From the spring picnic and annual Fall Gathering to regular group outings and trail maintenance projects, there are a variety of events throughout the year just for members of the Foothills Trail Conservancy. Participants must be members of the Foothills Trail Conservancyor their guest. Event Notifications will be sent by email to members through the FTC’sonline registration system when registration is open. Please sign up to receive outing notification by providing your e-mail address to the Foothills Trail Conservancy mailing list on our Web site www.foothillstrail.org.
Questions should be sent to FTC through the email address info@foothillstrail.org. The number of registrants per hike is at the discretion of the hike leader and will sometimes be limited. Registration is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. You will be asked to fill out an Acknowledgement of Risk form prior to your hike. The Foothills Trail Conservancy does not permit dogs on group hikes.
* 2025 Planned Maintenance Schedule will be announced, after the Helene response has subsided.
Foothills Trail Conservancy 2025 Outings
Saturday, January 25 – Big Bend Spur to Chattooga River. Join us for a winter hike on the Big Bend Spur Trail to the Foothills Trail. We will travel west on the Foothills Trail a short distance to a scenic site on the Chattooga River for lunch. After lunch we will return on the Big Bend Spur back to our cars. This 6 mile hike is moderately strenuous due to the distance and terrain. Bring lunch, snacks, water, appropriate clothing and footwear, and consider bringing hiking poles or a hiking stick. Before the hike we will meet at the entrance to Cherry Hill Recreational Area off of Hwy 107 at 9:30am. The hike is limited to 15 people. Time commitment: 9:30am – 4pm.
Saturday, February 15 – FHT: Sassafras to Table Rock State Park. Join FTC Board member, Jerry Ellsworth & Special Projects Coordinator, Heyward Douglass, on one of the most spectacular sections of the Foothills Trail. In the winter months, with less foliage, the enormous boulders below Pinnacle Mountain and Table Rock can be fully appreciated, and the views from Drawbar Cliffs and Pinnacle Overlook (also called Bald Knob) are incredible. This 9.5-mile hike is strenuous because of its length and the fact that it descends 2,500 ft. from Pinnacle Mountain. It will require a shuttle, so we will meet at Table Rock Nature Center parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Bring lunch, snacks, water, appropriate clothing and footwear, and consider bringing hiking poles or a hiking stick. Before the hike the group will enjoy the views from the observation deck at Sassafras Mountain. This hike is limited to 30 people. Time commitment: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. SC State Park Pass or fee required for Table Rock State Park.
Saturday, February 22 – Winter waterfall views at Gorges State Park. Many of the waterfalls within Gorges State Park are hidden deep in the woods and are inaccessible by trail. However, during the winter months, when the leaves are off of the trees, some of these waterfalls deep within the park can be seen from the edge of the trail. Join Gorges Park Ranger staff for a 7.2 mile hike along the Auger Hole Trail to the Toxaway River and back. We will meet at the Frozen Creek Road Trail Head access at 9:00am with a plan to be on the trail by 9:30am. Bring a packed lunch to eat along the trail and plenty of water. This 7.2 mile round trip hike is not technically challenging but does involve portions of elevation gain throughout the day that can be considered strenuous. This hike is limited to 20 participants.
Saturday, March 15 – Oconee Bells at Devils Fork State Park. Join fellow FTC members to celebrate the Jocassee Gorges’ most famous harbinger of spring, the flower of the rare and beautiful Oconee Bell, at Devils Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee in northern Oconee County. BellFest is a Friends of Jocassee public event that features local artisans, exhibitors, silent auction, and interpretive hike. We recommend you take part in a 1-mile wildflower walk on the Oconee Bell Trail with markers that identify plants along the trail. There are places along the Oconee Bell Trail that are conveniently set up for photography to limit trampling of the plants. Please be mindful of others on the trail and practice social distancing. 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at Devils Fork State Park. (Admission to the park is $8 per adult; $5 SC Seniors (65+); $4 children (6-15), under 5 are free)
Saturday, April 5 – FTC Spring Picnic – At Table Rock State Park, 2:00-7:00 PM at the White Oak Shelter. The meal is served around 4:30 PM. FTC provides drinks, hot dogs and hamburgers. We ask that FTC members bring a potluck dish to share. The cost for adults is $10 each and kids are free for this event. This is a great event for the family. ***The morning of the Spring Picnic we have planned a group hike up Stool Mountain for FTC members. The hike will begin 9:00am. the group will meet at the White Oak Shelter at Table Rock State Park (same location as our Picnic). FTC Board members, Scott Stegenga and Jerry Ellsworth will lead the group. This hike is limited to 15 people. Registration for the hike and picnic will be separate.
Saturday May 3 – May Wildflower Hike – This hike will begin at Burrell’s Ford, hiking to King Creek Falls and then Spoonauger Falls. It will then take the connector up to the Foothills Trail and return to Burrell’s Ford. Along with the beautiful waterfalls, expect the Ladyslippers to be in bloom! Meet at Burrell’s Ford at the gravel parking lot at 9:00 am. Hike leader: Bobbie Wilhite, FTC Board Member and South Carolina Master Naturalist.
Saturday, May 17 – FHT Geology Hike – Join FTC Board Member and retired Furman Professor, Bill Ranson, on an informative hike to explore the geology of the Palmetto Trail. Dr. Ranson recently published a book with SCDNR personnel, The Guide to the Geology of the Foothills Trail. The location and meeting time for this hike are TBD. Limited to 15 people.
Saturday, August 23 – FHT Big Bend to Burrell’s Ford – Join our FTC Chairman, Andrew Gleason (aka: Chainsaw) for this summertime hike on the Big Bend and Foothills Trail, from Cherry Hill to Burrell’s Ford. The hike will be 5 miles and strenuous due to the elevation gain and terrain. We will visit some nice spots along the Chattooga River. Limited to 25 people.
Friday – Sunday, Nov 7-9 – FTC Fall Gathering at Table Rock State Park. Join us for a FUN weekend get-together of FTC members, family, and friends. A variety of hikes of various lengths will be offered, a scavenger hunt, maintenance project, guest speakers, annual meeting, and great food & fellowship. Registration information will be sent out by mail and email to FTC members by early September. Registration is required to attend this event.
