South Carolina Adventure Tour
- OTG Crew
- 6 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The SCAR is a 1,000-mile overland journey that traverses the state’s most diverse geological transitions, from the prehistoric sands of the ancient coastline to the rugged granite shoulders of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Much like the mining camps of the high desert, this track explores the weathered remnants of a bygone era, trading silver and gold for the intangible treasures of Revolutionary War relics, abandoned textile mills, and haunting blackwater swamps. Whether you’re navigating the slick red clay of the Piedmont or the steep forest service roads of the Upstate, the SCAR offers a rare opportunity to find true discovery and historical desolation within the deep woods of the American South.
Route Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Epic Trip Length: 1,016 miles, 1-2 weeks Season: Year round, but the best times to visit are typically the shoulder seasons of Spring and Fall. April thru May is spectacular as the temps are still mild and the peach orchards around Chesnee and Campobello are in full bloom! Just be mindful of winter travel, as the infamous Carolina red clay turns to a slippery and greasy mess after rain. Some higher elevations may close temporarily due to snow.
Digital Maps & GPX Files
Download Digital Mapping Files
If you need help working with digital mapping and GPX files, please check out our FAQ section.
Technical Ratings & Terrain
Avg Technical Rating: 1-2
Peak Technical Rating: 3
Typical Terrain: Expect a roughly 50/50 split between pavement and dirt, transitioning from deep Lowcountry sand to the rocky, rutted two-track of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. While mostly a "softroading" experience, the infamous Piedmont red clay becomes a total grease pit when wet and those sandy stretches can be surprisingly power-sucking for heavier rigs. It’s a route that rewards momentum and a steady hand, balancing high-speed gravel with enough rugged terrain to keep you on your toes.
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: Stock 4x4
Recommended Moto: Big bike or mid-weight bike is recommended.
Adventure Vans: Adventure vans are good to go, just know that while the SCAR poses nos real technical challenges for adventure vans other than low hanging limbs and encroaching brush along some of the tighter trails.
Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear
Fuel:
There are numerous fuel stops along the route, and a gas station is typically never more than 30-40 miles away. Provisions: Provisions can be obtained in the same general vicinity as fuel. Gear: n/a
Alternative Routes
Elliot Rock Track
Distance:Â 30 miles
Technical Rating:Â 2 This semi-loop combines pavement dirt, heading deep into the Elliot Rock Widlerness Area via a series of twisty backroads and trails.
Jumping Off Rock Track
Distance: 33 miles
Technical Rating: 3 This track takes you to the remote discovery points of Jump Off Rock Viewpoint and Sassafrass Mountain Observation Tower. Along the way, you'll encounter some of the best views anywhere along the SCAR, and the trails are a bit bumpier than average as well!
Camping Recommendations
There are some limited opportunities for dispersed camping within the patchwork of National Forests along the SCAR. Just make sure you're on National Forest Land, as the mountains and forests tend to be confusing patchwork of public and private held lands. When it comes to campgrounds, we prefer those which have a more rugged, and almost dispersed camping type feel. Some of our favorite campgrounds along the route include:
Morrow Bridge and Midway Seasonal Camps
Elmwood Campground
Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area
Woods Ferry Recreation Area
Poinsett State Park
Devils Fork State Park (designated rustic loop)
Table Rock State Park (Pine Point primitive area)
Discovery Points
UFO Welcome Center
Cope Depot
The Pine House
Edgefield
Old Kendall Mill
Dorn Mill Complex
New Bordeaux worship site
Long Cane Creek Bridge
Parsons Lookout Tower
Abbeville
Trinity Episcopal Church
Abbeville Opera House
Secession Hill
Burt-Stark Mansion
Little River
Blue Hole Recreation Area
Richard B. Russell Lake
Diamond Hill Mine
Lake Hartwell
Westminster Depot
Chau Ram Falls
Chauga River
Brasstown Falls
Cobb Iron Bridge
Issaqueena Falls
Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel
Oconee State Park
Chatooga River
Lake Keowee
Jumping Off Rock overlook
Sassafras Mountain Observation Tower
Devil's Kitchen
Ceasars Head Overlook
Green River
Poinsett Bridge
Cowpens National Battle Field - Visitor Ctr
Broad River
Blacksburg (Iron City relics)
Kings Mountain National Military Park
Lockhart Canal & Power House
Winnsboro Town Clock
Lake Wateree
Fishing Creek Dam
Battle of Camden Historic Landmark
Camden
Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site
Poinsett State Park
Sparkleberry Swamp
McClellanville fishing village
McClellanville Village Museum
Biggin Church
Tailrace Canal
Berkeley Museum
Old Santee Canal Park
Lake Moultrie
Camelia Manor
Land Managers & Other Resources
Land Managers
Permits & Papers
n/a
Route Details
South Carolina is often typecast by its humid coastline and manicured golf courses, but the South Carolina Adventure Route—better known among the overlanding community as "the SCAR"—aims to dismantle that narrow perception through a 1,000-mile overland odyssey of remote backroads and forgotten history. The state’s geography is a result of complex geological shifts between the Atlantic coastal plain and the ancient Appalachian range, leaving behind a tapestry of sandy pine barrens, slick red clay, and steep granite escarpments. Much like the mining trails of the West, the SCAR derives its character from the remnants of a bygone era; instead of ghost towns and silver mines, you are navigating the weathered relics of the Old South: textile mills, revolutionary battlefields, and the haunting ruins of antebellum estates. While you won't find gold or silver here, there are intangible treasures to be found within the deep silence of a blackwater swamp or the panoramic views from a mountain observation tower.
For the sake of this guide, we begin our adventure in the small crossroads of Grover and work our way clockwise, though the route can be traveled in either direction depending on your preference for a mountain or coastal finale. As you leave the blacktop behind, the soil quickly transitions into the Sandhills—a prehistoric coastline from the Eocene epoch that left behind deep, pale sand that can be quite the slog for heavier rigs or adventure bikes. The track winds through Bowman, where you’ll find the UFO Welcome Center (discovery point), a quirky piece of roadside folk art that serves as a reminder of the eccentric, home-grown spirit found in rural South Carolina. Just a bit further north in Cope, the historic Cope Depot (discovery point) stands as a quiet relic of the railway's golden age. Keep an eye out for those sandy stretches; when they dry out, they become a soft, power-sucking trap, so it’s best to maintain momentum and keep your weight back!
As the route pushes further into the Piedmont, the sand eventually gives way to the infamous "Carolina Red Clay." If you’re traveling in late March or early April, you’ll be treated to a sea of pink and white peach blossoms near Monetta and the Ridge—a seasonal spectacle that briefly turns the rugged trail into a fragrant corridor. However, don't let the beauty distract you; that red clay is nature's version of ice when it gets wet, and it has a reputation for being a "tire-clogger" that can turn a simple trail into a winch-heavy recovery session. The route brings you into Edgefield (discovery point), a town famous for its stoneware pottery and its legacy of producing ten South Carolina governors. Nearby, the Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area and the Dorn Mill Complex (discovery point) offer a glimpse into the agricultural and industrial backbone that once defined the state’s interior.
The terrain begins to shift dramatically as you head north toward Abbeville. This town is steeped in high-stakes history, featuring the Abbeville Opera House and the Burt-Stark Mansion (discovery point), famously known as the site where the Confederate cabinet held its final meeting. From here, the track narrows as it climbs into the foothills of the Blue Ridge. You’ll pass over the weathered timbers of the Long Cane Creek Bridge and head toward the Parsons Lookout Tower (discovery point), which offers a vertical perspective over the rolling hills of the Sumter National Forest. As you reach the northwest corner of the state, the gravel turns into steep, winding two-track that hugs the edges of Lake Keowee and the rugged Jocassee Gorges, marking your entry into the most topographically diverse region of the state.
This is the heart of the SCAR, where the elevation climbs toward the Blue Ridge Escarpment. If you're up for a bit of an out-and-back adventure, head over to Jumping Off Rock (discovery point), which provides a dizzying, panoramic view of Lake Jocassee—a deep-water reservoir surrounded by protected wilderness that looks more like a fjord in the Pacific Northwest than a lake in the South. A few miles away sits the Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel (discovery point), an unfinished railroad project from the 1850s that was hand-hewn into the solid granite. Legend says the tunnel was abandoned due to the looming Civil War and the daunting task of cutting through the mountain, but today it provides a cool, 50-degree retreat for weary travelers. Just a short hop from the tunnel are the cascading waters of Issaqueena Falls (discovery point), named after a legendary Choctaw maiden, adding a layer of indigenous lore to the mountain landscape.
Continuing north, the route reaches Sassafras Mountain (discovery point), the highest point in South Carolina. On a clear day, the observation tower allows you to see deep into the North Carolina mountains and back across the Piedmont you just traversed. The descent from these heights is just as spectacular, taking the traveler through Caesars Head State Park and past the Poinsett Bridge (discovery point). This gothic stone arch, built in 1820, is believed to be the oldest bridge in the state and served as a vital link on the old State Road that connected Charleston to the mountain frontier. From here, the track turns eastward, crossing the Broad River and entering the historical backcountry where the American Revolution was effectively fought and won in the South.
The route traverses Kings Mountain National Military Park (discovery point), the site of a pivotal 1780 battle that Thomas Jefferson famously called the "turn of the tide" for the American cause. As you move through Lockhart and toward Winnsboro, the trail passes the Lockhart Canal & Power House (discovery point) and the Winnsboro Town Clock, which has been running continuously since 1833. The landscape here is a mix of dense hardwood forests and rolling farmland, eventually leading you toward the massive waters of Lake Wateree and the Battle of Camden Historic Landmark (discovery point). These stops serve as critical reminders of the "intangible treasures" of history that are scattered throughout the South Carolina wilderness, often found just a few miles from the nearest paved road.
As the SCAR moves back toward the coastal plain, the dry ridges are replaced by the tea-colored waters of the blackwater swamps. Sparkleberry Swamp (discovery point) is a distinct highlight of this final leg; it’s an ethereal, flooded forest of cypress and tupelo that feels ancient and prehistoric. Navigating the edges of this swamp requires a keen eye for water levels, as the trail can quickly become submerged after heavy rains. The track continues toward the Atlantic, eventually spitting the intrepid traveler out at the McClellanville fishing village (discovery point). This quiet coastal town is famous for its shrimp boats and the McClellanville Village Museum, offering a peaceful, salt-scented contrast to the rugged mountain trails of the Upstate.
We wrap up the loop by returning through the Francis Marion National Forest toward Grover, having covered over 1,000 miles of the Palmetto State’s most diverse and storied terrain. Whether you’re navigating the slick red clay of the Piedmont or airing down for the deep sands of the Lowcountry, the SCAR is a journey that rewards those who look beyond the pavement. There are dozens of fantastic campsites scattered throughout the state parks and national forests along the way, many of which are marked in the GPX file for easy scouting. We encourage folks to stop in the small towns and support local businesses, like the diners in Edgefield or the seafood markets in McClellanville, which serve as the final discovery points of the journey. After traveling countless miles of washboard and two-track, the return to Grover marks the end of an adventure that proves you don't need to leave the East Coast to find true desolation and discovery.
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