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You should obtain current information before attempting any hike.
Date Hiked: 4/11/92
Length: 9.0 miles
Type: loop
Difficulty: 3
Scenery: 2
Blaze: white on Foothills Trail, orange on connector trail, black on Chattooga Trail, orange on East Fork Trail
Main Features: partial views, Chattooga River, East Fork of Chattooga River
Animals: American goldfinch, crows, pileated woodpeckers, chickadees, gray squirrel, red squirrel, cardinals, turkey, skunk
Location: Sumter National Forest, South Carolina
Driving north on highway 107, the road to the Walhalla National Fish Hatchery is 12.1 miles from highway 28. Driving south on highway 107, the fish hatchery road is on the right 3.4 miles past the North Carolina state line. The Foothills Trail crosses the fish hatchery road after about a tenth of a mile. Drive about 1.6 miles to the fish hatchery parking lot. (The gate may be locked at night.) Walk back up the hatchery road the way you came. Turn right onto the Foothills Trail about 0.1 miles before you get to highway 107.
Approximate Altitude Changes
Total Ascent: over 1,100 feet
Miles
0.0 parking lot
1.3 high point on hatchery road
1.4 turn right on Foothills Trail at grassy parking area
2.0 gain top of ridge
2.7 low point
3.0 gain ridge top
3.1 right switchback
3.2 left switchback
3.3 partial winter views right
3.6 right switchback
3.7 stream flows under trail
3.9 low spot
4.0 high spot
4.3 low spot
4.4 high spot
4.5 turn right onto Chattooga Trail connector (orange blaze)
4.8 turn left and cross stream at clearing
4.9 cross stream
5.4 cross old roadbed with squared granite blocks on left
5.5 sharp right
turn right onto Chattooga Trail at junction
5.6 reach edge of Chattooga River
(beware of numerous spur trails left for next mile or so)
5.8 stream
5.9 stream
6.0 turn left onto old road bed
6.2 veer right away from river
6.5 open area with many campsites (bear slightly right to find bridge)
cross East Fork on impressive footbridge
turn left after bridge to go sit by Chattooga River
6.6 Chattooga River
backtrack to the bridge and continue straight following the East Fork Trail (orange)
7.1 waterfall on right
7.2 stream crossing
cascades on right
7.4 waterfall on right
impressive rock face on left
7.5 scenic cascades on right
7.6 boulder on left
8.0 stream crossing on concrete blocks with waterfall on left
8.2 high point
8.4 bridge
8.5 bridge
8.7 turn right and cross bridge at junction with loop trail
(left also goes to parking lot)
8.9 bridge, picnic shelter, restrooms
bridge
turn right on paved walkway to parking area
9.0 car
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