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10 of the Best Bike Trails in South Carolina

Marie McAden Marie McAden
A former staffer with The Miami Herald, Marie moved to SC in 1992. She is passionate about the outdoors, and enjoys exploring the state’s many natural treasures from the Lowcountry to the Upstate.
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You're on vacation, where the most strenuous thing you want to do is choose a restaurant for dinner. But that doesn't mean you can't go for a bike ride and take in some of the local scenery.

You'll find paved pathways all over the state where you can pedal at your leisure with nary a grimace. Even the little ones can navigate these smooth tracks.

Here are 10 trails you can bike without breaking a sweat - well, almost:

 

1. Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville and Travelers Rest

The Swamp Rabbit Trail runs from Greenville to Travelers Rest. Photo courtesy of Brad Smith.

Located in Greenville, the 13.5-mile Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail runs along an old railway line through the city's trendy downtown and over the Reedy River to two of its signature green spaces: Falls Park and Cleveland Park. At the other end of the asphalt pathway is downtown Travelers Rest, where you'll find an array of fun resturants, breweries and shops.

 

2. Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail in Spartanburg

Built on a former Norfolk Southern Railroad corridor, the1.9-mile Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail in Spartanburg offers a smooth ride.

Located in Spartanburg, the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail was once part of the old Norfolk Southern railroad. The 1.9-mile urban multiuse rail trail passes restaurants, shops and recreational facilities on its way to the city's historic downtown.

 

3. Riverwalk Trail in Rock Hill

Even little ones enjoy riding on Rock Hill's Riverwalk Trail.

The Riverwalk Trail in Rock Hill is a 2.25-mile asphalt path that meanders through the woods, offering scenic views of the Catawba River. While most of the trail is flat, there are a few sections traversing hills.

 

4. North Augusta Greenway 

The North Augusta Greeneway extends more than 7 miles.

The North Augusta Greeneway is a mostly flat rails-to-trail. It runs 7-plus miles through tunnels and over bridges, under the shaded canopy of wooded alcoves, past Brick Pond and Riverview parks. A spur trail takes you out to the Savannah River and Boeckh Park.

 

5. Three Rivers Greenway in Columbia

The Three Rivers Greenway runs along the Congaree, Saluda and Broad rivers.

Located in Columbia, the Three Rivers Greenway is almost 10 miles long and growing. This series of riverfront pathways, where the Broad, Saluda and Congaree rivers meet, offers outstanding views of the downtown skyline.

 

6. Sawmill Branch Walk/Bike Trail

The 7-mile Sawmill Branch Tail runs alongside the old Sawmill Branch Canal.

Seven miles long and flat as a pancake, the Sawmill Branch Walk/Bike Trail runs alongside the old Sawmill Branch Canal, connecting a number of neighborhoods to Summerville's historic downtown.

 

7. Waccamaw Neck Bikeway

The Waccamaw Neck Bikeway offers 16 miles of paved pathways from Pawleys island to Murrells Inlet.

8. Spanish Moss Trail

The Spanish Moss Trail in Beaufort offers beautiful river and marsh views.

Built along the old Magnolia railroad line, the Spanish Moss Trail offers spectacular river and marsh views as it winds 10 miles past historic points of interests from Beaufort to Port Royal. When completed, the 12-foot wide paved pathway will run 16 miles.

 

9. Island Pathways

Hilton Head's 60 miles of bike trails provide access to virtually anywhere on the island.

With more than 60 miles of public trails crisscrossing 12-mile-long Hilton Head Island, you can get virtually anywhere on your bike on the Island Pathways. No wonder the League of American Bicyclists awarded it silver status as a "Bicycle Friendly Community."

 

10. The Ravenel Bridge

It's a fun ride downhill on the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston.

Charleston's Ravenel Bridge is no ride in the park. You'll burn some calories traversing the 2.7-mile bridge, the longest cable-stayed span in North America, but you'll be rewarded with fantastic views of Charleston Harbor and a fun ride on the way down.

Marie McAden
A former staffer with The Miami Herald, Marie moved to SC in 1992. She is passionate about the outdoors, and enjoys exploring the state’s many natural treasures from the Lowcountry to the Upstate.