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 Conservancy or their guest. Event Notifications will be sent by email to members through the FTC’s online 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 [email protected]. 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.
To be notified about Foothills Trail Maintenance Events and have the opportunity to participate, sign up on our Volunteer Page.
Foothills Trail Conservancy 2026 Outings
Saturday, January 24 – Round Mtn Views, Whitewater River, & Upper Whitewater Falls.
Join FTC Board Chairman, Jerry Ellsworth, & former Board member, Cathy Foster, to view the iconic Upper Whitewater Falls in winter! We will start with a hike uphill towards Round Mtn Gap to take in the long-distance views from several points along the FHT. It is possible to see Pinnacle and Table Rock, Greenville, and many of the surrounding lakes. After that we will take the FHT down to the Whitewater River and Corbin Creek Bridge for lunch along the river. The climb back up to see Upper Whitewater Falls will be well worth the effort! Bring lunch, snacks, water, appropriate clothing & footwear. This 8 mile hike is strenuous due to elevation gain. Meet at the FHT Trailhead on SC 130/ NC 281 at 9:30 am. This hike is limited to 15 people. Duration: 9:30am — 3:00pm.
Saturday, February 21 – Sassafras Mtn to Table Rock State Park. Join former FTC Board Chairman, Heyward Douglass & an FTC co-leader on one of the most spectacular sections of the Foothills Trail. Wintertime, with less foliage, provides awesome views of the enormous cliffs and boulders below Pinnacle Mountain and the views from Drawbar Cliffs and 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 Mtn. It will require a shuttle, so we will meet at Table Rock Nature Center parking lot at 8:30 am. Bring lunch, snacks, water, appropriate clothing & footwear. Before the hike begins the group will enjoy views from the Sassafras Mtn. observation deck. This hike is limited to 20 people. Duration: 8:30am – 5:00pm. SC State Park Pass or fee required for Table Rock State Park.
Saturday, March 14 – Beechbottom Falls ( day ) & Astronomy Outing at Sassafras Mtn.
Join former Board Chairman, Heyward Douglass, on a moderate day-hike to the picturesque Beechbottom Falls, on the way up to Sassafras Mtn. Meet at the signed parking area along the Roy F. Jones Hwy at 4:00 pm. After the hike, the group will proceed up to the parking area at Sassafras Mtn. for the astronomy outing. The observation deck at Sassafras Mtn. is an excellent place to view the stars & planets, and maybe see a pass by the International Space Station ! Binoculars and telescopes will be available, but bring your own if you have them. A flashlight of some sort may be helpful. This hike is limited to 20 people. Duration: 4:00pm – 9:00pm.
Saturday, March 21 – BellFest 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 hikes. 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. Duration: 10:00am – 3:00pm 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 11 – FTC Spring Picnic.
The FTC 2026 Spring Picnic will be held at the White Oak Shelter at Table Rock State Park, beginning at 2:00 pm. The meal will be served around 4:30 pm. This is a potluck gathering, so bring a dish to share! There will be a $10 charge for adults. The park entrance fee is waived for FTC members. Please notify the gate attendant. Music provided by The BlueWall Ramblers (David White, Becky Stovall, and Patrick Powers). Following the meal, Kenny Rupert will present an “Introduction to Mushrooms & Identification.” In this session, he’ll explore mushroom anatomy and life cycles, laying the foundation for understanding how fungi grow and function in the natural world.We’ll cover the basics of mushroom identification, including key features to look for, and examine examples of toxic and deadly species alongside a few commonly found edible varieties.
If there’s interest, we’ll conclude with a short walk in the woods to see what we can discover – keeping in mind that it is somewhat off – season, so sightings may be limited.
Come curious and ready to learn!
Saturday April 18 – Wildflower Walk at Whitewater Falls.
Join former FTC Board member, Dan Whitten, on the annual Wildflower Walk held at 9:00am at the USFS Whitewater Falls Recreation Area on NC 281. The walk is frequently held on the spur trail below the Whitewater Falls overlooks as it descends through the rich cove hillsides to the river below. The 600 ft. elevation difference from the overlooks to the river makes it possible to see unopened flowers at the upper parts of the walk, then see fully open plants at the river level ! Along with newly emerging flowers are trees beginning to leaf out and the songs of migrating birds. A lunch break is usually enjoyed on the boulders above the 3 bridges that cross the river. After lunch the hike continues along the Whitewater River to the Bad Creek trail access parking lot. This hike is limited to 20 people. Duration: 9:00am – 2:00pm. There is a small entrance fee to park, but Senior passes are valid here.
Saturday, May 2 – Foothills Trail Geology Hike.
Join DNR geologist ( and co-author of the “ Geology Guide to the Foothills Trail “ ), Robby Morrow, on an informative hike to explore a portion of the Foothills Trail.
It begins at 9:00 am , and will meet at Laurel Valley parking lot, with a shuttle up to Chimneytop Gap.
Duration – 9:00 to 2:00.
This hike is limited to 20 people.
Saturday, June 6 ( National Trails Day ) — The Stool Trail.
Join Table Rock State Park Interpreter, Ashley Audette, on a scenic hike up the new trail to the summit of the Stool. The newly built trail, which begins at the Nature Center trailhead, includes portions of a trail that was built by the CCC. Along the way are nice streams and some enormous boulders, as well as an occasional view of the piedmont below. The summit of the Stool affords a grand view of Table Rock and the steep terrain that surrounds the Greenville Watershed reservoir. This 5.2-mile round-trip hike is moderate due to steadily rising terrain. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and lunch. Meet at 9:00am at the Nature Center. This hike is limited to 20 people.
Saturday, June 13 – Bats @ Night outing.
Join DNR bat biologist, Jen Kindel, on an informative outing to observe bat behavior at night, including using electronics to actually hear the chirping communication used by bats to navigate and capture prey. If conditions warrant, it may be possible to capture some bats to see them up close and obtain scientific data ! The location and meeting time for this outing are TBD. A flashlight of some sort may be useful. This hike is limited to 15 people.
Saturday, July 18 – Jocassee Boat, FHT, Swim outing.
Join FTC Board member and Wild Child Director, Kerry McKenzie, on a combination scenic boat ride, Foothills Trail hike, and fun swim in the lake ! After a tour up the lake, Kerry will drop the group off to hike from Laurel Fork to Canebrake. After being met at Canebrake, the boat will stop at a swimming spot along the lakeshore to enjoy a leisurely splash and swim to wash off residue from the hike ! Bring lunch, snacks, water, and appropriate footwear and clothing. There is a charge of $25 per person, which will be paid at the time of the hike. Meet at the Devils Fork boat ramp at 9:00 am. This hike is limited to 12 people.
Saturday, August 8 – Big Bend “ Area “ hike.
Join former FTC Chairman, Andrew Gleason ( aka: “ Chainsaw “ ), on this summertime hike on the Big Bend and Foothills Trail. The hike will begin at Cherry Hill, but Andrew will determine the destination point before the hike is sent out for registration. The hike will be about 5 miles and moderately strenuous due to elevation gain and terrain. Part of the hike will visit spots along the Chattooga River. Bring water, lunch, and snacks, and wear appropriate footwear and clothing ( bring a swimsuit if you like ! ). Duration: 8:30 am – 2:30 pm. This hike is limited to 25 people.
Saturday, September 19 – Rainbow Falls ( Jones Gap SP ).
Join FTC Board member, Tricia Kyzer, on a hike to the base of Rainbow Falls, which plunges 80 + feet in one straight, free-falling drop ! The mottled rock face that surrounds the falls also adds considerable beauty and interest to the view. This 5-mile, roundtrip hike is fairly steep with a 1,200 ft elevation gain and should be considered moderate to strenuous. Bring water, lunch, snacks, and wear appropriate footwear and clothing. Parking is very limited so meet at Jones Gap State Park at 8:00 am !! Duration: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. This hike is limited to 20 people.
Saturday, Oct 31 – Lower Whitewater Falls.
Join former FTC Board member, and retired DNR information specialist, Greg Lucas, on a hike along the John Garton Trail to the Lower Whitewater Falls overlook. Meet at 9:00 am in the Bad Creek Foothills Trail access parking lot. This roundtrip hike of approximately 2 miles is easy to moderate, and will afford a beautiful view of the waterfall from a wooden platform. Bring water, and snacks, and wear appropriate footwear and clothing. A camera is recommended. Duration: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm. This hike is limited to 20 people.
For more information, email [email protected]