5/15/07 Whitewater Falls – Foothills Trail – NC

HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Terry Doyle, Bill Hunt, Martha Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Steve Jordan, Wayne Miller, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Pom Sinnock, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker.

TRAIL INFO. – This portion of the Foothills Trail is in good condition and the views of the two waterfalls are magnificent. There are a couple of steep climbs but it is not a long hike. Overall difficulty – moderately easy.

Directions: From Seneca SC, take Scenic Highway 11 past Tamassee, to Salem, SC continue to the intersection SC 11 and SC 130. Turn left onto 130 and drive approx. 10 miles. Look for the entrance to the Whitewater Falls Recreation Area and parking lot. Alternate parking for a shorter hike to the lower falls is at the Bad Creek Project parking lot (access trail to the Foothills trail).

Another great day for a hike! Sunny and mild. Temperatures from the upper 50’s to low 70’s.

Hiking distance – approx. 6 miles

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Mountain Laurel, Sweet White Violet, Galax, Ragwort, Partridge Berry, Devil’s Bit, Tall Bluet, Yellow Star Grass, Rattlesnake Weed, Blackberry, Squaw Root, Indian Physic, Indian Cucumber Root, Dandelion, Blue Eyed Grass, Wood Sorrel, Lobelia, Venus Looking Glass

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Titmouse, Red Eyed Vireo, Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Acadian Flycatcher, Oven Bird, Hooded Warbler, Redstart, Black Throated Blue Warbler, Blue Jay, Pine Warbler, Scarlet Tananger, Crow, Towhee, Yellow Throated Vireo, Brown Thrasher.