but down.
I had an hour to do 4.6 miles. This was not good. I started making my way down. This hike required approximately 1,800 feet in elevation loss. Where I could, I did a little trail running. I would run until the trail got bad enough for me not to run anymore or I almost rolled an ankle. Then I would walk for a short while and then try trail running again. Since I was trying to hustle down the mountain. I didn't really take a whole lot of pictures.
However, as I made my way down the mountain, I noticed what kind of looked like a dog. A coyote? Maybe. Whatever it was it scared the crap out of me. Luckily, I scared him just as much and he ran off.
I made it down to Laurel Valley around 10:20 am. Wasn't a bad time. Almost 3.5 mph pace. During this hike, however, I lost my trail guide. Well better on the last day than on the first day. I just wish I hadn't slept in as much so I could have enjoyed this hike a little more. She had been waiting for me for a while. Late per usual. We got in her car, and we drove to Table Rock State Park.
I had an hour to do 4.6 miles. This was not good. I started making my way down. This hike required approximately 1,800 feet in elevation loss. Where I could, I did a little trail running. I would run until the trail got bad enough for me not to run anymore or I almost rolled an ankle. Then I would walk for a short while and then try trail running again. Since I was trying to hustle down the mountain. I didn't really take a whole lot of pictures.
However, as I made my way down the mountain, I noticed what kind of looked like a dog. A coyote? Maybe. Whatever it was it scared the crap out of me. Luckily, I scared him just as much and he ran off.
I made it down to Laurel Valley around 10:20 am. Wasn't a bad time. Almost 3.5 mph pace. During this hike, however, I lost my trail guide. Well better on the last day than on the first day. I just wish I hadn't slept in as much so I could have enjoyed this hike a little more. She had been waiting for me for a while. Late per usual. We got in her car, and we drove to Table Rock State Park.
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Start Location: Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles)
Start Location: Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles) End Location: Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles)Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles)Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles)Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles). Parking Location: Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles)Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles); Chimney Gap (64 miles).Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles)Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles)Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles)Table Rock State Park (76.2 miles Views: Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles); Cliff view (71.9 miles); Pinnacle Knob (72.7 miles); Mill Creek Falls Spur Trail (73.7 miles). Water Sources: Literally everywhere. Campsites: John L. Cantrell Homesite (67.6 miles). Siler Bald (114.4 miles)Foothills Trail Distance: 9.8 miles. Hiking Distance: 12+ miles. |
I had previously been a little disappointed with the Foothills Trail because it didn't have any real climbs and mountain views. Well the Foothills Trail addressed that issue with Table Rock Mountain State Park. This last section of the trail has two significant mountain climbs and two amazing views. This was by far my favorite section of the Foothills Trail and is the main reason I want to hike the Foothills Trail again.
We rode to Table Rock State Park and registered. Table Rock State Park has very. . . er, let's call them strict rules about its State Park. There is no hiking in the State Park after dark and if you don't register you or you take longer than anticipated, they actually send Rangers out to find you. I have never heard of anything like it, but I don't do much hiking in State Parks so maybe that is nothing new.
After registering, we drove over to the trailhead. From the trailhead, the Foothills trail is joined by several other trails (Table Rock Trail, Carrick Creek Trail, and Pinnacle trail. The trail is constantly climbing for the first four miles until you reach Pinnacle Knob (72.7 miles), but first there is a side trail to Mill Creek Falls (73.7 miles) to a decent waterfall. If you have time, I would go see it, but if time is an issue, you won't be missing a major view. From here, the trail continues to climb to the first big view: Pinnacle Knob (72.7 miles). This place offers some outstanding views. We decide to take a break here and take several pictures. The Appalachian Foothills escarpment offers great views. It is a must see, especially when the fall colors are changing. This simple view turned out to be my favorite location of Foothills Trail.
From here we continued our climb to the junction with Pinnacle Trail (72.3 miles). As I had lost my trail guide, I had no clue if there was a view up there. I decide to make my way up. The side trail is actually fairly steep. Going up wasn't a problem, but going down was. I took my sweet time going down. At the summit, there is a sign marking the elevation and coordinates. Pinnacle Mountain is the second highest mountain in SC with an elevation of 3,425 feet. From here the trail descends fairly steeply 900 feet in about a mile. Next we begins our slow 6 mile, 1,000 foot + ascent to Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles).
There is a nice view along the ridge line with some impromptu campsites. I also made a mistake on the climb to Sassafras at another impromptu campsite. I continued down a forest road instead of noticing that the trail pulled off down the mountain on a side trail. About 20 minutes and no blazes later, we had to turn around. That was stupid of me.
We continue hiking as the sun starts to edge ever closer to the ridge line. We are starting to lose light, but we are very close. We cross John L Cantrell Homesite (67.6 miles). This place would make for a pretty cool campsite. From here, it was a short .9 mile climb to the summit of Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles). I came across my file white blaze, and with that I finished the Foothills Trail!!! Although I had been at Sassafras this morning, I drove there so I didn't consider that "hiking" to Sassafras Mt. Today, I conquered the Foothills Trail, South Carolina's tallest and second tallest mountains. It was a damn good day.
We rode to Table Rock State Park and registered. Table Rock State Park has very. . . er, let's call them strict rules about its State Park. There is no hiking in the State Park after dark and if you don't register you or you take longer than anticipated, they actually send Rangers out to find you. I have never heard of anything like it, but I don't do much hiking in State Parks so maybe that is nothing new.
After registering, we drove over to the trailhead. From the trailhead, the Foothills trail is joined by several other trails (Table Rock Trail, Carrick Creek Trail, and Pinnacle trail. The trail is constantly climbing for the first four miles until you reach Pinnacle Knob (72.7 miles), but first there is a side trail to Mill Creek Falls (73.7 miles) to a decent waterfall. If you have time, I would go see it, but if time is an issue, you won't be missing a major view. From here, the trail continues to climb to the first big view: Pinnacle Knob (72.7 miles). This place offers some outstanding views. We decide to take a break here and take several pictures. The Appalachian Foothills escarpment offers great views. It is a must see, especially when the fall colors are changing. This simple view turned out to be my favorite location of Foothills Trail.
From here we continued our climb to the junction with Pinnacle Trail (72.3 miles). As I had lost my trail guide, I had no clue if there was a view up there. I decide to make my way up. The side trail is actually fairly steep. Going up wasn't a problem, but going down was. I took my sweet time going down. At the summit, there is a sign marking the elevation and coordinates. Pinnacle Mountain is the second highest mountain in SC with an elevation of 3,425 feet. From here the trail descends fairly steeply 900 feet in about a mile. Next we begins our slow 6 mile, 1,000 foot + ascent to Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles).
There is a nice view along the ridge line with some impromptu campsites. I also made a mistake on the climb to Sassafras at another impromptu campsite. I continued down a forest road instead of noticing that the trail pulled off down the mountain on a side trail. About 20 minutes and no blazes later, we had to turn around. That was stupid of me.
We continue hiking as the sun starts to edge ever closer to the ridge line. We are starting to lose light, but we are very close. We cross John L Cantrell Homesite (67.6 miles). This place would make for a pretty cool campsite. From here, it was a short .9 mile climb to the summit of Sassafras Mountain (66.4 miles). I came across my file white blaze, and with that I finished the Foothills Trail!!! Although I had been at Sassafras this morning, I drove there so I didn't consider that "hiking" to Sassafras Mt. Today, I conquered the Foothills Trail, South Carolina's tallest and second tallest mountains. It was a damn good day.