Best Hilton Head Bike Trails

There’s arguably no better way to see Hilton Head than on a bicycle. With an extensive system of trails, the island is perfect for cycling. Whether you want to explore some of Hilton Head’s more remote wilderness areas, pedal through charming historic neighborhoods, or simply get from A to B during your stay on Hilton Head Island, cycling is the way to go. 

Best of all, bike rentals are widely available on the island. So even if you don’t feel like bringing your own bikes from home, you’ll still have no problem experiencing Hilton Head’s beaches, forests and historic sites by bicycle. If you’re looking for the best bike trails on Hilton Head, these are some of our absolute favorites.

Jarvis Creek Park Loop

A popular spot to watch wildlife and get some exercise, 53-acre Jarvis Creek Park features a loop trail roughly a mile in length, which encircles a small lake. The trail is paved, and stations with fitness equipment along its length make it a good place for an outdoor workout.

Of course, you can also enjoy the Jarvis Creek park loop at a slower pace, and ambling along on a bike is a great way to do that. The trail meanders in and out of picnic areas and wooded sections, with bridges over some of the marshy spots alongside the lake.

Jarvis Creek Park Loop
70 Jarvis Park Rd,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
843-681-8220

Sea Pines Community Bike Trails

The Sea Pines community is a beautiful area that includes some of the best vacation rentals on Hilton Head. It also includes a 15-mile network of bike paths, so you can essentially park your car and not need to drive it again until it’s time to head home.

The bike paths alone are a great reason for staying in Sea Pines, which includes landmarks like the Sea Pines Plantation Golf Club, Harbour Town and the 4,000-year-old Sea Pines Shell Ring. The Sea Pines Forest Preserve is also a must-visit spot, but remember that nature trails in the preserve are open to foot traffic only. 

Sea Pines Community Bike Trails
100 N Sea Pines Drive,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843-842-1890
www.seapines.com/experiences/amenities/bicycle-shop

Islanders Beach Park

Riding a bike on the beach is a popular activity on Hilton head, and many local bike rental businesses offer fat tire bikes specifically for this purpose. Riding a bike is allowed on all of Hilton Head’s public beaches, and there are many access points where you can get started.

Islanders Beach park is a great option because it’s not as heavily used as some other beaches, despite offering beautiful scenery and access to miles of coastline.

Islanders Beach Park
94 Folly Field Rd,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843-341-4600
www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/parks/IslandersBeach

Coligny Beach Park

The picturesque Coligny Beach is centrally located near Hilton Head’s best shopping and dining, making it a well-loved spot among locals and tourists alike. With a charming strip of sand and sweeping views across the water, it definitely belongs on any visitor’s checklist of places to visit on Hilton Head.

Coligny Beach Park is a great cycling spot too, with a wide-open boardwalk and bike racks where you can secure your bicycle while you hit the surf. 

Coligny Beach Park
1 Coligny Circle,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843-342-4580
www.hiltonhead.com/coligny-beach-park

Palmetto Dunes Community Bike Trails

Palmetto Dunes is a private resort community with some of the island’s best vacation homes and rentals, and one of the great benefits of staying in Palmetto Dunes is the opportunity to explore its scenic bike paths.

Roughly 5 miles of paved cycling trails wind through this charming area, meandering alongside tranquil lagoons beneath a canopy of mature oak trees. These trails also connect to many miles of public pathways and include access to about 3 miles of sandy beach, which is great for beach cycling. 

Palmetto Dunes Community Bike Trails
4 Queens Folly Road,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
888-909-9566
www.palmettodunes.com

Pinckney Island

Nestled between the mainland and Hilton Head, Pinckney Island is one of the best places to experience the wilder side of the South Carolina coast. The island is protected as a 4,053-acre National Wildlife Refuge, which is made up of salt marshes, tidal creeks, forestland and brushland that supports a wealth of plant and animal life.

A little over 14 miles of grass trails and gravel roads crisscross the island, and the best way to explore it is by bike. Pinckney Island is one of the best birding areas near Hilton Head, and also one of the better places to beat the crowds, especially on weekdays.

Pinckney Island
South Carolina 29910, USA

Old House Creek Pier

A hidden gem for fishing and wildlife viewing, the old House Creek Pier is also an excellent cycling spot off the beaten path. The pier extends out over marshland onto House Creek, a calm tidal creek with a view of the Intracoastal Waterway. From the access point at the end of Sterling Pointe Drive, cyclists can pedal out to the end of the pier where a wildlife viewing platform offers a great vantage point to watch for herons, egrets and other birds. 

Old House Creek Pier
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

Greens Shell Park

Located right next door to Green’s Shell Enclosure Heritage Preserve, a 3-acre historical site, Greens Shell Park is a wooded park with trails, picnic areas and playgrounds. It’s a great place for a quiet bike ride, including interpretive signs and a walkway that takes you out onto a pier that extends into the marsh. It’s a popular park for dog walking as well as bike riding.

Greens Shell Park
99 Squire Pope Rd,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
843-757-1503

Audubon Newhall Preserve

Established in 1965 and maintained by the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society, the Audubon Newhall Preserve is a beautiful spot for a hike or a bike ride. The preserve spans 50 acres on the south end of Hilton Head Island, and it includes a 2-mile trail system that winds through lush forest and encircles a pond.

It’s one of the best places to spot a wide range of native bird species on Hilton Head, and also features signage that identifies many of the plants and trees you’ll see along the way. 

Audubon Newhall Preserve
55 Palmetto Bay Rd,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
www.hiltonheadaudubon.org

Fish Haul Beach Park

Fish Haul Beach Park is tucked away in Bay Gall, one of the historic Gullah neighborhoods on Hilton Head Island. Interpretive signs mark the first self-governed freedman’s village, which was established here during the Civil War. The 16-acre park also offers a network of secluded hiking and biking trails, which crisscross Fish Haul Creek and meander through a landscape of wetlands, salt marshes, beaches and maritime forest.

Fish Haul Beach Park
120 Mitchelville Rd,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
843-341-4600
www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/parks/FishHaulBeach

This is also a good place to access the coast for some beach cycling. Contact us today to learn more about exploring Hilton Head. Beachside Getaway offers more than 100 Hilton Head vacation rentals ranging from cozy villas to luxurious vacation homes.