Foothills/Fork Mountain Loop - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Foothills/Fork Mountain Loop |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | South Carolina |
| Nearby Town: | Walhalla, SC |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | Go north 8.5 miles from Walhalla, SC on Hwy 28 to SC 107. Go right on 107 for 8.9 miles to FR 708 ( gravel). Left on FR 708 for 3 miles to Burrells Ford parking area. Foothills/Fork Mountain Trail loop starts across the gravel road from the parking area. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 19.00 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Burrells Ford parking area |
| Trails Used: | Foothills, Fork Mountain, Chatooga River Trail |
| Backcountry Campsites: | Yes |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams, Rivers |
| Management: | U.S. Forest Service |
| Contact Information: | Unknown |
| Best Season: | Spring, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers |
| Road Conditions: | Secondary Paved Roads, Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads |
| Hike Summary: | The hike begins across the Burrells Ford parking area on the Foothills Trail and immediately climbs gradually up Medlin Mountain for about 3 miles to the crest and then eases and descends down and crosses the Fish Hatchery Road. Trail continues to Sloan Bridge and Hwy 107 where there is a picnic area and rest rooms. There is little or no water between Burrells Ford and Sloan Bridge but plenty for the next few miles. At Sloan Bridge do not cross the highway but follow north about 50 yards and go left back into the woods on the marked Fork Mountain Trail. You will follow a small creek for a short distance. This is an easy but less maintained trail and you will enter the Ellicott Rock Wilderness area after a mile or so. The hike is easy with some small streams for the next mile or so. Camping areas are available at the 9 mile and 11 mile mark. I went to the 11 mile mark which is on a gap with great camping area but no water. The 9 mile mark has a better spot with a creek. The second day was mostly down hill for 5-5.5 miles to the Chattooga River where it picked up the Chattooga River Trail. This part of the trail was not maintained very well and at times I felt like I was bushwacking down the hill. Since it was early morn, I got very wet from the dew on the bushes. No big deal. Once I hit the river I followed it south (on the east side of the river) to the Burrells Ford bridge. There were a few places along this part of the trail that were hazardous because of the blowdowns and the trail being high over the river with a sharp dropoff. Be careful here. When reaching the bridge, take the gravel road about .5 miles back to the parking area. I only saw one person on this trail until I got about 1 mile from finishing. I did this trip in July and it was pretty warm during the day but still cooled off nicely at night. I would recommend doing this in the fall or spring. All in all, it was a great hike. I went solo because I wanted a wilderness hike and this fit the bill. Even though it was only 19 miles and one night, I felt like I was completely by myself (which I was). I recommend it as a great two day get away. |
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