Agencies & Organizations

South Carolina Trail Organizations and Clubs

General

Audubon Society
South Carolina contact:
Francis Beidler Forest
336 Sanctuary Road
Harleyville, SC 29448
843-462-2150
843-462-2713 fax
E-mail: nbrunswig@audubon.org

The Audubon Society's mission is to protect birds and other wildlife and their habitats. South Carolina Audubon has over 4000 members and is organized into six local groups around the State. Each group presents monthly program meetings and weekend outings. Please contact Francis Beidler Forest for referrals to local groups.

Bike the Neck
PO Box 2883
Pawleys Island, SC 29585
843-237-4486
843-237-1319
E-mail: bike@chronon.com

Bike the Neck, a grassroots citizens group, began meeting in February 1994 to develop a master plan for a multipurpose path on the Waccamaw Neck in Georgetown County, South Carolina. Within a year, it was unanimously approved by the Georgetown County Planning Commission and the County Council. By the year 2002, the path will connect the fishing village of Murrells Inlet to historical Georgetown with approximately 17 miles of hard-surfaced pathways along Highway 17.

Greater Greenwood Parks and Trails Foundation
PO Box 8021
Greenwood, SC 29649

The goal of the Greater Greenwood Parks and Trails Foundation is to create bicycle, pedestrian, and other nonmotorized paths and facilities in Greenwood County that are accessible to all members of the community. Efforts include rails-to-trails, sidewalks along existing roads, public utility rights-of-way, and other paths connecting public areas such as parks, playgrounds, shopping areas, recreation centers, and schools. We welcome volunteers to take on tasks as project leaders or simply to sign up for work-days. We also welcome organizations to volunteer for regular maintenance of any portion of these trails.

Palmetto Trail
1314 Lincoln Street, Suite 305
Columbia, SC 29201-3154
803-771-0870
803-771-0590 fax

Palmetto Trails, a nonprofit organization, began in 1994 in the Palmetto Conservation Foundation's effort to develop a trail from the South Carolina mountains to the sea (The Palmetto Trail). Its mission is to promote, protect, and initiate development of trails and greenways in South Carolina; provide a voice for this development through technical assistance, education, and information-sharing. Supporting Palmetto Trails is a step on the trail to preserving the quality of life we deserve for generations to come.

Sierra Club
South Carolina Chapter
Mailing address:
PO Box 2388
Columbia, SC 29202
Chapter office:
1314 Lincoln Street, Suite 211
Columbia, SC 29201
803-256-8487
803-252-5147 fax
1-800-944-8733
E-mail: scsierra@conterra.com

The Sierra Club is a grass-roots environmental organization which started in San Francisco in 1892. Its purpose is to explore, enjoy and preserve the forests, waters, wildlife and wilderness of the United States and the planet Earth.

The South Carolina Chapter has over 4,000 members and is organized into nine local groups around the State. Each group presents monthly program meetings, deals with local conservation issues, and offers an outings program of day hikes, backpacking, canoeing/kayaking, bicycling, car camping, and more. The South Carolina Chapter maintains an office staffed by a chapter director, administrative assistant, and volunteers. Please contact the Chapter office for referrals to local groups. Group Meeting Times and Places (all meetings are at 7:30 P.M. unless otherwise noted)

  • Bachman: Third Monday, Unitarian Church, corner Heyward and Woodrow, Columbia
  • Bartram: Third Wed., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1135 State Park Rd., Greenville
  • Cathcart: First Tues., Palmetto Electric Building, Matthews Dr., Hilton Head
  • Foothills: First Tues., Unitarian Church, 226 Pendleton Rd., Clemson
  • Henry's Knob: Second Thurs., Wesley Foundation, Stewart St., Rock Hill
  • Lunz: First Thurs., 7:00 P.M., MUSC Baruch Auditorium, Calhoun St., Charleston
  • Pee Dee: Second Thurs., John Calvin Presbyterian, 2000 Marsh Ave., Florence
  • Savannah River: Third Tues., Walton Way Ext. and Jackson Rd., Augusta, GA
  • Winyah: Second Mon., Belin Methodist Educ. Bldg., Business 17, Murrells Inlet

Naturaland Trust
PO Box 728
Greenville, SC 29602
864-242-8200

Naturaland Trust is a non-profit land conservation organization that in 1972 conceived the idea of preserving a spectacular 40,000-acre wilderness located in the northwestern corner of South Carolina along the North Carolina state boundary. Over the years Naturaland Trust was able to protect the area by means of conservation easements and outright acquisition. With the cooperation of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (PRT), the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR), The Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Department of Interior, the Mountain Bridge became a reality in 1980. Naturaland Trust has constructed many miles of hiking trails in the Mountain Bridge area. See their guidebook in the publications section.

Tri-County Trails Networking Group
Wayne Link
1606 Danenhower Road
Pendleton, SC 29670
803-646-7374

A diverse informal group of persons interested in networking with others interested in trail issues and to working on trail development and maintenance projects in the Tri-County area. The group promotes interaction between trail user groups to foster understanding and cooperation for the enjoyment of forests and trails. Work projects and networking meetings are scheduled as needed. Anyone interested is encouraged to call for dates of next the get together.

Bicycling

Palmetto Cycling Coalition
PO Box 1256
Columbia, SC 29202
Executive Director: Natalie Cappuccio
Tel: 803-252-1174      Fax: 803-256-3068
nc_pcced@bellsouth.net

The Palmetto Cycling Coalition is an affiliation of the bicycling clubs within the State designed to promote on and off-road bicycling and bicycling-related issues. Its goals are to foster greater communication between bicycling clubs, to serve as an advocacy group for bicyclists, and improve the bicycling environment within the State of South Carolina.

Affiliated clubs:

Equestrian

South Carolina Horsemen's Council
2704 Bridgewater Road
Rock Hill, SC 29730
803-328-8450
website: www.schorsecouncil.org
email: schorsecouncil1@aol.com

SCHC is an association which actively seeks, throughout the State, the participation of individuals and groups from all breeds and all types of horse activities, amateur and professional. Its primary purpose is to further the common interests of horse people and promote the entire equine industry.

Affiliated clubs:

    Manchester Trail Riders
    Cindy Ross
    3455 Wedgefield Road
    Sumter, SC 29154
    803-494-2665

    Low Country Saddle Club
    Lindsey Cobb
    2944 Bluff Lane
    Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
    803-795-0098

    Rock Hill York County Saddle Club
    P.O. Box 11506
    Rock Hill, SC 29731
    803-324-Ride (7433)

    Plum Branch Saddle Club

    Bert Holladay

    P O Box 457

    McCormick S.C. 29835

    864-443-5281

    E-mail Address JAHOLL@WCTEL.NET

    Pendleton Area Saddle Club
    Wayne Link
    1606 Danenhower Road
    Pendleton, SC 29670
    803-646-7374

    Club established in 1988 as a family oriented organization promoting horseback riding as a recreational activity. The Club participates in many community service projects: Adopt-a-Highway, "special rider's day" for disables children, St. Jude's Benefit Ride, trail clean-up and maintenance, and support of 4-H clubs in the area.

Hiking

Greenville Natural History Association
PO Box 26892
Greenville, SC 29616

The aim of the Natural History Association and part of its charter: "To promote the enjoyment of the outdoors, teach outdoors ethics, encourage the conservation of air, woods, waters, and wildlife in general." The Association offers hikes every weekend and Wednesdays for their 500 members.

Foothills Trail Conference (FTC)
PO Box 3041
Greenville, SC 29602
864-467-9537

The Foothills Trail Conference, a nonprofit organization was founded in 1974 to promote and support the development of the Foothills Trail. Now that the Trail is a reality, the Conference continues. Some of its contemporary roles include design and implementation of a maintenance system, protection of the Trail, revision of the Guide to the Foothills Trail, and planning extensions of the Trail. The 103-mile Trail runs from Oconee State Park to the Mountain Bridge State Natural Area along the South Carolina/North Carolina border. It crosses some of the most rugged, most beautiful terrain in the Carolinas. Contact FTC to purchase a guide book and to join.

Palmetto Wanderers
Sandy Best
Richland County Recreation Commission
5819 Shakespeare Road
Columbia, SC 29223
803-754-PARK

Palmetto Wanderers is a Volksmarch Club for avid lovers of walking, especially out-of-doors. The Club schedules group walks, monthly meetings, and shares a newsletter to keep you on your toes about walking news. They meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month at the Columbia Visitor's Center. Join Today. Contact Sandy Best for a calendar of events.

Anderson Hikers & Backpackers
Dennis Mize
608 Blume Road
Anderson, SC 29625
864-225-4351

The Anderson Hikers & Backpackers Club was founded in 1987 to educate hikers and backpackers to enjoy and care for trails. The Club can provide gear and support for hikes and overnights.

Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV)

South Carolina Off-Road Enthusiasts (SCORE)


Sam Rudolph
25 Baldur Court 

Columbia, SC 29229
803-865-2111
srudolph@scana.com

SCORE was organized in April, 1992 by the All Terrain Vehicle and Off-Road Motorcycle Clubs in the State. Currently SCORE represents seven clubs at the state level. Their purpose is to open new public trails on state and federal lands, to canvas large land owners for use of private land for riding purposes, to support small clubs with land use problems, to have legislative input for future land development planning and registration programs, to keep members involved through a regular newsletter, to educate dirt riders on responsible off-road behavior, to be sensitive to the needs of our young and less experienced riders and to work to improve the public image of all off-road enthusiasts.

Affiliated clubs:

    Columbia Enduro Riders Association (CERA)
    c/o Skip Wyman
    2775 Naples Pass
    West Columbia, SC 29170
    803-356-4556

    Family Riders Motorcycle Club
    c/o Mike Smith
    218 Jennie Street
    Goose Creek, SC 29445
    843-552-7419

    Greenville Enduro Riders
    c/o Lewis Smith
    2723 Brushy Creek Drive
    Easley, SC 29642
    864-859-0501

    Long Cane Enduro Association
    c/o Jerry Kelley
    116 Knight Drive
    Belton, SC 29627
    864-243-3702

    Santee Cycle Club
    c/o Eddie Bozard
    134 Connor Drive
    Eutaville, SC 29048
    803-492-7156

    Sumter Enduro Riders Motorcycle Association (SERMA)
    c/o Johnny McCoy
    1055 Waterway Drive
    Sumter, SC 29154
    803-905-7766 (days)
    johnny_mccoy@hotmail.com

    Upstate Trailrider Association
    c/o Norman Blore
    123 Bennett Street
    Greenville, SC 29601
    864-235-8506

Paddling

Edisto River Canoe & Kayak Commission
PO Box 1763
Walterboro, SC 29488
803-549-5591

Low Country Paddlers
PO Box 13242
Charleston, SC 29422
803-863-8431

Foothills Paddling Club
 


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 South Carolina State Trails Program
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
1205 Pendleton Street :: Columbia, SC 29201 :: 803-734-0173 
Updated: August 25, 2008
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