Hilton Head Bike Trails and Paths

Hilton Head Bike Trails and Pathways

Hilton Head Island has more than 60 miles of public bike trails, paved pathways that wind through maritime forest, past neighborhoods and along the marsh, and link beaches, parks, shopping areas and resorts. The island is flat, so the paths suit a family with young children as easily as a confident adult, and most visitors never need to ride on a main road. For the route, the Town publishes an interactive bicycle map of the pathway network, along with printable route maps for the Beach Area, Island History and a Long & Short ride. Save the interactive map to your phone before you set out, because the best paths are the ones that cut between neighborhoods and are not signed from the road.

The island holds a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the League of American Bicyclists, in the 2023 to 2027 cycle. The Town first reached Gold in 2015 after holding Silver since 2011, and it is one of three Gold Level communities in the Southeast.

Bike Path Rules on Hilton Head

The pathways are shared with walkers, joggers and strollers, so a few rules apply. The Town’s are short:

• E-bikes: Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed on the pathways, Class 3 e-bikes are not. Motor vehicles and golf carts are not allowed either.

• Lights: at night you need a headlight and a red rear reflector.

• Etiquette: ride single file, yield to pedestrians, and move off the path when you stop. Obey signals and pathway markings; a bicycle is a vehicle under South Carolina law.

• Roads: do not ride on a road where a pathway runs alongside it.

• Helmets: the Town asks riders to wear one, children 12 and under especially. Ask the shop about helmets when you rent.

• Sea Pines: the resort’s own trails do not allow e-bikes at all, pedal-assist included. Rent a regular bike there; our guide to Sea Pines bike rentals lists the shops inside the gates.

Biking on the Beach

Hilton Head is one of the few places you can ride a bike on the beach. At low tide, about 12 miles of hard-packed sand are rideable, and a beach cruiser handles it well. Check the tide chart first, because at high tide the sand is soft or underwater, and rinse the bike when you return it, as salt water is hard on the chain. Pick a beach cruiser or a bike with wider tires rather than a thin-tired road bike.

Where to Bike on Hilton Head

Most rides start from where you are staying and follow the pathway to a beach, a park or a restaurant. For a ride with a destination, Pinckney Island, just off the island at the bridge, has trails through the marsh. In Sea Pines, the Sea Pines Forest Preserve has bike parking, but its walking trails are for walkers only, so lock the bike and walk in.

Bike Rentals and E-Bikes

The island has plenty of places to rent a bike, and several deliver to your condo or villa. Our guide to Hilton Head bike rentals compares the shops, in the resorts and out, and has live booking. Wheelz of Hilton Head rents golf carts as well as bikes, and Carolina Rides rents street-legal electric Mokes, beach buggies and six-seat golf carts. Carts are not allowed on the pathways: they are for the roads and the resorts that permit them.