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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.
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
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
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
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 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
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
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 runs 16 miles through the historic Waccamaw Neck, a long, narrow peninsula tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the Waccamaw River, linking Pawleys Island to Murrells Inlet.
8. Spanish Moss Trail
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
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
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.
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.