Sesquicentennial State Park

Columbia, South Carolina

A 5-mile loop mountain bike trail in Sesquicentennial State Park near Columbia, well-marked and best when wet, with swimming, volleyball courts, soccer fields, bathrooms, and dogs on leash allowed.

Palmetto Trail (Gate 5)

Columbia, South Carolina

A winding singletrack passage of South Carolina's Palmetto Trail near Leesburg Road, well-marked with yellow flashes and surprisingly sand-resistant despite Columbia's sandy eastern soil.

Riverwalk Canal

Columbia, South Carolina

A riverside greenway ride in Columbia following the canal — a bridge, a historic pumphouse, and sandy and paved paths alongside the water.

Harbison State Forest

Columbia, South Carolina

A 20-mile mountain bike trail system in Harbison State Forest near Columbia with well-marked beginner-to-intermediate trails — best on dry days, with dogs allowed, bathrooms available, and a $5/day or $25/year permit.

Saluda Shoals Park

Columbia, South Carolina

A multi-use trail in Saluda Shoals Park near Columbia mixing singletrack with greenway and power line roads — intense short climbs, rooty gullies, and a great night ride.

Whippoorwill

Fun, fast-flowing singletrack in South Carolina that drains well after rain — not technical, just blazing-fast fun.

Wateree Passage Of The Palmetto Trail

An easy-to-moderate trail through swamp, near-mountainous terrain, and eight trestles, reaching 230 feet — the highest point in the area — with views, hardwoods, cypress, wildlife, and rare mountain wildflowers.

Poinsett State Park

A great network of singletrack trails running right through a camping area — easy to spend a couple of nights and ride directly from your campsite at Poinsett State Park.

The Knot

Fast descents, breathtaking drop-offs above Poinsett Park Lake, and plenty of climbing on a community-built trail in South Carolina.

Campbells Pond

A technical, root-and-rock-filled loop at Poinsett Park with route diversions on the way back, a Kamikaze dip, and the speedy Devil's Backbone section.

Red Loop

A rebuilt, more technical take on the former 'Hardcore' trail in Manchester State Forest, South Carolina, with pine, hardwoods, Spanish moss, and spring wildflowers.

Killer Three Loop

Rolling singletrack through Manchester State Forest weaves among creeks, pine, hardwoods, and Spanish moss — a flat and flowy South Carolina mountain bike escape.

Manchester State Park

A 7.5-mile shared-use loop through Manchester State Park with about 100 miles of surrounding forest trails — ride Sundays only during hunting season (October–December).

palmetto trail (peak to prosperity passage)

Little Mountain, South Carolina

A mostly doubletrack passage through Fairfield County crossing the impressive Broad River trestle, connecting the Alston trailhead west through South Carolina's Palmetto Trail.

Lynches Woods

Newberry, South Carolina

Acclaimed mountain bike singletrack near Newberry with switchbacks, creek crossings, and washboards — widely considered the best trail in South Carolina.

Santee State Park

Santee, South Carolina

A great little trail loop making the most of flat terrain near I-95, with wide and tight singletrack through dense pines — wear your helmet for the low branches, not the falls.