South Carolina Trails
8
Total Trail Guides4
56
Detailed Waypoints8
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Most Recent Trail Reviews
Rated
5/5
Open
Visited: 10/15/2022
Great trail for incredible views no matter what season. Wide so there is plenty of room to pass others which will more than likely happen especially on the weekends. Some gate are seasonal which allow...
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 10/14/2022
Out of all the trails in The Gulches, I enjoyed this one the most. The off-camber obstacles and the rutted, trenched trails definitely added a bit of excitement. I didn't find this trail to be very to...
Rated
3/5
Open
Visited: 10/14/2022
This trail was very short but also, really fun to watch the Jeep's solid axle flex through the ravines. Stay on top of the highest points to make sure you don't get high-centered!
Rated
2/5
Open
Visited: 10/14/2022
This was my least favorite trail in the suggested easy loop. Since the blue trails aren't too tough (we just didn't know what to expect so we stayed on the greens), I would recommend bypassing this tr...
Rated
3/5
Open
Visited: 10/14/2022
This was one of my favorite trails at the Gulches and I was blown away by the harder trails that you see along the way. I could see a highly modified rig/buggy having a blast out here!
Rated
3/5
Open
Visited: 10/14/2022
Honestly, I wouldn't take my review seriously as I am not the clientele this ORV park is catered to. If you have a built rig and you seriously enjoy offroading, I can see this park being a 5-star netw...
No Rating
Open
Visited: 02/05/2022
Great trail for an easy Saturday drive. Beautiful views and very wide! I was able to pass in my Raptor with F-250 on trail also. Friendly people out and about all day.
UPDATED: Went to check it out 2...
Rated
5/5
Open
Visited: 11/13/2021
We had a blast. We combined it with shooting tree trail.
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 10/03/2021
Good road to get you up or down from the scenic Horse Pasture road.
Rated
5/5
Partially Open
Visited: 06/11/2021
Drove in a 2wd Nissan Frontier while Raining. I did not slip and simply left in low gear. granted I had some AT tires. Wonderful drive and beautiful sights. I am also fairly new to offroading and foun...
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 04/30/2021
I would say the road is an easy drive as described because I never needed 4wd but it was still enjoyable. I took a 2018 F150 FX4 and stayed in 2wd the whole time. The first half of the road up to the ...
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 04/26/2021
I drove this trail on my 65th birthday. It was a beautiful day and the trail was easy with great views. There are some steep parts that can be muddy with loose gravel. Highly recommend the view at ...
Rated
5/5
Open
Visited: 03/20/2021
Great EASY trail with great views. Did it with a group of guys from work and had a blast. One of the guys had worn tires and had some minor issues slipping on some of the loose gravel going up some ...
Rated
3/5
Open
Visited: 01/11/2021
The road is graveled and well maintained. It can be easily done in any type of vehicle including cars. There are no picnic areas or trail heads. This is not a destination road that will lead you to an...
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 01/04/2021
Easy ride but still fun and very scenic. I plan to go back in the spring time when everything is turning green and the side trails are open. The road was graveled and very well maintained. Only used 2...
Rated
2/5
Open
Visited: 12/03/2020
There was absolutely nothing to see or do along this trail. It got us out of the house during the pandemic, so that was good. But no hiking area, no place to park and eat lunch, nothing to see --not s...
Rated
3/5
Open
Visited: 11/22/2020
Took a quick ride down here on the way to Brasstown Falls right next to this trail, road is very well maintained and in great shape. This is normally a side road, but the main road is under constructi...
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 10/17/2020
Beautiful trail with scenic views mixed in. I paired this with the Horse Pasture Road Trail and beyond. I will be back to use one of the campsites. I was out there early (8AM) and by noon most of the...
No Rating
Open
Visited: 05/10/2020
Easy ride in My jeep, overall an enjoyable scenic afternoon. Some small water falls and picturesque spots along the way. Once you stop at Jumping off rock, if you follow the trail and take Bootleg roa...
No Rating
Open
Visited: 05/01/2020
Trail was an easy ride. Never had to use 4WD. Although there are some steeper hills, it is possible to make it in a passenger car.
Rated
5/5
Open
Visited: 04/18/2020
Great Trail. has a beautiful view of Jocassee at the top.
Rated
5/5
Open
Visited: 12/26/2019
Finally got to drive this road in my Jeep. Easy drive in any high clearance truck. Pack a lunch and stop and hang out to enjoy the views at Jumping off Rock. If you like to hike like I do, about 2.5 m...
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 09/29/2019
Nice easy trail. Great trail to do along with horse pasture for a fun day trip with the family.
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 09/29/2019
Horse pasture road is a nice easy ride. Fun for the family with some beautiful views of lake Jocassee.
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 07/12/2019
The view at Jumping Off Rock is well worth the drive.
Rated
5/5
Open
Visited: 06/25/2019
Took a ride down here today, trail in great shape. All campgrounds open.
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 06/25/2019
Took a ride down here today, road in great shape - all camping areas were wide open.
Rated
5/5
Open
Visited: 06/23/2019
Trail is very well maintained and is able to be done in a stock SUV. Saw some Ford explorers and even a Subaru. Did not have to use 4wd at all. Great trail for first time off-roader. Awesome views a...
No Rating
Open
Visited: 03/09/2019
Great trail for any vehicle. a/t or m/t would be necessary if it’s very wet but I even saw a Kia sedan up the trail. But very clear and open good for anyone just starting to wheel.
No Rating
Open
Visited: 10/06/2018
Dry and nothing blocking the road making it easy and passable for anyone with even 2WD. There are a quite a few dips and it can get steep if you make your way all the way to Lake Jocassee, to the poin...
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 09/30/2018
Went on a wet morning. Easily passable trails. Never had to use 4WD. Most of the offshoots were closed. Hiked up a few. Would go back to try again and catch more of the "scenic overlooks" (most weren'...
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 09/08/2018
Very nice easy trail. Lots of opportunities to view the scenery and some opportunities to open up and bounce around.
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 08/16/2018
Great trail. The back end of the trail was closed at the time so I had to turn around and go back the way I came. Mainly gravel and has amazing views over Lake Jocassee.
3/5 (1 reviews)
Updated: 11/28/2022
Gulches ORV Park: Trail 1
Open
/
Laurens, South Carolina/
0.46 miles/
About 15 minutes
Looking to bag all of the Jeep Badge of Honor trails but don't have quite the rig for the gnarly trails or, as Gulches would say the "absolutely stupid" trails? If so, look no further than Trail 1. This "green" trail is part of the easiest loop in the park, giving you a tour of what the park has to offer. Trail 1 meanders down through the lush forest towards the back of the park and the Reedy River. Along the way, you will find a few easier obstacles to test your rig with the opportunity to go absolutely wild. The vibrant red mud on this trail contrasts nicely with the surrounding vegetation, which changes from bright green to deep orange and red colors during the Autumn months. Combine this with River Road and Trail 14 for a nice, easy loop within the park.
4.6/5 (20 reviews)
Updated: 06/25/2019
Horse Pasture Road
Open
/
Pickens, South Carolina/
11.68 miles/
About 1 hour, 30 minutes
Horse Pasture Road is the eastern entrance of the Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area at Jocassee Gorges, one of the only temperate rain forests in the United States east of the Cascade Mountains. Incredible views overlooking the valleys and clear waters of Lake Jocassee, Horse Pasture Road offers many activities including hunting, camping, bird watching and botanical areas with many hard-to-find species. With access to Jumping-Off Rock, one of the best views in the entire region, and its multiple access points to the 77 mile long Foothills Hiking Trail, Horse Pasture Road is a great trail for a day of activities or just a nice ride though the forest and mountains.
4/5 (6 reviews)
Updated: 04/10/2021
Shooting Tree Ridge Road
Seasonal Closure
/
Pickens, South Carolina/
8.76 miles/
About 50 minutes
Shooting Tree Ridge Road is the southern entrance of the Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area at Jocassee Gorges, one of the only temperate rain forests in the United States east of the Cascade Mountains. This curvy, scenic drive follows up/down Bully Mountain and connects to the ever popular Horse Pasture Road with access to Jumping-Off Rock, one of the best views in the entire region. Hiking, camping, hunting or just a scenic ride through the forest and mountains make this a fun trail to explore whenever your in the area.
2.7/5 (4 reviews)
Updated: 11/22/2020
Little Longnose Road
Open
/
Long Creek, South Carolina/
5.24 miles/
About 40 minutes
Just outside Long Creek, South Carolina lies Little Longnose Road. Situated inside the Sumter National Forest just east of Lakes Yonah and Tugalo, this trail is right in the heart of some of the best waterfall hunting in the region. Filled with the sights and sounds of nature the entire way, this scenic mountain ride will make you forget your only 30 miles from the busy Clemson University. So if your out waterfall hunting or just looking for a beautiful scenic drive, check out Little Longnose Road.
3/5 (1 reviews)
Updated: 11/28/2022
Gulches ORV Park: Arrowhead Alley
Looking to bag all of the Jeep Badge of Honor trails but don't have quite the rig for the gnarly trails or, as Gulches would say the "absolutely stupid" trails? Arrowhead Alley is a great trail to get started on at this ORV park. With enough challenge to keep it interesting, this trail will take you down to the lowest part of the park, down by the river. Due to the steepness of this trail and the amount of precipitation this area gets, the ravines caused by erosion will offer a stock rig good chances to flex out a bit. Arrowhead Alley's surface can change for this reason, and it is a great option to try a bit of a harder trail in this park after graduating from the green trails.
4/5 (1 reviews)
Updated: 11/28/2022
Gulches ORV Park: Palmetto Krawler
Looking to bag all of the Jeep Badge of Honor trails but don't have quite the rig for the gnarly trails or, as Gulches would say, the "absolutely stupid" trails? If you felt ok doing the green trails at The Gulches and want to step it up to the next level, make sure to put Palmetto Krawler on your shortlist. This trail will offer quite a bit of excitement with steep climbs, tight trees, and off-camber descents. The rutted-out trenches will require your focus and possibly some extra skinny pedal, especially if the trail is wet. If you find this trail easy, maybe it's time to conquer the hard, harder, and insanely hard trails The Gulches are notorious for. The opportunities for adrenaline are endless!
3/5 (1 reviews)
Updated: 11/28/2022
Gulches ORV Park: River Road
Looking to bag all of the Jeep Badge of Honor trails but don't have quite the rig for the gnarly trails or, as Gulches would say, the "absolutely stupid" trails? Once you have completed Trail 1, River Road will be your next stop along the "easy" tour of The Gulches. Along the way, you will encounter a few different obstacles and lines that will add quite a bit of excitement to your day. Most importantly, you will get a first-hand view of the trails The Gulches is famous for, which are the "more difficult" and "most difficult" trails. Since River Road is down at the lowest elevation in the entire park, prepare for wet conditions and mud bogs, which are notorious for swallowing vehicles. Tack on Trail 14 for a nice, easy loop within the park.
2/5 (1 reviews)
Updated: 11/28/2022
Gulches ORV Park: Trail 14
Looking to bag all of the Jeep Badge of Honor trails but don't have quite the rig for the gnarly trails or, as Gulches would say the "absolutely stupid" trails? Once you have completed Trail 1 and River Road, Trail 14 will be your last stop along the "easy" tour of The Gulches. This trail will connect a few other trails in the park, but you will mostly find yourself in a tunnel of vegetation until you reach either end of the trail. A few ravines caused by erosion will offer a few flexy sections to test your rig.
Showing 8 of
8
Most Recent Scout Route Reviews
Rated
3/5
Open
Visited: 11/19/2022
I was in an absolute downpour when I drove this road. It was ok, but rather bland compared to some of the others in terms what you can see off the side of the road.
Rated
2/5
Open
Visited: 11/15/2022
Very lame road, but it was a good way to connect to 211 and get into the better part of the forest.
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 11/15/2022
Even being in a bunch of private land, for some reason I found sections of this road beautiful.
Rated
5/5
Open
Visited: 11/15/2022
This was my favorite road I drove in the area, the forest was very calming and towards the west end, I stopped, and just hung out for a bit. It is a great leisure road!
Rated
2/5
Open
Visited: 11/15/2022
I just didn't enjoy it that much, the tree canopy wasn't that great, and the end was more like a parking lot.
Rated
3/5
Open
Visited: 11/15/2022
Dull compared to many of the other roads in the area but still very scenic in terms of coastal woodlands.
Rated
4/5
Open
Visited: 11/15/2022
I actually loved this simple road. It provided great views into the swamp and provided different flora than some of the others I drove in the area.
4/5 (1 reviews)
Victor Lincoln Road
Victor Lincoln Road is a convenient road to use when visiting the Francis Marion National Forest. While a portion of the road travels through private property and residences, much of it intersects the Caffey Swamp and the Wambaw Swamp Wilderness. A perfect road for the curious mind interested in swamp flora and fauna. The road is mostly sandy, and in extreme wet weather, you can bog down into the sand. Four-wheel drive would be recommended in that situation. Motorized dispersed camping is not permitted within the National Forest.
3/5 (1 reviews)
Echaw
The Francis Marion National Forest is named after Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, who adopted fighting techniques used by the Cherokee Indians to attack British soldiers and supply lines during the Revolutionary War.
In 1989, hurricane Hugo leveled the forest; today, smaller pines and cypress stand along the roads and swamps. Echaw is a mixed gravel and sand road that gives you views of prescribed burn areas and connects to several other roads. Many of the side roads are closed, so watch the signage closely. Dispersed motorized camping is not allowed within the forest, but the Honey Hill Recreation Area Campground is near the western end of this road.
3/5 (1 reviews)
Echaw B
Echaw B is a two-track leading into the dense coastal forest. It dead-ends at the Chicken Creek Canoe Trail, which is a good spot for a lunch break. Deeper puddles may exist during times of rain. While the end of this road is perfect for dispersed camping, you cant. Dispersed motorized camping is not allowed within this part of the Francis Marion National Forest.
2/5 (1 reviews)
McConnell Landing
McConnell Landing is a short out-and-back that ends at the edge of the Santee River and a boat launch. At the end, there is plenty of room for a good leg stretch break and perhaps a snack. In addition, you can get up close to marshland and see the interesting tree formations that grow there.
5/5 (1 reviews)
Honey Hill West and Thompson Branch
Honey Hill West and Thompson Branch are two different road names, but they are joined as one. This route takes you through lush pine, with pine needles even making up a portion of the road surface. The west end is near the Coffee Creek Swamp, a perfect spot to pull over and have lunch or even lounge around for a while. These two roads will tease you and make you want to disperse camp, but dispersed motorized camping is prohibited in the forest. However, at the east end, Honey Hill West Recreation Area has several designated campsites.
3/5 (1 reviews)
Mill Branch
Mill Branch is a good road to travel from the southwest portion of the forest to the northeast, where it terminates at the Elmwood Recreation Area seasonal campground and close to the historic Hampton Plantation. An easy road, even in wet weather, the trail provides views of the coastal forest. Elmwood Recreation Area is the nearest camping.
4/5 (1 reviews)
Old Georgetown Road
Old Georgetown Road travels through a mix of public land and private land. The real beauty is the gentrified sections through the residential area in the middle, with quaint landscapes full of southern charm. The road surface is soft sand, and you can get bogged down in very wet weather. All-wheel drive would be helpful in such conditions.
2/5 (1 reviews)
Palmer Bridge Road
Palmer Bridge Road connects to roads within the Francis Marion National Forest, providing a gateway to other adventures. It travels through public and private land. Dispersed motorized camping is not allowed within the forest.
Showing 8 of
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