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The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

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Foothills Trail

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SC Picture Project / Pickens County / Foothills Trail

Hikers enjoy exploring the Foothills Trail, a 77-mile labyrinth along the Blue Ridge Escarpment that takes backpackers through the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina and a portion of North Carolina.

Chimney Top Gap

Evangeline Ledbetter of Seneca, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Points of interest along the Foothills Trail include majestic Table Rock, the Estatoe Valley, and Sassafras Mountain, the highest peak in South Carolina at 3,553 feet. This photo was taken at the Chimney Top Gap crossing in the Pickens County community of Sunset.

Foothills Trail Sassafras

Tom Taylor of Greenville, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Reflections on the Foothills Trail


Contributor Evangeline Ledbetter offers these words on her experience hiking the Foothills Trail: “I love to hike on the Foothills Trail. This section is from Sassafras Mountain to Laurel Valley at Highway 178. The trail crosses F. Van Clayton Memorial Highway, which also goes to Sassafras Mountain – the highest point in SC. The sun shining through the maple and hickory trees creates a golden glow that is spectacular.”

Plan Your Trip: Foothills Trail

Where is Foothills Trail located?
Address: Van Clayton Highway, Sunset, SC 29685
GPS Coordinates: 35.045667,-82.802425
Website: http://foothillstrail.org/
What else should I see?
Sassafras Mountain 3.1 miles
Reedy Cove Creek 3.9 miles
Laurel Fork Heritage Preserve 4.2 miles
Twin Falls 4.5 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Forests and Nature Preserves
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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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