Best Bike Trails on Hilton Head Island
I could not imagine a trip to Hilton Head without renting (or taking) a bike. Once you visit, you will understand. Riding a bike is the BEST WAY to explore Hilton Head Island. Did you know that there are over 100 miles of bike trails on Hilton Head Island that wind through the forests, neighborhoods, lakes and ponds. The amazing things about this Island is, it is designed to allow safe walking and bike paths at most locations where there are roads. The trails are extremely well-maintained and give you a fun and exciting way to get around the island. On top of the fun you will have, riding a bike is great exercise and slows things down to see the stunning sights around the island.
Renting a Bike in Hilton Head
Bringing your own bike to Hilton Head is a great option. If you don’t have a bike, or you just don’t want to go through the headache of packing it for the long trip, Hilton Head Bike Rentals are available at many locations on the Island. We have rented from many of the Bike Rental locations and I can tell you from experience, we have not had a bad bike rental at any of the locations. Keep an eye out for any coupons offered to reduce the cost of the Bike Rental. Many of the shops will offer a discount at different times of the year.
Map of Public Trails in Hilton Head
Hilton Head Island is large when you look at it from a biking perspective because you can ride a bike at most locations they have roads. This opens up well over 100 miles of paths, trails and bike lanes for you to explore. Having a map of the Public Trails in Hilton Head will give you a good start when riding bikes for the first time in the area.
Once you get started on these Public trails, you will notice that almost every street on the Island has a bike trail. This is due to the island’s continued development of one of the best bicycle communities in the US. We ride bikes almost everywhere we go on Hilton Head Island. Bike trails can take you to just about any location, like beaches, shopping, dining, forest areas, and even forest preserves. There is no end to the fun you will have when you rent a bike in Hilton Head.
Quick Facts about the Hilton Head Bike Trails
Most people are surprised when visiting Hilton Head for the first time by the number of Bike Trails that have been created. When you start looking at the numbers, it is quite amazing.
- Bike Lanes: 6 Miles
- Shared Use Pathways: 117 Miles
- Paved Shared Use Paths: 108 Miles
- Planned Pathways: 14 Miles
- Single Track: 1 Miles
- Arterial Streets: 24% Coverage
Bike Trails in the Plantations
Biking is a popular activity on Hilton Head Island, and the gated communities are no exception. Bike trails wind through these gated communities, and is the best way to see the natural beauty of the island. These Gated Communities offer guests and residents a special adventure with even more to explore.
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Riding in the Sea Pines Plantation
One of the largest gated communities on Hilton Head Island is Sea Pines. If you are staying in Sea Pines, you will have about 15 miles of bike trails to explore without ever leaving. If you are staying in Sea Pines, be sure to visit places like the Beach, the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, Lawton Stables, the Beach Club, and South Beach.
Once you start on your adventure, it is easy to see that having a bike in Hilton Head is the best way to get around. To ride your bike in Sea Pines, you must be an owner or visitor with a Sea Pines pass. If you stay somewhere else on the island and try to enter Sea Pines, you will not gain entry through the bike gate. A code is given to Sea Pines riders as they leave to return through the gate, and this code is continually updated. There is an option to ride in Sea Pines if you are not staying there. If you brought your bikes and can carry them in on a bike rack on your vehicle and pay for a day pass. Entering Sea Pines with a day pass will give you access to all of the bike paths and allow you to explore to your hearts content.
Important Note: Beaches on Hilton Head Island are public; however, Sea Pines Plantation is Private. It is considered trespassing to ride along the beach to a Sea Pines entry point and ride on the Sea Pines bike trails.
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Riding in Palmetto Dunes Plantation
The Palmetto Dunes Gated Community has over 5 miles of bike trails to explore. Be sure to take your bike to Shelter Cove and have fun riding under the William Hilton Highway through the tunnel provided to get you to the marina safely. Shelter Cove is a great place to go, no matter where you stay, on Hilton Head. Filled with shops, restaurants, and great views of the Marina, Shelter Cove is wonderful for families or a romantic evening together.
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Riding in Shipyard
Shipyard is another gated community with bike trails with beautiful moss hanging from large oak trees. If you ride from Shipyard to Pope Avenue, you will find great places to shop and dine at the Coligny Plaza.
A few great places to visit when riding Bikes on Hilton Head Island
The list of places you can visit on Hilton Head Island can be very long. Here are a few places to consider to get started.
- Coligny Beach Park is an amazing public beach access location on Hilton Head Island. No matter where you are staying, you can ride to Coligny Beach Park. This park has plenty of space to lock up your bikes and stroll along the beaches. Coligny Beach is one of the most visited Public Beaches in Hilton Head. During the high season, lifeguards are stationed at the beach, and you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas if you would like. Across the street, take some time to visit the Coligny Plaza, where you will find great little shops and restaurants.
- Chaplin Community Park is another great park in the central part of Hilton Head Island. Depending on where you are staying, this park might be a little longer bike ride, but it is certainly worth it. Depending on the time of year you visit, you might see kids and adults practicing on the open fields. If you have a dog, this is also a great place to let them play in the fenced-in dog park. Tennis and Pickleball courts are also available at this park. If you want to take a stroll on the beach, lock your bike (or park your car) at Chaplin Community Park and make your way along the path to Burkes Beach. Burkes Beach is typically a little quieter than Coligny Beach and is a great place to get some family photos.
- Fish Haul Beach Park is a true hidden gem on Hilton Head Island. Located at the “heel” or northern section of the Island, Fish Haul Park is amazing if you want to get away from all of the crowds. The beach area is on the Port Royal Sound and has plenty of shells to comb through. When the tide is out, the beach is wide and fun to walk far out in to the shallow water. This is also another wonderful place to have pictures taken, especially when the tide is low.
- What a wonderful way to spend your morning or afternoon at Jarvis Creek Park. A one-mile path stretches around a lake with beautiful trees, open areas, picnic tables and public bathrooms. Jarvis Creek Park also has a playground area for your kids to play while you relax and take in the surroundings of Hilton Head.
- Lowcountry Celebration Park is just off of Pope Avenue, near Coligny Beach Park. It is easy to make a day around the Coligny area in Hilton Head. With the addition of the Lowcountry Celebration Park, wide open spaces and a huge kids’ playground and kids’ museum add to the family fun. Be sure to take your bike over to this park while riding on Pope Ave.
- Mitchelville Freedom Park is just off Beach City Road on the North side of the Island. This Park is very significant to the Hilton Head area and allows you to explore some of the history based on the Gullah people. Trails extend through the park with access to Fish Haul Creek and out to the Port Royal Sound. A great place to learn and enjoy your surrounding with the beauty of large trees and marshland.
- Shelter Cove Community Park offers an amazing area to sit, walk, exercise or just take in the views of Broad Creek. Beauty is all around you and just next to this park you will find plenty of shopping and dining options. While in this area another incredible site is the Veterans Memorial at Shelter Cove. Hilton Head has done a great job in honoring those brave men and women show have served our country well and died for our freedoms.
This is a very short list of great places to visit on Hilton Head Island while riding your bike. All of these locations are special in their own way.
Bike Riding on the Beaches of Hilton Head
Riding on the many miles of bike trails in Hilton Head is truly amazing. Riding on the Beach is a whole different experience and one to explore. Hilton Head Island has 12 long miles of beach to explore. Before riding your bike rental on the beach, be sure they allow this. Most of the Hilton Head Bike Rental Companies do allow you to ride bikes on the beach but not all of them. There are some things to remember when you ride on the beaches.
Beaches in Hilton Head have soft white sand that gets packed hard closer to the water. Riding on the hard-packed sand makes the ride much easier. When riding your bike on the beach, keep it away from the water. Saltwater is very corrosive and can rust bikes and chains. It is a good idea to wash your bike thoroughly after taking a long bike ride on the sand.