Find the top rated running trails in Sunset Beach, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
This trail is horrible. Warning to parents, do not take children on this bike path. We spent 7 miles dodging cars coming out of driveways and parking lots. Terrible experience.
please don’t do this. me and my mom biked from downtown wilmington to wrightsville beach and it’s pretty generous to call it a trail when the trail is just well traveled roads with the occasional sign to share the road. people do not pay attention and go well over the speed limit. also says it will take 1 hour when it took 3. do not attempt this. just go to the beach in your car.
With all the beauty of Wilmington and beaches, why can't our government spend money on a legitimate bike path from Leland/Wilmington to the beach? Instead, we get Dollar Trees and Car washes!! C'mon Wilmington Government, we can do better!!
We usually leave from Carolina Beach State Park and cross Dow Rd and turn right to get to the trail. Using the trail and some quiet roads in the center of the island you can avoid Dow Rd altogether to get to the end where Dow Rd turns to the beach. It’s not a long trail, for sure, but it serves a great little purpose especially for the casual rider who doesn’t want to ride on Dow Rd.
A third of the ride is designated bike trail, the other two thirds are streets, and a few are very busy streets! Many street crossings, and signage is fair. Had to check the map several times to make sure we were on the bikeway. Won’t ride this ever again.
A good portion of this trail presents as a sidewalk along a busy road. Still decent park views, old trolley lines and water side rides at this end. The real beauty is at the Halyburton Park end. Wooded, all natural, rolling hills, the smell of pine and lots of critters. Peaceful and rewarding.
While this trail may not be very long, it provides a vital service for many cyclists and pedestrians by providing safe passage to the opposite side of the Intracoastal Waterway. The asphalt trail initially runs parallel to US 17 at 62th Ave N, then turns into a lightly wooded trail. After running along side the north end dog park, it travels across the waterway and then ends at the Horry County mountain bike track, The Hulk. Unfortunately, the trail just ends here but if you don’t mind riding on the road, you can take Eddie Dyer Rd to get to the abundant shopping area in River Oaks.
This cross-city trial is really just a sidewalk that runs alongside high traffic roadways and through constructions sites, and dangerous intersections. Beware! Drivers will run you down! There is no wildlife or nature to enjoy along the way. Just traffic buzzing by. If sniffing noxious fumes from passing vehicles is your thing you will love it!
Forgot to mention the great lunch we had at the Marina restaurant. Food was delicious and service was great
Very pleasant ride. Nice wide path, clean neighborhood ride. We came upon a turn off that went along the water. Shaded along the route.
We stayed in Murrell's Inlet for a week in late July, and brought the bikes hoping to be able to get some riding in. We were able to do a little bit of exploring the area, but this is not a super bike friendly community. Thus we spent most of our bike time on the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway. Actually, we did not know that was the name of the trail until we got home and looked it up on Trail Link. There is zero signage identifying this trail. We were under the impression that it begins/ends in Murrell's Inlet/northern end of Litchfield. We had no idea that there is an on-road section that goes (kind of) to Pawley's Island, as there is zero signage anywhere on the trail, other than "Stay to the Right". Too bad, we would have enjoyed the extra miles.
In the "different strokes for different folks" department, I can understand why some give this trail low marks for the root bumps, but our touring bikes handled them just fine. We liked the winding nature of the trail, and though it is about 50 feet off of busy Highway 17, one feels safe with the screen of trees. Stay on the trail; we encountered a copperhead snake and there are numerous huge golden orb spiders all around. We got up early enough to ride to Huntington State Park for sunrise three times, and this is highly recommended. As others have also pointed out, Brookgreen Gardens is also a Must See. Tickets are $22, but last for a week. We also returned to the gardens repeatedly, and each time saw something new.
I've deducted one star from my rating purely for the confusing lack of signage, but otherwise I would recommend this trail. Honestly, if you are in the area, you don't have other options for a few miles of car-free riding.
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