The trail is well maintained by a volunteer organization (The Foothills Club).  Portions are also maintained by the U.S. Forest Service, Duke Power company and the two SC state parks that function as the trail's termini (Oconee and Table Rock).  In addition, a 14 mile extension leads to a third state park (Caesar's Head).

The trail is a real gem in that it is lightly used though very close to large metropolitan areas in the south east.  With the relatively mild weather of the south, the trail is used in all four seasons though winter snow and ice storms can occur, especially in January and February.  None the less, this is a wild area.  The terrain is rugged and remote with a variety of wildlife from interesting and rare wildflowers (Oconee Bell for example) to black bears, bald eagles, white tail deer, wild turkeys, several reptile and amphibian species.

The trail can be hiked in one continuous backpacking trip or in a series of day hikes (or a mixture of both).  Sections are readily accessible by automobile since the area is criss-crossed with well maintained roads (most are paved).  However, the trail does not pass through any towns or developed areas with food or other services.  The best services are those at the State Parks which consist of small convenience type store/gift shops, so stock up before arriving at the trail, especially if planning to hike overnight.

We have hiked the Foothills Trail in day hike sections except for the middle Jocassee gorges section, which we are still pondering over.  These middle sections (Day 5 and 6) are not accessible by road, though Cane Break is accessible by boat via Jocassee Lake.  Further information regarding access is provided in the foothills guidebook itself.

Below is a map providing a general outline of the trail and the sections we have used for day hiking.  This is by no means meant for navigation other than to present a general sense of how to day hike the trail.  Generally these day hike sections are less than 15 miles and do require two vehicles at each end, or other arrangements.

More specific information is available in the Foothills Guidebook which you can purchase through eMapStore.com.  Both the Guidebook and Map are a valuable resource, with USGS Topo based maps plus detailed descriptions.  When we hike the trail, we use both the map and the guidebook.  The distances below are approximate.