Welcome back to a new post featuring the top trails and OHV parks across America! This time, we will cover a few of the most popular off-road areas in South Carolina.
While South Carolina doesn’t have an abundance of trails compared to surrounding states, you can still find many areas to go out and explore. Whether you’re looking for a multi-day camping trip or somewhere to wheel hard, there is something for everyone.
Below, you will find 7 featured trails and off-road parks. Make sure to share any additional areas you would recommend in the comments!
Note: The trails listed below are in no particular order.
Table Of Contents
1. Jocassee Area
Submission By: Brett (@ridge_overlander)
Tell Us About Your Favorite Spot
This is a great place to spend a day roaming forest service roads, there are so many options! However, several side trails are only open seasonally.
If you have the time for a longer drive, the view of Lake Jocassee at the top is worth it! It’s also a great spot to hang out with friends and enjoy the beauty of this area.
What Difficulty Would You Rate This Spot?
I would easily rate this a 2/10. In my opinion, all stock vehicles with moderate ground clearance can hit the entire area. There are a couple of spots where you can “stretch your legs” a little bit, but nothing super crazy. It’s an easy area that practically anyone with a stock truck can explore.
2. Rocker Knocker (Gulches ORV Park)
Submission By: Adam (@leaking50)
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There is a good selection of trails to fit pretty much any skill level/rig built within the park. However, one of my favorites is Rocker Knocker.
You can hit the park for a solid day and knock out almost every trail you want. The new owners are fantastic hosts, too.
What Difficulty Would You Rate This Spot?
I would rate Rocker Knocker a solid 8/10. There are some steep inclines with lots of rocks to crawl over. I highly recommend getting some undercarriage protection and having good spotters if you plan on attempting it.
Gulches, as a whole, offers trails for all build levels, from stock rides to bouncers and buggy builds. You could easily catch an easy 1/10 – 3/10 trail and work your way up to a 7/10 – 10/10. Some trails are about the ride while others are built around a specific obstacle or rock feature.
None of the trails at Gulches are long like those found at Windrock or Uwharrie National Forest. The shorter trails with big obstacles are a nice place to stretch your rig’s legs after making major drivetrain or suspension changes. If you break on the trail or obstacle, you don’t have a hellishly long trip to get your rig out of it.
3. Musterground Trail Rd
Submission By: Brad (@southeastoverlanding)
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Musterground Rd is a trail surrounding Lake Jocassee with plenty of scenic mountains, waterfalls, and rivers along the way. There is hardly any traffic (although sometimes you’ll come across a few hunters or fly fishermen on the WMA) and access to several great camping spots along the lake.
While it’s not the longest or hardest trail, it’s definitely worth checking out. It’s easy to access from the SC adventure route (SCAR), GA Traverse, Smokey MTN 500, TransAmerica Trail (TAT), and many other larger trail systems.
What Difficulty Would You Rate This Spot?
I would give Musterground Rd a 4/10 difficulty rating. If you’ve traveled across the country, you know that trail ratings are not standardized. The hardest trail in SC may be a 4/10 in Moab. However, this trail is not just a fire road and has some fun sections.
There are a few rocks to climb, but mainly deep ruts in some areas, bumpy roads, high elevations, and other terrain types. It has a little bit of everything. The last time I went, I broke my rear window from slamming down off a rock.
4. Shooting Tree Ridge Rd
Submission By: Emery (@whtlmtd.t4r)
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This is one of my favorite spots to go when I have time. It’s just a fire road, but the way to the top can get bumpy.
The overlook is the main attraction as it’s great for a peaceful lunch spot or even a night of camping. There is a very small creek crossing, with a bridge as a bypass if that’s not your thing.
Another great part about this road is it connects to another one called The Horse Pasture, which is a little more rocky but has beautiful overlooks.
What Difficulty Would You Rate This Spot?
Overall, I would give this road a 2/10 on difficulty. It has many steep hills, and getting to one of the campsites is rutted. A 2WD vehicle could cover 95 percent of the area. Be careful as there are very few people here and cell service is non-existent unless you are at the overlook.
5. Gulches ORV Park
Submission By: John (@crawlcult_t4r)
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I could go on forever about what I love about Gulches ORV. Still, the best description I have heard is that it is like an off-road amusement park. There is a good variety of world-class obstacles (especially for this deep in the southeast) packed into approximately 80 acres.
A stock rig can drive the perimeter trails and be moderately challenged. The interior of the park, however, is where all the magic is for people who like to wheel. From steep rock faces to technical rock gardens, v-notches, deep mud (if you are into that!), sketchy downhills, and more, there’s no shortage of ways to challenge yourself and learn your rig’s capabilities. No matter where you are, you are never far from something cool. Despite the size, this park never gets old.
Another thing to note about this park is that there’s an entry fee. A day pass will cost $25 and camping passes will cost $50 from Friday through Sunday. You will also be required to pay $5 for each passenger over the age of 12.
What Difficulty Would You Rate This Spot?
Depending on the trail, the difficulty can range from 2/10 to 10/10.
To really see the park, you’ll have to get through some rutted dirt roads with moderate root ledges, and small rock obstacles. Those can range from 2/10 to 5/10, depending on how wet it is. The mud around here is slick, making it extremely difficult to maintain your line or climb even small obstacles. So, if it is wet, climbing out from the bottom of the park will be a challenge, even on the easier trails.
There are many trails I would rate 6/10 – 8/10 (TNT, AFC, Rocker Knocker, Shipwreck, Heartbreaker, Sidewinder, etc.) that either have deep Vs, steep ledges, significant off-cambers, or rock gardens that can be slick and have to be carefully picked through. At the bottom of the park, there is a buggy wall with about five lines that shouldn’t be attempted unless you are caged and very built.
6. Francis Marion National Forest
Submission By: Author Submitted – Photo By: @lowcountrytaco
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Francis Marion National Forest has many different trail systems available to anyone looking to off-road. If you are planning a trip over here, stop by the ranger station to grab a map of the area and ask about any closures. Because this forest is low-lying and surrounded by rivers, it is prone to flooding, which can cause road closures.
Many roads are labeled for ATV or cycle use, so pay attention to the road you are on.
What Difficulty Would You Rate This Spot?
Typically, National Forests are fairly well maintained and comprise a lot of forest roads. However, depending on the season, you can encounter different “obstacles.” For this reason, I would rate this area a 3/10 – 5/10. There are no super technical trails, but it will be harder than just a gravel or dirt road.
7. South Carolina Adventure Route
Submission By: Author Submitted – Photo By: @angrypelican_gx470
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The South Carolina Adventure Route (SCAR) is about 1,000 miles of paved and unpaved roads through the state. It passes through various areas, including mountains, forests, state parks, historical sites, and smaller towns. It is very similar to what other states call the Backcountry Discovery Routes. This route is perfect for those seeking a multiple-day adventure through South Carolina.
For more information, including a route map, check out this website.
What Difficulty Would You Rate This Spot?
Since this trail is so long, the difficulty rating will vary depending on which area you plan on doing. Most of this route comprises either loose gravel, forest roads, or paved areas, which are a 1/10 to 2/10. However, some areas are rated closer to an 8/10 or 9/10 because they are unmaintained roads that require more clearance and recovery skills.
Final Thoughts
And that wraps up this week’s fan-favorite off-road areas.
While South Carolina is famous for mud-riding and swamps, there are numerous other incredible destinations to discover with your rig, so get out there and explore!
