Not ready to bomb down a mountain on your new fat tires? Sadlers Creek State Park near Anderson offers the perfect intro course for mountain bike newbies and riders looking for a fun, fast run.
The 6.5 miles of single-track trails are mostly flat with some tight, twisty sections to keep you on your toes. Whatever your skill level, you'll enjoy the easy flow of the terrain - and the thrill that comes with barreling through a forest.
A parking lot near the end of the park's main road offers access to the trailhead. The well-groomed route is easy to follow as it winds and zigzags through the hardwood and pine forest. At several points along the way, the trail takes you to close enough to the lake to get some nice views of the water. In the winter when the leaves are off the trees, the vistas really open up.
If you want to take in the scenery, it's best to pull off to the side of the trail and take a break. With all the rocks, roots and sticks on the path, you really need to keep your eyes on what's in front of you when you're riding.
The trail crosses park roads several times. After the crossing near a ball field, the terrain gets hillier. The most technical move is a four-foot drop-off with a switchback at the bottom. There also are some tight, 90-degree turns that add some challenge to the course.
With a new section of trail now open on the other side of the main park road, you don't have to ride over much of the same ground to get back to the starting point. You'll emerge from the forest across the road from the parking lot.
Admission to Sadlers Creek State Park is $2 for adults and teens 16 and older.
Mountain Bike Through Sadlers Creek State Park
