Where Are the Best Bike Trails in Charleston, SC?

Where Are the Best Bike Trails in Charleston, SC? People in Charleston know it’s a great city for outdoor activities like biking and hiking. In this South Carolina town, biking on the main roadways is less recommended because of the congestion and lack of dedicated bike lanes. Luckily, some great bike trails do offer an escape from the city with less risk of a close encounter by motor vehicle. To make your search for a weekend ride easier, check out these best bike trails in Charleston.

North Wannamaker County Park

Address: Wannamaker County Park, 8888 University Blvd, North Charleston, SC 29406

North Wannamaker County Park is a peaceful, beautiful park in North Charleston. Its trails are open to hikers, walkers, and runners. Inside the park is a paved two-mile loop open to walkers, skaters, and bikers. For mountain biking, head to the Wannamaker North Trail. Note that access to this 13-mile dirt trail designed for mountain bicyclists of all levels is from Goose Creek, not the county park. This trail is also open to pedestrians, so be on the lookout as you navigate the rapid elevation changes and tight turns. One of the nice things about this trail is that it loops. You can ride it multiple times and get familiar with the path without returning to a start point.

The park and trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Admission only costs $2 per person.

In addition to the bike trails, the park’s perks include a splash pad, water park, dog park, and 18-hole disc golf course. For Gold Pass Members, admission to North Wannamaker County Park is free.

Marrington Plantation Trailhead

Address: Marrington Plantation Trailhead, Goose Creek, SC 29445

Marrington Plantation Trailhead wanders through 1,600 acres of wilderness perfectly adapted to outdoor recreation. Find it in Goose Creek out of Joint Base Charleston. Most local MTB trail enthusiasts consider it the best option in the immediate Charleston metro. Several biking trails cater to different levels of experience: the red loop is the main trail, the blue trails are primarily used as shortcuts to get around the park, the yellow trails serve as technical parts for mountain biking, and more.

For off-road bikers, the Marrington Plantation Trail red loop is almost a 13-mile trail rated moderate difficulty. It’s mostly flat, but it does have some ditch crossings and tight corners to make it challenging. Additional features and off-shoot trails total up to 17 miles of trail riding. Dogs and horses are able to use this trail, so feel free to come biking with your dog.

Before packing up and driving over, be aware that this is land belongs to the Department of Defense. Those without a military ID must get a Marrington Patron Pass (which can be done at the Outdoor Adventure Center). The background check to receive the pass may take up to four weeks, so plan ahead. Trails are also closed when wet because of their low-lying nature, so check ahead if there has been a lot of rain.

Palmetto Islands County Park

Address: Palmetto Islands County Park, 444 Needlerush Parkway, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Palmetto Islands County Park in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, is a 943-acre park designed for biking, hiking, grilling, picnics, and more.

If one or several members of your family or group don’t own a bike, Palmetto has bike rentals so everyone can get started. Most Palmetto trails are paved and less than two miles long, so it’s great for family biking or a day full of activities with friends or kids. That said, Palmetto may not serve your needs if you are looking for dirt biking or mountain bike trails.

On top of the trails, they offer amenities such as boardwalks, creek fishing, an observation tower, sand volleyball, horseshoes, a kayak launch point and rentals, and a seasonal water park.

Admission to the park is $2 but free for Charleston County Gold Pass holders. Bike rentals are available.

West Ashley Greenway

A rail-to-trail, the West Ashley Greenway may be preferred by recreational and gravel bikers. The 10.5-mile, out-and-back West Ashley Greenway is a paved pedestrian pathway running through residential neighborhoods from West Ashley to Folly Road near Stono County Park on a flat, out-and-back surface. A portion is a paved trail, but large stretches are hard-packed gravel.

West Ashley Bikeway

A totally different trail from the one above, this 2.5-mile paved trail takes you from Wappoo Road to the scenic Ashley River. It may be short, but for those living nearby, it’s a convenient paved path for walking, skating, or teaching kids how to ride a bike. The Greenway and Bikeway do not connect, although you could wind through the residential neighborhoods to pick them up.

Sawmill Branch Bike Trail

Address: 500 E. Richardson Ave. Summerville, SC

Get some speed going on a flat, 10-foot-wide paved trail running 6.1 miles one way. The path is easy for the whole family to road bike or for the speed cycler to get back-and-forth passes. It follows the canal through southern Summerville, a suburb of Charleston. For mountain bikers, off the main trail, you’ll find Sawmill Ridges, an off-road single-track trail. There are four trailheads and parking lots for this trail.

Laurel Hill County Park

Address: 1251 Park West Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

Laurel Hill County Park is a 745-acre natural oasis in Charleston County with several miles of unpaved trails perfect for running, walking, or biking. Visitors enjoy a variety of landscapes, including a picturesque oak canopy, expansive open meadows, and a serene lake with an overlook that’s great for spotting wildlife. Uniquely, the park features a compass course where you can sharpen your smartphone-free navigation skills.

Be aware there are no restrooms on-site. Admission costs only $1 but is free for Golf Pass Members.

Wadmalaw Island

Prefer to do some scenic road riding? Try the road bike routes around the historic Wadmalaw Island and Johns Island. It’s close to downtown Charleston, but the roads are typically less crowded and still very rural. You can make a loop using Maybank Highway, Liberia Highway, and Bears Bluff. Add offshoots for stops at the Charleston Tea Garden, Firefly Distillery, or Deep Water Vineyard. All the way, you’ll have beautiful views of the Lowcountry and majestic oaks for a classic South Carolina vibe.

James Island County Park

Address: 871 Riverland Drive Charleston, SC 29412

As one of the most popular parks in Charleston County, James Island has walking trails and bicycling. Its paved trails take you from its campground to the splash park, the disc golf course to the waterfront. Bicycle rentals make it easy to head to the park and ride up a ride. They are divided into a blue, orange, and green loop, each a little over one mile long. In sum, there are five miles of trails, with only one mile of unpaved trail.

Admission is free for Gold Pass members and $2 for everyone else. Bicycle rentals are $5 per hour.

Biking in Charleston

Truthfully, biking in Charleston is what you make of it. The many nearby parks and biking trails give you room to explore the South Carolina Lowcountry. Plus there are bike shops to service all your needs, from rentals to bike repair. If you’re looking for new scenery, the beach is never far away with its designated and casual biking destinations.

Updated November 2024

FAQ

What is the Palmetto Trail?

The planned 500-mile Palmetto Trail is a long-distance hiking and biking trail that stretches across South Carolina. It runs from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the coastal regions near Charleston. Covering around 386 miles currently, the trail mixes urban pathways with rural trails, weaving through forests, mountains, swamps, and cities, offering a range of landscapes and ecosystems unique to South Carolina. Sections of the trail are accessible to mountain bikes. The closest sections are north from Charleston in the Francis Marion National Forest and Awendaw.