About
South Carolina Trails

South Carolina has countless opportunities to showcase its beauty. Visitors to local beaches number in the millions; people flock each autumn to watch the changing mountain foliage and every county — from the most urban to the most rural — has cultural and natural attractions.

[2022 RTP Application Guidance / 2022 RTP Application]

The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT) operates the central trails program for the State. The South Carolina Trails program provides technical assistance, awards/manages grants, and serves as a clearinghouse for a variety of trail-related activities across the State. SCPRT employs a State Trails Coordinator to provide professional assistance to trail groups in the state. For most groups, the State Trails Coordinator is the first point of contact when undertaking trail construction and planning — serving as an advocate for South Carolina's excellent trails. 

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a federal-aid assistance program designed to help states provide and maintain recreational trails for both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail use. For 2021, South Carolina Trails will follow a one-year cycle (tentative 2021 RTP Schedule). SCPRT administers RTP with assistance from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

South Carolina Trails encourages trail users to find their path, as well as the development of trails — in every region of the state — connected to a variety of natural resources made accessible for a wide array of users. As this program continues to grow, we can greatly increase the opportunities to enjoy the vast range of South Carolina’s treasures through trails.

The goal is to develop or improve trails for off-road motorcycles, ATVs, mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers, and paddlers. Eligible applicants include state, federal, or local government agencies, or qualified private organizations. All SC Trails applications are graded utilizing a competitive Open Project Selection Process (OPSP) reviewed by a grading team and a 20% match is required. 

[Goals of the South Carolina State Trails Plan]

The trails you may find on this website are sponsored or managed by many different agencies and departments. Not all trails on this website were funded through the South Carolina Trails program. The trail descriptions and maps listed on this website are based on information received from trail “owners,” research of trail publications and websites, and input from trail users. In most cases the first sentence of each description gives a brief overview, such as difficulty, terrain, and trail surface, so you can decide if this is the trail for you. The maps were created using GPS data, but due to weather, or changes by the trail “owner,” the map may not be a true representation.

Since this website a shared public resource, we depend on “owner” input to make updates, changes, or announce trail closures. If you have a question regarding any particular trail, it is best to contact the source listed on the trail pages.