Climb Every Mountain (in SC)

by Heather Magruder

Sun strains through the trees as their limbs whip past me. Through a muddy puddle from a recent rain and then up the other side of the hill I climb. Fifteen minutes in, I’ve completely left the workday behind; feel as though I’ve left the civilized world as well, pedaling through this forest whose history dates back thousands of years. Cherokee and Catawba tribes traveled this land, following paths that led to an ancient fording location on the Broad River. Early settlers drawn to the area formed a community that came to be known as Dutch Fork. As I peddle on over trails that wind around part of over 2,000 acres of forestland that make up Harbison State Forest, it’s easy to imagine the trails as they might have been centuries ago.

Truth is, I’m barely five minutes away from bustling Interstate 26 and all the trappings of the 21st century. Less than a 10-minute drive away, other people stroll through the Columbiana Mall or sip lattes at Barnes and Noble while I press on through the woods. Harbison Forest offers over 10 miles of mountain biking trails that range from the easy to moderately challenging. These trails – Firebreak, Midlands Mountain and Stewardship – are three of 20 that we will feature here. The twenty are dotted across the state at eight different locations and offer good examples of the wide range of mountain biking opportunities we have here in South Carolina. From the challenging, hilly rides of the Upstate to more technical trails for the experienced to flat, wide trails great for beginners and families, South Carolina has something for everyone.

Upstate
One of the oldest protected areas in South Carolina, 1,540-acre Paris Mountain State Park offers three mountain bike trails. A former watershed for the city of Greenville, the park itself was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of the New Deal Program that President Franklin D. Roosevelt offered. The park is just a few miles from the heart of downtown Greenville, offering the feel of the mountains without the long drive to get there. Most of the trails in the park are steep but are clearly marked, not too technical and travel through oak and pine woods.

Winding through the 17,500 acres that make up the Clemson Experimental Forest are a series of bike trails that offer something for anyone who wants to get on a bike in the woods. One of the best known of the areas within the forest is the Issaquena Trail Area. Within this area lie the Issaquena Lake Trail, Dalton Road Ride, Figure Eight and Holly Springs Rides. Mostly single track and offering some beautiful views, these trails feature technical challenges that keep avid riders coming back week after week, year-round.

Midlands
Located in Edgefield County, the Fork Area Trail System (FATS) offers a series of loop trails that runs through thick forest. Although it’s technically in the Midlands, the FATS manages to offer a sense of being in the mountains with a few climbs and even some panoramic views. In some places, there’s an option of rolling through, for beginners, or going to one side of the trail for jumps and ripples. This is one trail system that you must check on before you head out for a ride as heavy rains may cause sections to be closed. When the trail system is open, the Great Wall, Skinny Loop, Brown Wave and Deep Step are some of the most popular trails around.

PEE DEE
Despite names like Killer 3 and Hardcore, the Manchester State Forest trails probably won’t do you in. They do offer more varied terrain than you might expect in Sumter County and have some technical areas that offer sharp turns, jumps and sand to challenge more experienced riders. There’s still plenty to do for those out for an easier ride. In all, there are four trails, covering over 17 miles that are part of the 25,000-acre forest of mixed pine, hardwoods, swamps and bays.

Located in Chesterfield County, the Headquarters trail in Sandhills State Forest was built by volunteers who were also mountain bikers. This trail is not a beginner trail, it features a very tight single track, stream crossings, turns, climbs (and the ensuing descents) and more. Part of the region that comprises 46,000 acres of sand deposited by a prehistoric sea, the state forest is home to a number of rare and endangered species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker and the pine barrens tree frog. A ride along this trail, through pine forest with stands of white oak, hickory and yellow poplar, will provide you with an intimate knowledge of why this area is called the sandhills.

Lowcountry
Within what is now the Francis Marion National Forest, the eponymous general sought refuge from the British during the Revolutionary War. Today, 42 miles of trail through these swampy wetlands, grassy savannas and coastal pine forests offer off-road cyclists plenty of space to play. Built in 1968, the Swamp Fox Passage of the Palmetto Trail is one of the Lowcountry’s oldest trails. The trail runs through an area that was used by logging companies, starting in the late 19th century. Although the network of trails developed for logging trails was abandoned over a decade before the Forest Service purchased the land, the elevated railways are still in use as part of the hiking and mountain biking paths. Some of the trails also cross boardwalks and footbridges. Part of the Palmetto Trail, The Swamp Fox Passage is a flat 42 miles, one way, so pedal as short or as long as you like, then turn around and head home.

Less than half an hour’s drive from Beaufort, Hunting Island State Park takes up the bulk of one of the barrier islands that dot the South Carolina coast. The bike trail proper is an out-and-back trail but can easily be turned into a loop trail if you use some of the park roads. A perfect trail for first-timers or families, the Hunting Island State Park mountain biking trail follows the bluffs along the lagoon, offering views of the water most of the way, as well as a chance to stop and visit the longest freestanding pier on the East coast. There’s also a café to satisfy whatever hunger you develop on your ride.