Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Columbia, South Carolina

Segment 4 transits the "midlands" section of South Carolina, with the towns of Gaffney and Camden on each end. This section is mostly forested and contains a mixture of pavement, gravel, and clay roads. The…
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Segment 5 is the longest section of the SCAR Loop, and stretches between the towns of Camden and St George. The north end of this segment briefly passes through what is known as the "Sandhills"…
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Trail 17 is smooth and groomed and provides access to Trail 15. It's a shortcut to avoid Mammoth Hill and the backside of Trail 4. The last section spits you out onto Trail 4. It's…
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This is the longest trail in the trail system with a lot of mergers onto other trails. It goes through the whole park on a mostly dirt road with some bedrock in certain spots. When…
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Trail 5 is a 2.5-mile easy-rated trail that begins off of Service Road 1. Trail 5 is a dirt trail with mild hills and some loose rock. The trail is very hard-packed, containing mild ruts…
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One of our main service roads that leads to trails, SR 4 is rocky in some areas. It's a very wide road that is very dusty if the ground is dry. The road is used…
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SR 17 is the road from the bridge crossing to SR 18. It's mainly a dirt road with some bedrock in one section. Trail 6, SR 18, the end of Trail 44, and a shortcut…
Learn more about Service Road 17 (SR 17)

This is a very easy sand and gravel trail to see some great scenery in the area. It's mostly sandy dirt with some gravel areas. This is well suited for anyone in a 4x4, stock…
Learn more about Elbert Taylor Road

The Manchester State Forest Outer Loop trail is ridden in a counterclockwise direction. This flat trail offers both 50-inch and single-track routes, featuring half hard-packed surfaces mixed with pine needles and soft, loose flat sand.…
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The Manchester State Forest Inner Loop single track is ridden counterclockwise . It features mostly flat terrain with a hard-packed surface, mixed with pine needles and some sections of loose sand. Riders will encounter plenty…
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The Manchester State Forest Green Loop is a clockwise single-track trail. It features hard-packed sand with pine needles, tight turns, and plenty of whoops. A $5 per day or $25 annual permit is required; you…
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This is an easy road to explore the rolling hills and deep cuts of the countryside. It is mostly sandy with some areas having a soft sand and red clay mix. The majority of the…
Learn more about Charles Town Road

Segment 1 of the South Carolina Adventure Route (SCAR) stretches from I-95 near Colleton State Park to the historic town of Edgefield South Carolina. It passes through what is known as the "sandhills" region of…
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Covering the northeast portion of the state, this significant addition transits Sandhills State Forest and the Carolina National Wildlife Refuge, providing an alternate route between Liberty Hill WMA and Francis Marion National Forest. Campsites marked…
Learn more about SCAR Northeast Alternate

This Connector Loop bisects the primary SCAR Loop, passing near the twin towns of Batesburg-Leesville, over the narrow end of Lake Murray, and through Newberry. It contains a mix of paved and unpaved roads. Off-pavement…
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North Fork Road is a light to moderate challenging road that explores the countryside and large hardwood forest of the midlands. The road surface is mostly loose sand and a mixture of red clay. It…
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This is a mostly sand-covered road used for farming and local residencies. The surface includes some soft spots that are mild to deep, and red clay portions that are quite a joy to ride after…
Learn more about Gunter Pond Road

This route traverses the heart of the Sandhills region (which spans the state betwen Columbia and I-95), and it definitely delivers sand. It is approximately 80% off-pavement, and some of the sandy sections can be…
Learn more about SCAR Southeast Alternate

This is an easy road to tackle for the beginner who wants to explore the countryside. Check out all that it offers including pine forests, large fields, and equestrian farms. It has all of the…
Learn more about Red Shadow Road

Ride out and enjoy the thick hardwood forest and abandoned farmhouses and barns of the past. This route is mostly loamy sand and a red clay mix. It has some graded hills and sharp curves…
Learn more about Moore Road

The name should not cause you any worry about this road. Although mild with its sandy and gravel coating, it does contain a few rough potholes and some washboards that will motivate your suspension. You…
Learn more about Rugged Hill Drive

Enjoy this easy route as you sit back and ride through large farmlands and admire the old forgotten houses and barns. This is an easy road that is maintained and has a mix of sand…
Learn more about Richland Creek Road

Fox Pond Road is right outside the local town's busy life. A loamy mixture of compacted sand and red clay, this is a straightforward meandering route. On the road, several large horse farms are decorated…
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This route through the Sumter National Forest is approximately 14 miles of easy driving and beautiful scenery. Starting from Indian Circle Road, this route will take you under Interstate 26 and continue traversing through the…
Learn more about Francis Marion & Sumter National Forests Southern Adventure Route

This is a sand road with mixed use of farming, logging, hunt clubs, and the occasional residence. The sand surface ranges from soft and deep, (threatening to bog one down), to a clay mix, hard…
Learn more about Henry Deese and Jimmy Knight Roads

This is an easy route for anyone who wants some freedom from the traffic. The route is entirely mild to moderate loose sand with washboards and a few ruts from the heavy farm equipment that…
Learn more about Brairwood Road

Go back in history as you ride this partial gravel and sandy road. It is well maintained and has some areas that flood during excessive amounts of rain. Along this road, you'll pass a family…
Learn more about Old Charleston Road

This is a fairly easy road that has some local wildlife scenery to see. The road has areas of some sandy soft spots, teeth-shaking washboards, and some areas that can hold water for several days…
Learn more about Mason Branch Road

This trail system winds through the Sumter National Forest on the Enoree Ranger District. The trails have river access to the Enoree Canoe Trail that floats on the Enoree River. The trails are smooth, well-maintained…
Learn more about Enoree River Southside Trail System

A scenic road winding through the countryside close to the small towns that surround it. This road offers beautiful views of the forest while providing some fun driving experience on the washouts, small rock crops,…
Learn more about Round Up Road