Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Fingerville, 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 clay can become quite slick and rutted when wet, and the ruts can hold their form when dry, s...
Learn more about South Carolina Adventure Route Segment 4

This trail might suit you if you're looking for a scenic side trip on the South Carolina Adventure Route. It runs along the outskirts of the Dupont State Forest and provides ridgetop views. The trail is dirt and will include some steep and rutted grades. About the SCAR: The South Carolina Adventure ...
Learn more about Pinnacle - SCAR Alternate

Pinnacle Mountain Road offers an easy and scenic driving experience ideal for beginners, families, and stock high-clearance vehicles looking to explore the beautiful woodlands along the North Carolina and South Carolina border. Running through a mix of public and wildlife conservation lands, this ro...
Learn more about Pinicale Mt Rd

This is a short dirt and gravel trail that can be combined with Pinnacle Mountain Road to make a great loop. It runs along a small stream with great views of the stream and a small waterfall. It runs through a wooded area from a river valley up to a ridge. It's an easy trail with only small rocks an...
Learn more about Green River Road

Coming up onto Little Buck Creek - FS 470, located above Lake Tahoma off of Highway 80 in Marion. You will casually drive past many homes alongside the lake until you are met with the forestry sign that starts your ascent up the mountain. Many postings and private property signs are spotted up until...
Learn more about Little Buck Creek - FS 470

South Toe River is a basic, but scenic trail located near Mount Mitchell in North Carolina. The trail begins at the Blue Ridge Parkway on its south end and terminates at the Toe River Trail at its north end. The quaint forest service road meanders along the south toe river and past a handful of smal...
Learn more about South Toe River

Avery Creek is a well-maintained gravel road that winds through Pisgah National Forest. This is a single-track road with room to pass most of the way through. There are lots of great creekside campsites toward the beginning of the south entrance. Dispersed camping in designated sites only. Once you...
Learn more about Avery Creek - FS 477

Bent Creek Trail (Forest Service Road 479) is an easy, scenic gravel connector ideal for beginner off-roaders and overland travelers looking to transition seamlessly from the Asheville area to the heights of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Spanning approximately 4.4 miles through the Pisgah National Forest,...
Learn more about Bent Creek Trail

This is an easy road that does not require 4x4. The road is not maintained when it has snowed. You gain 945 feet of elevation, but it is very gradual. There are several places along the road with stunning views, but you would have to go in the winter to get the best views. There are several designat...
Learn more about Wash Creek FR 5000

Cathey's Creek Road (FS 471) is a quintessential 7.4-mile gravel route through the lush, high-canopy forests of the Pisgah National Forest. Starting off US Route 64, the trail maintains a steady, winding climb as it tracks the path of the creek. This route is a popular connector for overlanders and ...
Learn more about Cathey's Creek Road - FS 471

Old NC-105 is a popular trail and is most well-known for its outstanding views of the Linville Gorge. It offers unparalleled views of the gorge and Table Rock Mountain. Numerous overlooks and campsites offer scenery nearly unheard of east of the Mississippi. Plan to spend 2-3 hours on the trail.
Learn more about Old NC 105

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 gravel and dirt. The dead-end trails are a perfect spot to access the river for rec...
Learn more about Enoree River Southside Trail System

This scenic out and back trail is located West of Table Rock and largely paved. It will lead you to South Carolina's highest point of elevation and is a great addition to the main South Carolina Adventure Route loop. If you have the time, it's worth the stop. About the SCARThe South Carolina Advent...
Learn more about Sassafras - SCAR Alternate

Wolf Pit Road is a maintained gravel road that leads to the scenic Wolf Pit Trailhead, which hikers use to venture up Shortoff Mountain. The right of way passes through multiple private properties, which are located close to the road, and residents urge travelers to pass by slowly and to respect the...
Learn more about Wolf Pit Road - FS 117

Headwater Road (FS 475B) is an easygoing forest service road suited for stock SUVs, crossovers, and high-clearance passenger vehicles looking for scenic access in the Pisgah Ranger District. Starting off US-276 near the Davidson River and the base of Looking Glass Rock, this well-traveled gravel rou...
Learn more about Headwater

Cove Creek Road - FS 225 is a 2.2-mile out-and-back route that follows a single-lane gravel road with places to pass. The road is well maintained and travels through heavily forested terrain before reaching a clearing at the end of the route. Rated easy, it features a smooth surface with no obstacle...
Learn more about Cove Creek Road - FS 225

Davidson River Road is a well-maintained Forest Service road that travels through a portion of the Pisgah National Forest. The road runs adjacent to the Davidson River. There are several waterfalls visible from the trail and access points for the river. Several trailheads offer parking along the tra...
Learn more about Davidson River Road - FS 475

This out-and-back trail is a gravel-over-packed-dirt route beginning at Old North Carolina 105 and following a ridge with scenic views on both sides. Around 4.4 miles in, it narrows to a six-foot-wide path near a large camping area, then continues another 1.5 miles as the Mountains-to-Sea hiking tra...
Learn more about Dobson Knob - FS 106

Back Irish Creek is a scenic Forest Service Road that travels along private property and leads into the Pisgah National Forest. It is well maintained and spacious pull offs for bypassing vehicles, but recent storm damage is present toward the beginning of the trail where an obstructed tree has been ...
Learn more about Back Irish Creek - FS 118

Shooting Tree Ridge is a gravel forest road located within the Jocassee Gorges of upstate South Carolina, just east of Lake Jocassee in Pickens County. The 8.5-mile trail runs from Cleo Chapman Highway in Eastatoee, north to Horse Pasture Road. There's an area within the gate for parking, and you ca...
Learn more about Shooting Tree Ridge Road

South Toe River is a basic, but scenic trail located near Mount Mitchell in North Carolina. The trail begins at the Blue Ridge Parkway on its south end and terminates at the Toe River Trail at its north end. The quaint forest service road meanders along the south toe river and past a handful of smal...
Learn more about South Toe River

Avery Creek is a well-maintained gravel road that winds through Pisgah National Forest. This is a single-track road with room to pass most of the way through. There are lots of great creekside campsites toward the beginning of the south entrance. Dispersed camping in designated sites only. Once you...
Learn more about Avery Creek - FS 477

This is an easy road that does not require 4x4. The road is not maintained when it has snowed. You gain 945 feet of elevation, but it is very gradual. There are several places along the road with stunning views, but you would have to go in the winter to get the best views. There are several designat...
Learn more about Wash Creek FR 5000

This out-and-back trail is a gravel-over-packed-dirt route beginning at Old North Carolina 105 and following a ridge with scenic views on both sides. Around 4.4 miles in, it narrows to a six-foot-wide path near a large camping area, then continues another 1.5 miles as the Mountains-to-Sea hiking tra...
Learn more about Dobson Knob - FS 106

South Toe River is a basic, but scenic trail located near Mount Mitchell in North Carolina. The trail begins at the Blue Ridge Parkway on its south end and terminates at the Toe River Trail at its north end. The quaint forest service road meanders along the south toe river and past a handful of smal...
Learn more about South Toe River

Avery Creek is a well-maintained gravel road that winds through Pisgah National Forest. This is a single-track road with room to pass most of the way through. There are lots of great creekside campsites toward the beginning of the south entrance. Dispersed camping in designated sites only. Once you...
Learn more about Avery Creek - FS 477

This is an easy road that does not require 4x4. The road is not maintained when it has snowed. You gain 945 feet of elevation, but it is very gradual. There are several places along the road with stunning views, but you would have to go in the winter to get the best views. There are several designat...
Learn more about Wash Creek FR 5000

This out-and-back trail is a gravel-over-packed-dirt route beginning at Old North Carolina 105 and following a ridge with scenic views on both sides. Around 4.4 miles in, it narrows to a six-foot-wide path near a large camping area, then continues another 1.5 miles as the Mountains-to-Sea hiking tra...
Learn more about Dobson Knob - FS 106