The Foothills and Bartram Trails are fabulous trails: full of scenic highlights, well-maintained by dedicated volunteers, and popular among thru-hikers looking for a challenging, yet doable adventure. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, however, volunteers remain hard and work to re-open the entire lengths of these trails, with estimates ranging from late spring to summer 2025. A little know fact, however, is that the Foothills Trail in South Carolina and the Bartram Trail in Georgia are connected by 4.5 miles of the scenic Chattooga River Trail. Thanks to the incredible work of the Foothills Trail Conservancy, the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy, and the Upstate Greenways and Trails Alliance (UGATA), there is currently an 80-mile stretch of trail open and ready to hike along the Foothills, Chattooga River, and Bartram Trails. This route, dubbed the FAB 80 is chock-full of incredible milestones including Whitewater Falls (highest falls east of the Mississippi), the wild and scenic Chattooga River, and Rabun Bald (2nd highest point in GA), and scenic Franklin, NC. Looking for something a bit shorter? Check out one of the following: The FAB 80 (Bad Creek FHT Access to Franklin, NC): https://ugata.org/fab/fab-80/ - The FAB 50 (Burrells Ford to Hale Ridge Rd): https://ugata.org/fab/fab-50/ - The FAB 31 (Oconee State Park to Warwoman Dell): https://ugata.org/fab/fab-31/ - COMING SOON- The FAB 150 (Sassafras Mtn to Nantahala Outdoor Center): https://ugata.org/fab/fab-150/ To learn more about the FAB please visit www.fabtrail.org