An active lifestyle is at the heart of Upstate South Carolina's culture, from hiking, biking, boating, kayaking, or zip lining. With its 730 miles of bike trails and 425 waterfalls around the Upstate, it is no wonder bicycling magazine named the Upstate community among the three "Best Small Cities for Cycling" in its online roundup.
The centerpiece of the city's bicycling amenities is the 17.5-mile GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail, an old railway-turned-paved pathway that snakes along the Reedy River into the center of town. Greenville is also home to the U.S. Pro Cycling Championships, one of 17 national events determining the best professional rider and team on American soil.
Several long-distance cycling trails pass through the Upstate region, including the Palmetto Trail and the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Trail. These allow you to do multi-day bike touring trips. The mild climate in spring and fall makes for ideal biking weather. Summers can be hot and humid, so plan rides accordingly. Be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms.
For road cyclists, popular routes include the scenic mountain roads around Caesar's Head, the rolling farmland around Walhalla, and cycling along the shores of Lakes Keowee and Jocassee. Annual cycling events include the Assault on Mt. Mitchell, which climbs over 6,000 feet to the highest point in the eastern US. 
Swamp Rabbit Trail – Greenville, SC
The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a popular rail trail over 20 miles from Greenville to Travelers Rest. It's paved and relatively flat, making it accessible for casual cyclists. This is the most popular and well-known trail in Greenville. It runs over 20 miles from Travelers Rest to downtown Greenville, following an old railroad corridor along the Reedy River. The paved path is great for walking, running, biking, and inline skating. There are several parks and attractions along the trail.
The former railroad system, appropriately named the 'Doodle Line,' carries a rich history of industry and economic importance to the City of Pickens and the City of Easley. The mostly flat, accessible, paved trail follows the former Doodle Line railroad for just over 8 miles and includes two wooden bridges.
Along the trail, you'll find grassy areas, benches, scenic views of the creek, and informational signs about Easley's history as a mill town. Residents nicknamed the railroad the “Pickens Doodle” line because the freight engine could not be turned around and had to run backward from Easley to Pickens, resembling the motion of a doodlebug. There are plans to connect it to the nearby Swamp Rabbit Trail eventually.
Stumphouse Trail – Walhalla, SC
Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park is a state-of-the-art mountain biking facility and the only recreational facility open to the public in Upstate South Carolina. It is located in the Stumphouse Tunnel Park in Walhalla, South Carolina, encompassing 440 acres and includes: Stumphouse Tunnel, Issaqueena Falls, the Stumphouse Passage of the Palmetto Trail, the Blue Ridge Railroad hiking trail, and Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park.
Issaqueena Trails - Clemson, SC
Many of the trails are part of the campus of Clemson University. The South Carolina Botanical Garden has several miles of natural surface trails open to bikers. The Clemson Experimental Forest has hiking and biking trails, but with almost 20,000 acres of public forest property, knowing where to begin can be overwhelming. Get started by exploring the Lake Issaqueena forest area trails and a great way to discover the Clemson Experimental Forest.
The Upstate of South Carolina has hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails to explore! Let me know if you need any other specifics on these or the too many to-list trails in the Upstate.
