Plateau Magazine June-July 2023

Bad Creek Trailhead to
Lower White Waterfalls.
ing everyone can enjoy the trail in their own
way. No matter what you’re into, this 77-mile
footpath has something to offer everyone.
The History
Filled in 1973, the creation of Lake Jocassee
was a joint project between the state of South
Carolina and Duke Energy. The dam measures
nearly one third of a mile and stands
some 400’ tall. The lake, fueled by water
from the Whitewater, Thompson, Horsepasture,
and Toxaway rivers, also boasts many
of the state’s fishing records. Understanding
the lake’s history is key to understanding the
evolution of the Foothills Trail.
As the lake was developed, a pumped
storage facility was also quietly proposed
in the background. In simple terms, during
times of low energy demand, surplus
power can be used to pump water uphill
into a separate reservoir at higher elevation.
When needed, the water can then be
diverted downhill to secondary turbines to
provide a rapid burst of energy to the power
grid. The strategy is especially useful on
the warmest summer afternoons when additional
energy is needed to keep air conditioners
running, both for consumers and
commercial businesses. Conversely, during
extreme cold snaps, heaters can also
put extra stress on the grid. It wasn’t until
the proposal for the Bad Creek Project that
the Foothills Trail really began its journey.
A registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, the
Foothills Trail Conference worked closely
with Duke Energy, logging companies, and
other vested entities to advocate for the
creation of a public hiking trail through
the corridor that was soon to have not just
Chattooga River on
The Foothills Trail.
Jeremy Partin and
Maddox on The
Foothills Trail.
June/July 2023 | 47