Foster Creek Trail -- 2,280'

"In Desperate Need Of Some TLC"

GPS Coordinates: 35.416252, -82.609146 (Upper Trailhead)

GPS Coordinates: 35.41235, -82.60671 (Lower Trailhead)

Album Direction-Of-Travel: Southbound

Highlights: Mixed Hardwood Forest

Length: 1.6 miles

Petzoldt Rating: 1.80

Difficulty: EASY (as long as you can stay on the correct route)

Total Elevation Gain: 100'

Elevation Gain/Mile: 63'/mile

Min. Elevation: 2,220'

Max. Elevation: 2,300'

Blaze Color: ORANGE (though mostly unmarked)

See Following Trip Reports for more info:

Foster Creek Trail

Connecting Trails:

NONE

Foster Creek Trail (#610)

Foster Creek Trail Route Map
Route map of the Foster Creek Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Foster Creek Trail Route Map
Route map of the Foster Creek Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Foster Creek Upper Trailhead -- 2,240'
We'll begin this tour from the upper junction of the Foster Creek Trail and Forest Road 5026. Don't be too shocked if you're the only one here...
Foster Creek Upper Trailhead -- 2,240'
Leaving the parking area in the previous shot, the start of the trail is clearly marked alongside a bullet-riddled sign for the gated forest road...
Foster Creek Trail -- 2,250'
This portion of the trail follows the extension of Forest Road 5026 north for about the first 4/10-mile...
Foster Creek Trail -- 2,260'
The forest here is a fairly normal mix of hardwoods and pines...
Foster Creek Trail -- 2,270'
On the right, towards the creek, the terrain is noticeably wetter...
Foster Creek Trail -- 2,280'
Passing a beautiful area of the forest carpeted in a thick mat of club moss...
Foster Creek Trail -- 2,290'
The trail as it nears the northern extent of its loop...
Foster Creek Trail -- 2,290'
The route now dips slightly to cross Foster Creek itself, via a large buried culvert...
Foster Creek -- 2,290'
Looking downstream, from atop the culvert, at tiny Foster Creek...
Foster Creek Trail -- 2,300'
The road the trail has been following immediately turns back south beyond the creek and splits. Stay right to remain on the correct route...there are no blazes to indicate this...