Ready to tear up some mountain biking terrain? We've got just the trails to get your heart pumping, adrenaline flowing and fun meter spinning in overdrive.
Be forewarned: These single-track vixens will test your stamina, skill and will with their steep slopes, abrupt dips, technically challenging turns and hellacious climbs. But what's a little sweat to earn bragging rights for styling the baddest trails in the state?
Here are five kick-butt trails for mountain biking hotshots:
- Steven's Creek (aka Modoc) in McCormick County.
This technically challenging trail starts off with a rugged, rocky plunge down a steep hill - the first of many - followed by a tricky stream crossing. Along the 5.5-mile one-way ride, you'll encounter several more creek crossings, a series of tight switchbacks and bridges that turn slick as ice when wet. - The Great Wall at Forks Area Trail System in Edgefield County.
You'll find a little bit of everything on this 7.5-mile run - blisteringly fast downhills, steep climbs, plenty of whoop-de-doos and a very tight and twisty section to keep things interesting. - Spider Woman II at Harbison State Forest in Columbia.
If treacherously steep slopes, sudden dips, exposed boulders and breath-sucking climbs aren't enough to get you pumped, this three-mile loop also features a menacing rock garden guaranteed to rattle your bones. - Croft State Park in Spartanburg.
A mountain biker's dream, the 15 miles of trails in the park feature everything you need for a fun day in the saddle - challenging climbs, fast downhills, logs, jumps and hard-packed sections where you can really pour on the speed. If you want to test your technical skills, be sure to hit the Idaho Pass connector. - Oconee Passage of the Palmetto Trail.
Start your ride at Oconee State Park and you're in for a furiously fast downhill adventure. The fun begins when you reach the ridgeline at the 1.5-mile mark. As you descend Stumphouse Mountain, you'll drop 1,000 feet in elevation in just over a mile.
