Andy Niekamp's

2007 Foothills Trail Photos

April 5-8, 2007
The Foothills Trail
Oconee State Park - Table Rock State Park
76 miles in 4 days

The Foothills Trail is a 76 mile hiking trail along the Blue Ridge Escarpment from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park in South Carolina with parts of the trail in North Carolina. On one side of the escarpment is the Appalachian Mountain chain and on the other side is the Piedmont region of the Carolinas.

Day Miles Destination/Campsite
April 5 20.9 Spring past Fish Hatchery Road
April 6 16.4 Bearcamp Creek Campsite
April 7 21.6 Stream past Laurel Fork Creek
April 8 17.2 Table Rock State Park

Hike Photos
Click on an image for a larger photo. Hover mouse over small photo for a description.

Jan Jackson - Shuttle shuttle driver for Andy. 4/5/2007 The starting point of the Foothills Trail at Oconee State Park, SC. 4/5/2007 Andy on the trail. Day 1. 4/5/2007 The first part of the trail was rather level and easy. 4/5/2007
One of the many bridges over the many streams. 4/5/2007 Spring wildflower in bloom. 4/5/2007 Spring wildflower in bloom. 4/5/2007 Spring wildflower in bloom. 4/5/2007
Chattooga River. The movie Spring wildflower in bloom. 4/5/2007 Andy taking a break along the Chattooga River. 4/5/2007 Spring wildflower in bloom. 4/5/2007
Along the trail near the Chattooga River. 4/5/2007 Spring wildflower in bloom. 4/5/2007 Cascades along the Chattooga River. 4/5/2007 Tadpoles pool of water along the river. 4/5/2007
Chattooga River. 4/5/2007 Another view of the Chattooga River. 4/5/2007 Trail markers. 4/5/2007 Night one campsite near a spring past Fish Hatchery Road. 4/6/2007
The bridges made crossing the creeks easy. 4/6/2007 Waterfall along the Foothills Trail near Sloan Bridge. 4/6/2007 Taking a break at the picnic area at Sloan Bridge. 4/6/2007 A rhododendron tunnel. 4/6/2007
Fungus on a downed log. 4/6/2007 Andy at the South Carolina - North Carolina border. 4/6/2007 View of Lake Jocassee. 4/6/2007 Andy near the view of Lake Jocassee. 4/6/2007
The mountains and hills off in the distance. 4/6/2007 Entering the Nantahala National Forest. 4/6/2007 Whitewater Falls. The largest falls on the Trail. Over 600 feet high. 4/6/2007 Taking a break at the lower overlook for the Whitewater Falls. 4/6/2007
The bridge over the Whitewater River. 4/6/2007 Cascades along the Whitewater River. 4/6/2007 Whitewater River. 4/6/2007 Many wooden steps are in place to make the climb downs easier. 4/6/2007
Night two campsite along Bearcamp Creek. 4/6/2007 Supper time at Bearcamp Creek. 4/6/2007 Inside Andys tent. 4/6/2007 Waking up on Saturday morning to a dusting of snow. 4/7/2007
Saturday morning snow scene. 4/7/2007 The morning of the third day. 4/7/2007 Getting packed up for the third day of hiking. 4/7/2007 Nice flat trail on Day 3. 4/7/2007
The snow stayed around until noon in many areas. 4/7/2007 Saturday was a rather cold day of hiking. 4/7/2007 Bridge over Horsepasture River. 4/7/2007 Horsepasture River. 4/7/2007
A nice set of stairs to make the climb out of the river valley easier. 4/7/2007 A lizard came out to enjoy the sun. 4/7/2007 The trail followed an old woods road. 4/7/2007 Andy along Lake Jocassee near Canebrake. 4/7/2007
Lake Jocassee. 4/7/2007 The Toxaway River Bridge. 4/7/2007 Toxaway River. 4/7/2007 Some odd looking plants along the trail near Laurel Fork Falls. 4/7/2007
Crossing one the 10+ bridges over the Laurel Fork Creek. 4/7/2007 A 25 foot waterfall along Laurel Fork Creek. 4/7/2007 A fallen log was converted into a bridge. 4/7/2007 Night three campsite. 4/7/2007
An access point along the trail. The sign marks the end of a 30 mile roadless stretch of trail. 4/8/2007 Wooden steps made climbing down easier. 4/8/2007 Trail bridge. 4/8/2007 Andy along the trail. 4/8/2007
The view of the mountains ahead. 4/8/2007 Andy having a good day. 4/8/2007 Marker at Sassafras Mountain. The highest point in South Carolina. 4/8/2007 Sassafras Mountain. The highest point in South Carolina. Nobody was there on Easter Sunday but me. 4/8/2007
Ice had formed at night on a rock on the trail. 4/8/2007 The landscape near Pinnacle Mountain. 4/8/2007 The trail along Pinnacle Mountain. 4/8/2007 An odd looking stump. There must be a story here. 4/8/2007
The view from Pinnacle Mountain. 4/8/2007 Andy checking out the view at Pinnacle Mountain. 4/8/2007 The view of the Piedmont area of South Carolina. 4/8/2007 The view of the Piedmont area of South Carolina. 4/8/2007
One of the mountains at Table Rock State Park. 4/8/2007 Waterfall on the trail down from Pinnacle Mountain. 4/8/2007 The last waterfall before the end of the trail. 4/8/2007 Back to my Tahoe. Hike Over! 4/8/2007

The Foothills Trail Conference Web Site

Live to Hike ... Hike to Live

Andy's Other Hiking Photo Sites

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