Upstate SC Gravel Roads

[Ridingman1]

The linked route starts and finishes in Gowansville, SC
Stats and major route features:

132 miles, 4.5 hour elapsed time

Gravel Roads:
Pearsons Falls
Pace Mountain
Lake Summit
Pinnacle Mountain
Sky Valley
Cascade lakes
FS 475 in Pisgah
Green River Road

Link to Map view: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1039911/full.png
Link to ride file with downloadable GPX: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1039911#

Left Gowansville at 10:00 AM
Lunch stop in Brevard
Started with full tank and did not need to refuel.
I am using Michelin Anakee 2's and did not have any problems.
All road surfaces are maintained gravel - some surfaces were freshly scraped.

[trespalacios]

Originally Posted by Ridingman1

Great roads! Have you ridden Cascade Lake road? It has a nice waterfall at the dam to Cascade lake.

On another note, I found a leak around my final drive during my ride today and need to finish diagnosing it. I hope my simple fix is all that is needed to correct it.

I haven't ridden on that road yet but waterfall sounds nice. I went on a ride to musterground mountain in the jocassee area. Hwy 11 southwest, right on Hwy 130, enter Bad Creek Area on right, go downhill, make first left. The trail starts past the parking lot. Here's the link to google maps.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=muste...+Mountain&z=14

It is a seasonal road (all roads will continue to be open seasonally beginning September 15 through January 2 and during the month of April). Here's a link to the DNR site
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/managed/wild/j...anagement8.htm


There's a point where it gets beyond gravel and becomes double track with a couple rough spots. I am a 5'8", 170 lbs guy wrestling with a 475 lbs Wee with battle wings, with no previous experience off road but I made it all the way to the top where it splits in four single track trails, not sure if they're authorized for OHV.

I know this is a GPS thread and everyone wants to see GPX files but I hope this helps.

[Ridingman1]

I have heard about these roads, and would like to check them out. Put it on the list!

[trespalacios]

Robert (KLickeR) and I went yesterday on a ride and explored the horse pasture rd. There are spots where the gravel is too big, too much but other than that a very pleasant ride with beautiful scenery. Here's a link to the road

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=U...&z=13&lci=bike

There's a little creek to cross (Creek crossing 101) to add to the fun. A word of caution: plenty of blind spots. We encountered many four wheel drive vehicles including a black F-150 driven by a teenager who just kept going as fast a he could, leaving just enough room for the bike to squeeze in going downhill with the cliff on our right.

Definitely worth bringing in your camera on this trip. Just say when Ridingman1

[Ridingman1]

Check out the ride report at this link -->http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...8#post20251668

[trespalacios]

... and thanks for being so kind to me and not mentioning the second sandy pit fall going uphill. I do recall some adjustments made to your big beast and after that you made it look like you were riding a 250cc dirt bike. Priceless friendship. Let's do it again!!!

[Honkylicious]

Thanks for the write up Rich. But to be truthful, when no one was looking, I drove my KLR into the bushes, hopped off, and laid it on its side. Didn't want you guys to feel bad about dropping your bikes, and having me to help pick them up.
Can't wait to do it agian!

[waybill]

n1;17797808]Anyone have maps of dual sport routes/gravel roads in the upstate SC?[/QUOTE]

That Horsepasture Rd. area is nice, I found it several years ago on a tip from some Asheville guys, doesn't appear open in summer though. Here's a (sizable) day loop you guys could do a little west of there, I can't do a gps file at the moment but here are directions.

From 11 head N on 130 quite a way, then left on Cheohee Valley rd, right on Cherokee Lk rd, then veer right on Winding stairs rd. Right on 107, left on Burrells Ford rd, right on 28, left on Warwoman then just down the hill (at bridge) right on Overflow Creek rd, cont. N onto Hale Ridge rd to 106 and turn right, then left on Turtle Pond rd. Right on 28, cont. straight thru Highlands (don't turn) and becomes Horse Cove rd. At fork go right on Bull Pen rd (nice picnic spot at the iron bridge) then right on 107, left on Oscar Wiginton then right back onto 130. Seven of those roads are gravel, some more maintained than others, and easily doable on a KLR, Wee, GS, etc., no water crossings but plenty of good scenery. Maybe one of yall can map it, get the mileage and estimate the time it takes. It's probably a relatively full day from Greenville counting lunch and pit stops.

[trespalacios]

Originally Posted by waybill

n1;17797808]Anyone have maps of dual sport routes/gravel roads in the upstate SC?

That Horsepasture Rd. area is nice, I found it several years ago on a tip from some Asheville guys, doesn't appear open in summer though. Here's a (sizable) day loop you guys could do a little west of there, I can't do a gps file at the moment but here are directions.

From 11 head N on 130 quite a way, then left on Cheohee Valley rd, right on Cherokee Lk rd, then veer right on Winding stairs rd. Right on 107, left on Burrells Ford rd, right on 28, left on Warwoman then just down the hill (at bridge) right on Overflow Creek rd, cont. N onto Hale Ridge rd to 106 and turn right, then left on Turtle Pond rd. Right on 28, cont. straight thru Highlands (don't turn) and becomes Horse Cove rd. At fork go right on Bull Pen rd (nice picnic spot at the iron bridge) then right on 107, left on Oscar Wiginton then right back onto 130. Seven of those roads are gravel, some more maintained than others, and easily doable on a KLR, Wee, GS, etc., no water crossings but plenty of good scenery. Maybe one of yall can map it, get the mileage and estimate the time it takes. It's probably a relatively full day from Greenville counting lunch and pit stops.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Bill. It seems very nice, about 190 miles from the intersection of Hwys 25 and 11 according to google maps. Will include it in a future trip and hopefully bring Ridingman1 along since he is officially the ride reporter in chief.

Here's the link:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...18413,0.308647

[waybill]

Looks good. There's quite a bit of elevation gain on Winding Stairs and Overflow Cr/Hale Ridge, then you fall back off the plateau in a hurry out of Highlands. There are some other variations too, longer, shorter, and more difficult, I'll be interested to see what you think.

[trespalacios]

Originally Posted by waybill

Looks good. There's quite a bit of elevation gain on Winding Stairs and Overflow Cr/Hale Ridge, then you fall back off the plateau in a hurry out of Highlands. There are some other variations too, longer, shorter, and more difficult, I'll be interested to see what you think.

Looks like I'll be checking it out tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again

[trespalacios]

Went back on friday before the rain and explored the musterground area again. We did all the in and outs and on our way back took the trail to the NC Gorges. I'm glad it was dry as that route is far more technical than the rest. Lots of fun!!