May 14, 2013
| Today’s hike was on the Foothills Trail in NC and SC. Hiking to Upper and Lower Whitewater Falls.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Karen Brown, Pam Euliss, Bill Hunt, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, and Geri Whitaker. TRAIL INFO. – A beautiful section of the Foothills Trail that features two stunningly beautiful waterfalls, each over 400 feet high. Today, we first parked at the upper Whitewater Falls parking lot and did the short hike up to the falls and down the steps to the viewing platform. Next, we drove down the road a short distance to the Bad Creek Project to the Foothills Trail access trail and hiked to Lower Whitewater Falls. Total round trip distance is approximately 6 miles. Some of our group hiked the extra portion of the trail over to the Thompson River for an extra 4.4 miles added to the hike. 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. The Bad Creek Project access is about a half-mile south of the entrance to Whitewater Falls. Another great day for a hike! Fair and mild with temperatures ranging from 66 to 73 degrees F. Distance hiked – 6 mi. or 10.4 mi. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Golden Alexander, Mountain Laurel, Hooked Buttercup, Star Chickweed, Fringe Tree, Tulip Poplar, Foam Flower, Dog Hobble, Robin’s Plantain, Rattlesnake Weed, Solomon’s Plume, Solomon’s Seal, Yellow Stargrass, Blackberry, Birdsfoot Violet, Halberd-leaved Violet and Purple Violet, BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Tufted Titmouse, Wild Turkey, American Redstart, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Pine Warbler, Oven bird, Black and White Warbler, Vireo, Northern Cardinal, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Pileated Woodpecker, American Crow and Black-throated Green Warbler. |
 Start of our hike today at Whitewater Falls Park. |
 As we hike to the falls, we get this nice view of the Bad Creek Project Lake.. |
 View of Whitewater Falls from the upper viewing area! |
 We walk down the long staircase to the lower viewing platform. |
 411 ft. Whitewater Falls viewed from the lower platform! |
 Foothills Trail map of the area near the Bad Creek parking area. |
 We approach the Whitewater River. |
 The footbridges crossing the Whitewater River. |
 Nice trail sign just across the river. |
 We arrive at spectacular 400 ft. Lower Whitewater Falls! |
 Lunchtime at the observation deck of Lower Whitewater Falls. |
 Fungus of the Week! |
 Some of our group decided to do an extra 4+ miles by hiking out and back to the Thompson River! |
 About a mile south of the Bad Creek Parking area, we get a nice view of the upper part of Jocassee Lake where Lower Whitewater Falls comes in. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike – (l-r) Tony Presley, Donna Presley, Geri Whitaker, Karen Brown, Jeanne O’Connor, June Bellamy, John Bellamy, Pam Euliss and Bill Hunt. |