dirt roads upstate sc...

Looking for some dirt and gravel to ride around upstate SC...where should I be poking around? I'm in Greenville/Greer.

Midlands would be appreciated as well

I live in pageland sc and chesterfield co has a lot of sandy dirt roads not to mention sandhills state park has miles and miles of day use roads!

I have been poking around some in the cage and found some dirt roads down around Whitmire in the National Forest area. They are public roads, just happen to be dirt. I hope to be on a bike by this weekend and if I am i'll take some pix.

There is lots of gravel and dirt in Whitmire. And if Brevard, NC is not to far for you, there is a lot of dirt and gravel in the area. If you consider riding to Ceasars head, there is a gravel road off hwy. 11 named Persimmon Ridge rd. It's about 3 or 4 miles long. Also look in the Dupont State Forrest area (nc) theres some gravel in that area too.
Let me know what you find, been looking myself!

I hope to be on a bike by this weekend and if I am i'll take some pix.[/QUOTE]
Did you find a bike this weekend?

I had tons of fun with some fellow inmates at Bad Creek Rd and Horse Pasture Rd in the upstate. >> http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=455860
Theres a link in there for the Horse Pasture trip also.

Holy cow, I have been looking for that road for hiking purposes for years (obviously not THAT hard). I've driven past that trailhead a dozen times and never noticed. Google maps has that road on it but I never spotted an "in."

That trail is about an 1.5 hrs from me.

Yup, my hiking buddies(who are now my riding buddies and on adv) and I hiked that road down to a camping area on a trip several years ago. I didn't realize that fact until I was coming out on the bike and something seemed oddly familiar.....:huhLike it was dejavu or something... Then I figured it out.

That the one you got concussed on. He walked into a tree.

I rode down around Whitmire last friday evening. There are two roads west of town that go up either side of the Enoreee. That is mostly Nat. Forest through there. Ridge Road is on the south side of the river and Old Buncombe is on the north side. Ridge road is dirt, with lots of dirt spurs coming off of it. Buncombe is paved with a few dirt spurs. There is enough stuff down there to make it worth the trip IMO, couldn't give you a mileage number. Maybe 30 miles worth tops in that square? As I continue to explore I will keep y'all posted.

Oh, if you go down there at dusk like I did watch out for deer! They are pretty thick in that area.

I've been trying to put together some of the frontage roads (most are dirt or gravel), and some other FS roads near I-26 (between Clinton and Newberry) together to ride for my commute to work in Newberry.
Off one of the exits, the frontage road turns to dirt, mud holes and ruts. I followed it a ways back into the woods, but I had switched the bike on reserve a ways back and didn't want to push my luck.
Other than NC, it's the closest I've found.
How 'bout in Spartanburg county?:huh
Jocassee, let me know if you want to explore this area a bit more.

I'd second Horsepasture Rd. a nice area to ride, and love those water bars. Somehow tho' I've managed to make a big loop out of it each time in there. I usually avoid dead ends but Bad Creek looks well worth it, will try it next time I'm up there, thanks for the tip.

Jocassee, a little further south down 130 from BC you can take a right on Cheohee Valley Rd. then right on Winding Stairs Rd. up to 107 then right and a left on Burrell's Ford Rd. over to 28. There's more on either side of 28 (and it keeps getting better) but it'll take you further North or West, so it could turn into an all day ride from where you are.

Good stuff guys. I have not been up to 130 in a while...not all winter actually. So I will have to go explore soon.

I work down in Laurens so I may have a gander at one of those frontage roads on 26 soon too.

I'm going to Charleston this weekend though, the sun, sand, and open road are all calling my name!

.


just messin around, i came up with this, starting at B instead of A would be more dirt, but starting at A gives you a nice dirt road before an equal or greater length paved section before much more dirt... anyway, it has my interest......
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I'll second Persimmon Ridge, though it is pretty short. But if you continue N on 276 into NC, make the right to head into DuPont State Park (maybe 3 or 4 miles beyond Caesar's Head), then take the next immediate right, and you'll be on (paved) Reasonaver Rd. From it you can take either one of two pretty good dirt roads: Pinnacle Mtn Rd (I think that's the name) on the left, or Green River Rd, the right fork. Pinnacle comes out in Flat Rock and from Green River you can take Bob's Creek Rd back to US 25 (connects Greenville and Asheville). I know I know, technically, these last two dirt roads are in NC, but they are essentially tracing the border between the two states.

As far as the gravel roads in the Horsepasture area go, be sure to check whether they are open. Most of this area is open only seasonally (and I can never remember the exact dates), but there are quite a few miles, with a couple of great overlooks of Lake Jocassee and the Jocassee Gorges area (now state parks in NC and SC). You can also access SC gravel from the NC entrance to Gorges St Park (off NC 281 near US 64). This is done via Chestnut Mtn. Road, which drops off steeply into SC. Again, there are some seasonal restrictions that limit access to some of the dirt roads beyond Chestnut Mtn Rd. I wouldn't advise heading into this area alone, as it's very remote, steep in places, and it can be dangerous.