Five Great Places to Go Biking, Hiking in Myrtle Beach

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Two of the best ways to see the Grand Strand are on foot and on two wheels. The Myrtle Beach area offers a wealth of hiking and biking opportunities, some of them within steps of Grande Cayman Resort. Guests can go for a quiet stroll down the beach or use the recently installed bike lanes along Ocean Boulevard to go exploring.

Just a mile or two north of the resort is the scenic Dunes neighborhood, and a couple of miles south is Myrtle Beach’s famed Golden Mile. Both offer scenic views of undeveloped stretches of beach and beautiful, historic beach homes. But if you want to see some more secluded sides of the Strand and enjoy a longer walk, run or ride, here are five of the top places to go hiking and biking in Myrtle Beach:

Market Common: The former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base has been redeveloped to form the Market Common shopping, dining and entertainment district, but there was plenty of land left over for recreational facilities. A long, paved walkway and bike path circles the lake at Grand Park, where visitors can enjoy a full day of outdoor activities. There are also biking and hiking trails that go off the beaten path, including a path that leads to Myrtle Beach State Park. Bike rentals, including Segways and battery-powered bikes, are available at surrounding shops.

North Myrtle Beach Sports and Recreation Park: This new park features 350 acres filled with a variety of recreational opportunities, including ball fields, picnic shelters, an amphitheatre and a dog park. But with three half-mile loop trails that are perfect for walking or riding, it’s also a paradise for bikers and hikers. Trails lead to a 10-acre meadow, a 25-acre lake and other woodlands and wetlands.

Perron Trail: This short but scenic stretch of paved pathway is a recent addition to the East Coast Greenway, a 4,000-mile trail that runs from Canada to Key West. The trailhead is only a mile or so inland from Grande Cayman, and the Perron Trail runs along the Intracoastal Waterway and through the woods behind Pine Lakes International Country Club before returning to the street at 48th Avenue North. The trail is lined with park benches and markers providing information about native flora and fauna.

The Hulk: Don’t worry, you won’t encounter a huge, angry green guy at this hiking and biking park, just some cool dirt trails that lead through local wetlands and woodlands. Located off the 10th Avenue North Extension beside the Ripken Experience Baseball Complex, the Horry County Bike Run Park, or “The Hulk” for short, gives cyclists a chance to test their skills and hikers a place to escape to nature. If you want some company, local hiking and biking clubs, like the Waccamaw TrailBlazers and Myrtle Beach Cycling, hold weekly group rides.

Waccamaw Neck Bike Trail: This trail requires a bit of ride to reach, but it is well worth the trip to the south side of the Strand. Running from Sandy Island Road through Huntington Beach State Park and eventually to Litchfield Beach, the Waccamaw Neck Bike Trail gives hikers and bikers the chance to see a range of diverse landscapes in one trip. Running from the murky waters of the Waccamaw River, through the lovely wetlands and woodlands of the state park, and past a Spanish architecture-inspired castle known as Atalaya and a stretch of undeveloped beachfront, the trail offers plenty of photo opportunities — so be sure to bring your camera for this adventure.

After a long day on the trail, head back to Grande Cayman for some rest and relaxation. Take a dip in the ocean, pool or hot tub, refuel with some food and drinks at the Turtle Bay Café, and recover in your comfortable room or on your ocean-view balcony. It’s all part of the good life that awaits you at Grande Cayman Resort, Myrtle Beach.