Passage of the Palmetto Trail(Beasly Gap to summit of Horse Mtn.) - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Passage of the Palmetto Trail(Beasly Gap to summit of Horse Mtn.)
Country:	United States
State:	South Carolina
Nearby Town:	Pickens
Rating:
Directions:	North from Pickens on US 178. At junction of US 178 & SC 11, continue on US 178 for approx. 4.5 miles to the parking area on the right. The Beasly Gap trailhead is on the right approx. a quarter mile from the parking area.
Total Hike Distance:	5.00 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Moderate
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	In & Out, Backtrack Hike
Hike Starts/Ends:	Beasly Gap
Trails Used:	Beasly Gap section of Passage of the Palmetto Trail
Backcountry Campsites:	No
Backcountry Water Sources:	Streams
Management:	Other
Contact Information:	Palmetto Conservation Foundation palmettoconservation.org 866-444-2423
Best Season:	Winter, Spring, Fall
Users:	Hikers, Dogs
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads
Hike Summary:	This 10 mile rugged & remote hiking trail along the Passage of the Palmetto Trail is offered to the public by Blue Ridge Electric CoOp. Had the day not been rainy, I'm sure we would have seen more than we did walking through the clouds. This trail will have excellent views come Fall. We were able to enjoy the large rock faces & boulders as well as abundant wildflowers & berries. The Mountain Laurel was prolific throughout the hike. The blossoms blanketed the trail in several places. Very pretty. There were also a few small waterfalls along side the trail as we climbed. We'd like to return this Fall or Winter & do the complete section (12.5 miles) from Beasly Gap to the barn at Table Rock State Park. We were pleased with the condition of the trail as well as it's remoteness & are grateful to the CoOp for allowing hikers the use of it.