Bearcamp Creek Falls Loop

This route starts by following Auger Hole Road from the gate at the NC Wildlife boundary to a campsite near Bearcamp Creek, where the route is through the woods to the base of HIlliard Falls. A blur spurred connector trail then heads downstream to the Foothills Trail (Blazed White). Stay on the Foothills Trail until you reach a bluff above Lake Jocasee. At that point, as the trail goes to the left, go straight and follow the contour toward the lake and then into the Bearcamp Creek drainage. The terrain is thick and steep but less than 0.2 of a mile upstream from the lake you came to Splash Dam Falls, a great waterfall with a unique tunnel downstream through which the creek is funneled before dropping another 15 feet. From Splash Dam falls the route is a steep climb up the bank (to the left if you're looking at the falls) to reach the top of the ridge. The ridge spine comes back to Bearcamp Creek above the falls and once across a moderate bushwhack up the hillside will get you back onto the Foothills Trail. This mini-loop within the bigger loop is the most time consuming part of the hike. The Foothills Trail is going to be the route most of the way back from here as it follows Lake Jocasee to an eventual crossing of the Horsepasture River. The trail heads up a long set of steps and for the first time becomes strenuous as it climbs back toward the end of the hike at Auger Hole Road. The overall hike is strenuous, even if you omit the side-trip to Splash Dam Falls. That part is for those experienced in off-trail hiking only.