By Lyle on November 14, 2006
"My wife and I rode the first six miles of the trail on Columbus Day, 2006. It was dry and an excellent mountain bike ride. The trail is grassy and sandy with a lot of roots in some places, so it provides a good workout. The 60° temperature was perfect. On a twelve mile ride, we saw no one else on the trail.
Finding the trail is somewhat confusing. As you head northeast out of Awendaw, ignore the Wambaw cycle trail signs. There is a good parking lot about 1/4 mile past Steed Creek Road, but you have to go past it to turn around since it is a four lane parkway. I've submitted a picture of the sign at the parking lot.
The Palmetto Trail actually begins two miles northeast of here along US 17 at the Buckhall Recreation Area. You can avoid the day use fee by parking at the Swamp Fox trailhead near Steed Creek Road. From there, you join the Palmetto Trail about 100 yards into the woods. Just make sure you take the correct turn when you return."
By Peggy Portier on January 24, 2006
"My husband and I biked from Awendaw to the Halfway Creek Campground on New Year's Day. The trail was just challenging enough to make it like a little adventure, but easy enough to still be fun. There was a little water on the trail, but you could get around it if you didn't want to ride through it and some bridges that were nice. You cross some roads which are hardly traveled. The only problem we had was at one of the road crossing the trail on the other side is not within sight. There was a sign a little way up the road on the right, but it was so shot up with shotgun holes, we couldn't tell that it was a trail sign. So if you are heading west from Awendaw and come to a road with no trail visible on the other side, go to the right. You'll go over a small bridge and the trail is on up the road at the turn. We plan on returning in the furture to ride the rest of the trail. We didn't have any problem with bugs in January, but I can see where this would be a mosquito haven during warm weather."
By Kent D. Weikel on September 20, 2004
"I did the Hwy 17 to Halfway Creek Camp Ground segment (about 8 miles, 16 round trip) on September 19th. After all of the storms and hurricanes, the trail is in excellent shape. I last did this trail about three years ago, and several bridges have been added, which makes for a better ride.
My bike has rockshocks, but my partner's bike did not. He did indicate that his backside was getting sore after about 12 miles. Whoever maintains the trail gets an A+ from me!"