Explore the best rated trails in Charleston, SC, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Darrell Creek Trail & Park Ave Bike Path and Carolina Park Boulevard Bike Path . With more than 17 trails covering 114 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The signage for the intact part of the trail was below average. The detour section was poorly marked unless you are familiar with the road building project. It will be much nicer when completed, but for now it is best to avoid that area.
Horseflies were hungry this morning. Trail was very nice
Was vacationing in Charleston and rode the Ashley trail. Started at the Albemarle endpoint and headed west. Took my mountain bike because from description I thought about half of the 8.2 miles would be unpaved. Well I keep going and at 7.2 miles the asphalt ended at the Croghan Landing Dr parking lot.
Rode the reminder on the sand/dirt stretch. Scenery much different then what I’m used to in the mountains of Virginia. Very beautiful surroundings on west end. More shaded too after around 4-5 miles because the electrical right of way turns away from the trail, so more trees can grow into each other and cover the trail more often.
There are lots of street crossings and the one major one at Folly Road Blvd. Can get annoying, feels like you never can get in a rhythm slowing up and reaccelerating.
I’d recommend parking behind the shopping strip on Windermere and avoid the Folly crosssing.
We got on the trail at E. Richardson Avenue. To our surprise there is a major road being put in a couple miles into the ride. You can pass through the construction but it is definitely a boot unpleasant.
Even though they are 4 lines of traffic, 2 for pedestrians and 2 for cyclists, the pedestrians don’t pay attention and often wander or intentionally move in to the bike lines. I ran in to a jogger in the wrong lane going downhill, I had my hands on the breaks, but there was no avoiding this collision and I know I am not the only one who has had this problem.
Wife and I live in Bonneau Beach, which is on east side of Lake Moultrie and this portion of the trail is where we ride our recumbent trikes. The southern end joins the Swampfox passage at a parking area just off highway 52 . From the parking area you cross 52 (be carefull) to begin and in about 1/2 mile you will be on the eastern dike of Lake Moultrie heading north to the town of Bonneau Beach. A better parking area is near Shortstay (military recreation area) at the end of Old Black Oak road. Here you can enter a pedestrian gate and takes you right up to the dike, no highway or railway to cross, If eligible, the Shortstay RV park is a great way to camp and enjoy the trail. Heading north , this portion of the dike is packed gravel and stone, and ends at the community of Bonneau Beach. There is a small parking area at this Black Oak RD access point. Evelyns Diner is great for breakfast and further down Black Oak Rd towards the lake is the Watermark restaurant, good food and drink. It's a 2 mile ride through the community to get to the next section of the eastern dike. The entrance and small parking clearing can be hard to find as it is tucked back off General Moultrie Rd and Martin drive (not marked). The dike is actually labeled as Pooshee Plantation Rd on Google Maps. This portion of the trail is our favorite and travels the dike along the lake with wetlands and chances to see wildlife are assured. It is a two track path made up of packed finer gravel. There is also a primitive camping area (no facilities) We like to end our ride and picnic at the Amos Lee Gourdine boat ramp and beach area. The total distance from Shortstay going north to the Gourdine boat ramp area is about 15 miles. The trail continues along side the rediversion canal, crossing over the canal, but soon becomes unrideable especially for our trikes. The portion that I have covered in this review is the only part of the trail that I have found bike ridable especially a recumbent trike.
Wife and I live nearby (Bonneau Beach) and occasionally hike this trail. Many improvements are either completed or in the works such as walking bridges etc. I would recommend this trail for hiking but it has a long way to go to make it bike friendly. For those that would like to cycle in this area, I would highly recommend the Lake Moultrie Passage (an adjacent section of the Palmetto trail which runs along Lake Moultrie.) Trailink does not list this section which is mostly gravel and much more suited to bicycling. In fact, we ride our recumbent trikes from Shortstay campground near Moncks Corner for 15 miles to the Re Diversion canal near Russelville Sc. All of this section is on the dike around the Lake except for a small area through the community of Bonneau Beach. In Bonneau Beach, on Black Oak road, are 3 restaurants and local market. The Lake Moultrie passage has some great scenery along with wildlife typical of wetlands. The Lake Moultrie passage can be accessed at the southern end off of Old Black Oak Rd near the Shortstay Navy recreation facility . There is also parking in Bonneau Beach across from the diner to access the northern gate of the East Dike. Further north near Russelville there is ample parking at the Amos Lee Gourdine boat ramp.
Best at west end of trail. Marshes and trees. The crossing posts are very tight. Easy to hit handle bars. They need to lower the center lower posts below handle bar level. Should consider extending the west end of the trail.
Felt safe - earlier post of safety issues may have been solved.
My husband and I loved it! Beautiful marsh scenery and easy riding. We did not complete the entire thing but came pretty close.
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