Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Charleston, South Carolina

Swamp Fox 1

Most of this trail runs through the Francis Marion National Forest. Your vehicle must have a license plate. There are a few short pavement sections, otherwise it's mainly hard two-track fire roads with sections that…
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Total Miles
34
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

South Carolina Adventure Route Segment 5

Segment five is the longest section of the SCAR loop, and stretches between the towns of Camden and Edisto Beach. The north end of this segment briefly passes through what is known as the "Sandhills"…
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Total Miles
266.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp / Wi

Botany Bay Plantation

Botany Bay Plantation is located at the tip of Edisto Island in South Carolina. The plantation is a total of 4,630 acres and consists of two historic plantations: Bleak Hall and Sea Cloud. In 1859,…
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Total Miles
6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa / Wi

South Carolina Adventure Route Segment 1

Segment 1 of the South Carolina Adventure Route (SCAR) stretches from Edisto Beach State Park on the Atlantic Coast to the town of Edgefield South Carolina, It passes through what is known as the "sandhills"…
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Total Miles
180.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp / Wi

Parkers Ferry - SCAR Alternate

This route traverses some of the flat lowlands along the Edisto River (south/west side of the river). When dry, this segment will contain hardened ruts that make for a bumpy ride or if deep enough…
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Total Miles
19.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin

Ernest F. Hollings National Wildlife Refuge is in the heart of the ACE Basin in South Carolina. The refuge represents one of the largest undeveloped wetland ecosystems remaining on the Atlantic Coast. This route is…
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Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Mill Branch

Mill Branch is a single-lane, mostly gravel road running north/south through Francis Marion National Forest. Caution should be taken when getting up to speed due to sparsely scattered but deep potholes that tend to hide…
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Total Miles
7.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Francis Marion NF - SCAR Alternate

This trail loops through the northeast portion of Francis Marion National Forest and offers visitors a look into the Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion. Because it's a low-lying forest surrounded by rivers, it is prone…
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Total Miles
16.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

SCAR Northeast Alternate

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…
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Total Miles
228.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Donnelly Wildlife Management Area

Donnelly Wildlife Management Area is located in the low county of South Carolina. Like the nearby Bear Island WMA; Donnelly WMA is home to many migratory bird species that can be observed on the various…
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Total Miles
8.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Donnelly WMA PT.2

These routes add to the existing Donnelly WMA route to complete the mapping of the entire Wildlife Management Area. Donnelly Wildlife Management Area is located in the low county of South Carolina. Like the nearby…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Donnelly WMA PT.6

These routes add to the existing Donnelly WMA route to complete the mapping of the entire Wildlife Management Area. Donnelly Wildlife Management Area is located in the low county of South Carolina. Like the nearby…
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Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Donnelly WMA PT.4

These routes add to the existing Donnelly WMA route to complete the mapping of the entire Wildlife Management Area. Donnelly Wildlife Management Area is located in the low county of South Carolina. Like the nearby…
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Total Miles
1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Donnelly WMA PT.1

These routes add to the existing Donnelly WMA route to complete the mapping of the entire Wildlife Management Area. Donnelly Wildlife Management Area is located in the low county of South Carolina. Like the nearby…
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Total Miles
0.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Donnelly WMA PT.3

These routes add to the existing Donnelly WMA route to complete the mapping of the entire Wildlife Management Area. Donnelly Wildlife Management Area is located in the low county of South Carolina. Like the nearby…
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Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Donnelly WMA PT.7

These routes add to the existing Donnelly WMA route to complete the mapping of the entire Wildlife Management Area. Donnelly Wildlife Management Area is located in the low county of South Carolina. Like the nearby…
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Total Miles
0.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Donnelly WMA PT.5

These routes add to the existing Donnelly WMA route to complete the mapping of the entire Wildlife Management Area. Donnelly Wildlife Management Area is located in the low county of South Carolina. Like the nearby…
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Total Miles
4.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Santee Coastal WMA

Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area was established by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources due to the purchase and donation of the property by The Nature Conservancy in 1974. This unique property represents…
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Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

South Carolina Adventure Route Segment 4

Segment four 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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Total Miles
194.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

SCAR Connector-Loop

This connector loop bisects the primary SCAR loop, running through Batesburg-Leesville, past Lake Murray, and through Newberry. It is 88 miles long, and contains a mix of paved and unpaved roads. Off-pavement south of Batesburg-Leesville…
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Total Miles
84.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi