Hidden Bike Trails of Hilton Head Island

There’s no better way to get around Hilton Head Island than by bike. From scenic coastal roads to winding tree-lined streets, cycling is the easiest and most enjoyable way to get around and see everything Hilton Head Island has to offer.

The Island Packet, the daily newspaper for Hilton Head Island, recently offered four lesser-known bike paths that may provide a bit of a quiet respite as well as a beautiful view of the island. They include:

Barker Field Observation Deck

Located along Mitchelville Road and hidden behind a couple of sports fields is a long boardwalk that you can bike while enjoying spectacular views. Climb up the observation deck at the end of the boardwalk, which takes you over marshland, for views of the Broad River, the Atlantic Ocean, and St. Helena and Parris Islands.

Old House Creek Pier

Head to Sterling Point Drive to bike the 225 foot Old House Creek Pier used for crabbing and fishing. It offers a wildlife viewing area at the end.

The Veterans Memorial

Within Shelter Cove Community Park on the east bank of Broad Creek is the island’s Veteran’s Memorial. There you will find American and POW/MIA flags flying over a granite memorial. The park has plenty of paths for walking or biking, offering lovely vistas of the marsh and Broad Creek.

Fish Haul Creek Park

A 16-acre park off of Beach City Road, Fish Haul Creek Park is a natural setting full of trees and marshes along Port Royal Sound. This is a great place to hop off your bike to collect shells and spot shore birds and other wildlife. There you will find an observation deck, a picnic pavilion and restrooms, as well.

There’s lots to do for every level of cyclist at Palmetto Dunes, so if you’re looking for more than a slow ride along the beach, take a trip through some of Bluffton’s most historic and scenic wetlands.

Bike out highway 278 (the Parkway) to the town of Bluffton. This is about a two and a half hour ride along flat, public roads.

In Bluffton, turn left onto Lake Point Drive and then right onto highway 46, the May River Road. You’ll pass through Pritchardville, then come to a parking lot for the New River Linear Trail.

That’s a short hiking/biking trail along an old railbed, and runs south to the river through remote Lowcountry. There are interpretive signs documenting the area’s history, and the trail is part of the East Coast Greenway project, so experienced trail riders can connect to other nearby trails.

If you’re up for a few miles more, continue along May River Road and right onto highway 170 then left when you reach highway 17. That’ll take you to the Savannah Wildlife Refuge where you can explore all manner of flora and fauna.

If you do head off Hilton Head Island, make sure you’re prepared with water and snacks to keep you fueled for your adventure. Allow at least a couple of hours riding to get back before dark, too.

Are you ready to explore Hilton Head Island by bike? Reserve your family’s bikes from Hilton Head Outfitters for your next vacation!