Foothills Trail Conservancy

10/17/2026

It's that time!
Register for the 2026 FTC Fall Gathering and join us for the best weekend of the year! Hikes, Food, Music, Kids' Corner, Trail Talks & Fellowship with friends and family.
Link: https://form.jotform.com/262756356992069

Not a member yet or need to renew? No problem!
Sign up today:
https://foothillstrail.org/join-now/

10/10/2026

Make sure to sign up for the Foothills Trail Fall Gathering happening November 6-8! We can't wait to see you there!

Join us for the FTC Fall Gathering at Oconee State Park. Pick from nine guided hikes and activities across the weekend, then click the RSVP link below to register!

10/06/2026

On a beautiful autumn day (9-29-26), 3 FTC Trail Captains (TC) got crews onto their sections and spent the day clearing the trail of blowdowns, knocking back vegetation and carrying lumber for bridge repairs & replacements. Many thanks to all these volunteers.

David Howle (TC) and volunteers Bob Faires, Gene Waller, Heyward Douglass and Tommy Hutchins worked on the Foothills Trail in the Nantahala National Forest between Whitewater Falls and Sloan Bridge.

Bill Miller (TC) and Brian Maney worked on the Foothills Trail in the Sumter National Forest in between Big Bend Road and the Crack in the Rock Trail.

Mike Ingersoll (TC) and volunteers Guy Jubinville, Greg Magnell, John Wallace and Bruce Evilsizor worked on the Foothills Trail east of the Horsepasture River in the Toxaway Gamelands.

09/22/2026

The leaves are letting go, the ridgelines are opening up, and it's almost time to come home to the trail. 🍂

SAVE THE DATE
FTC Annual Meeting & Fall Gathering
November 6–8, 2026 · Oconee State Park

A weekend of trail, stories, and the people who keep the Foothills Trail wild and well. We saved you a seat by the fire.

Details + Registration soon!

09/10/2026

FTC Board member and 4-H Natural Resources program leader, Patricia Whitener shared time on the Foothills Trail with Seneca Middle Schoolers. Students learned about macroinvertebrate sampling to assess water quality of the Chattooga River. This program is made possible through the USFS CATT team ( Center for Aquatic Technology Transfer) led by Keith Whalen.These kinds of partnerships are built on the trail!

09/09/2026

FTC volunteers worked 2 days in Laurel Valley in between Virginia Hawkins campsite and Lake Jocassee and cleared thick vegetation on the trail, replaced bear cables at the Laurel Fork & Virginia Hawkins' campsites, and found and removed a set of 3 blowdowns blacking the trail. The 10 volunteers last Friday (9-4-26) and the 6 volunteers yesterday (9-8-26) appreciated the Gatorade & Cliff bars supplied by the FTC to get through the rather warm outings.

08/06/2026

Greetings, FTC friends!


We’d like to extend a special invitation for you to learn more about the Jocassee Gorges through the Jocassee Wild Naturalist Certification program.

Sponsored by Jocassee Wild Outdoor Education, this ten-course program offers participants a deeper understanding of the unique nature of the Jocassee Gorges. Beginning with a mandatory Introductory class in August, the core classes run September 2026 through April 2027. Hands-on classes are taught by leading authorities in various subjects including geology, plants, animals, history, weather, and lake and stream ecology.

Learn more at https://jocasseewild.org/wild-naturalist-certification/

We hope you’ll join us!
Jocassee Wild Outdoor Education

07/14/2026

Heyward Douglass, former Chairman of the FTC, will give a presentation on his hike of the Maroon Bells 4-pass Loop Trail near Aspen, CO, this Saturday, July 18, at REI in Greenville.
To register for the presentation go to REI’s link below :

https://www.rei.com/events/mbfp/maroon-bells-four-pass-loop-a-colorado-high-alpine-backpacking-journey

07/08/2026

Hike it. Love it. Help care for it 💚

From trail work to leading hikes, there’s a place for you. Join our volunteer team and help preserve the Foothills Trail for everyone to enjoy.

Volunteering is a chance to spend time outdoors, meet others who love the trail, and make a lasting impact on the places we all value. Whether you can give a few hours or join us regularly, every effort makes a difference.

👉 Learn more and get involved at foothillstrail.org/volunteer

07/01/2026

Join us on this summertime hike on the Big Bend and Foothills Trail.

📄Details: Start at Cherry Hill, we will visit spots along the Chattooga River. End point TBD

📍Distance: ~ 5 miles

🥵Difficulty: Moderately strenuous due to elevation gain and terrain.

🎒What to bring: water, lunch, and snacks, and wear appropriate footwear and clothing (bring a swimsuit if you’d like !)

🔗How to Sign Up: Must be a FTC Member (sign up at the link in bio). Hike is limited to 25 people. Email [email protected]

Want more events like this? Donate to the FTC Conservancy or become a FTC Member today at the link in bio.