first family vacation over spring break ever, and we’re headed to Hilton Head Island. Any ideas of where to swim (other than the ocean, duh)? Any good trails or bike routes to discover? Any ideas are much appreciated. thanks.
Lots of fun places to run and ride. CAUTION should always be exercised when riding/running on HHI because of all of the cross walks and traffic woes.
Cars just turn in to their destination and don’t always pay attention to folks in the cycle lanes or sidewalks. I guess they think we have eyes in the back of our heads.
The Crosstown Expressway is kind of bland but the safest burm to ride in my opinion. Early morning road rides are safest just due to the diminished traffic anywhere on the Island.
Sea Pines and North/South Forest Beach Road are decent for running and rides. South Beach area in Sea Pines has nice hard packed sand for running on.
GOTRISPORTS is a very nice tri shop in the heart of the Island. Check them out for group workouts or swimming suggestions. I end up swimming over on Daufuskie Island, or in the ocean, but I’ve heard there are really nice pools on Hilton Head.
Have a great time. There are some seriously strong local triathletes and runners to hook up with too.
I’m from Hilton Head, so maybe I can help. Contact Go Tri Sports on HH, they can probably get you a list of the good roads to ride or get you hooked up with a group ride/run. I know that they have a couple each week. Depending on where you are staying could also influence where are good spots. I’ve seen people riding on 278, but frankly, I would be a bit worried doing so. I’ve just seen so much bad driving on that road over the years, that it sketches me out. It is probably fine, but ugg. I’ve ridden the Cross Island Parkway and then down Pope Ave though, and didn’t have too many concerns doing that early in the morning. For swimming…you can pool swim at the Island Rec Center on the north end. I’m pretty sure they have daily passes. If you want OWS, I would recommend the beach that is on the sound side in South Beach (in Sea Pines Plantation). There is much less wave action and the bottom drops off quite fast. You would only have to go out 15 yds or so and you would be in plenty deep water. Swim parallel to the shore against the current and you could potentially stay in the same spot for the entire swim (current really runs here). You can park at South Beach Marina and just walk over.
Good luck
From IL, but I’ve been to HH a few times in the last few years to stay at a family member’s second home. There are plenty of bike paths along the island to run on/get lost on, but I don’t know if there are a lot of non-paved trails to run. The paths don’t exactly make for good riding though, because of the amount of turns and stop and go riding. They are made for cruising or in my case, running, not riding.
This past summer I finally took my bike with me and found a fun (fast paced and attacking) group ride to join that is put on by The Bike Doctor bike shop every Tues and Thurs night. According to their website (http://bikedoctorhhi.com/group-rides/), the group rides started a couple weeks ago. Everyone was very inviting and friendly, even though I believe I was the only guy with a TT bike. They do loops on the Cross Island Parkway, which is a toll highway, but it didn’t have a lot of traffic when I was there mid-July and it has plenty of shoulder to ride on and it makes for uninterrupted fast riding with a couple of rolling hills/bridges.
I’m clueless on swimming, but I intend to get in contact with the Hilton Head Island Triathlon Club next time I go, because they apparently do group ocean swims, but I’m not sure where or when they occur.
http://www.slowtwitch.com/triclubs/individual.php?triclub_id=101
Enjoy!
Plenty of places to run. If you are looking for soft surfaces, you are pretty much limited to the beach and some trails in the nature preserve in Sea Pines.
In general, riding is decent except on most of the bike paths (most of them have tons of cross traffic and tourists) and on business 278 (too much traffic). Check at gotrisports or the bike doctor and they can hook you up with places to ride. The cross-island expressway (278, not business 278) is good, as are Pope Ave and N. and S. Forest Beach Drive. You can also get some miles in just off of the north side of the cross island bridge by Spanish Wells. There are also some decent roads back by the airport. Hilton Head Plantation is also good, but you need an access code to get in.
I was there several years ago, and there is an inlet (probably many) where the ocean current is strong and runs paralell to the beach. I got in the water and just swam against the current, and didn’t cover much distance. I’d swim for 10 minutes or so, then back off the pace a bit and drift back toward my group. It was awesome.
My parents live in hh plantation and while training for IMLou last year, I did a 40 mile ride doing the same loop so if u r in a plantation, that’s an option. Boring but doable. I also took the cross island to s forest and did a loop to sea pines and back a few times. I’d stay off 278, just too busy.
We stay at Island Club off Folly Field road oh HH Island. I get up early and drive back out to 278/ 95 and park at the hospital (about 30 minutes off the island). Parking at “Coastal Carolina Hospital”, ride out & back using:
John Smith Rd (cross 278 and go over the east side of 95)Church Rd (make sure you take Church til it dead ends into Purysburg, you do not want to turn early onto 321. 321 is a major truck route)Purysburg RdOnce on Purysburg Rd, I’ve gone miles at a time w/o seeing a car. Great time trial roads. From the start it’s about 14 miles, or 28M rt. You can repeat 10M sections on Purysburg before heading back. You can also ride or run 4M loops from the hospital around Sergeant Jasper County Park.
This is a favorite workout of mine - 40 to 56M ride + 4M run around park.
Grab Dunkin Donuts across the street for the family back at the condo!
I was down there this week. Crazy drivers. No one uses a turn signal. I rode from ridgeland to beaufort. One of the dumbest things I’ve ever done. Beautiful area. Probly won’t bring my bike down there again.
in fairness…Ridgeland to Beaufort isn’t Hilton Head. It is also one of the busiest routes in the county. Not surprised that it was a nightmare
Very true. I did ride on the island. 278 business. it wasn’t bad. I was able to keep my pace up and had very few negative encounters with traffic.
And the Beaufort ride was my fault. It was at 5pm on a Friday. Should have known better.