Criteria:
1) within an hour drive
2) approximately 10 mile ride
3) dedicated bike path
4) urban
Score - Spartanburg's Downtown Loop Trail
Spartanburg is 30 miles from home, and the Downtown Loop links up with the Mary Black Tram trail and connects with surrounding neighborhoods and parks via surface streets, trails, and bike lanes. Posted distance is 9.8 miles.
I only have a passing knowledge of Spartanburg, and I was a little worried about navigating through town. Luckily, signage was mostly great. After a couple of miles, I was singing the praises of the well marked trail. That is until, I found myself off the trail. The trail was so well marked that I quickly deferred to trail signs and abandoned my map. Around 4 mile mark, I saw the Tram trail but didn't see any signs specifically directing me to enter it. After about a mile down the road, I relented, broke out the map, and then back traced to the Tram trail. (Nothing makes you feel quite like a Freshmen that standing on the side of a road with a map!) Loved the Mary Black Tram trail. At one point I saw a parallel trail, and when the Loop sign directed me to exit the Tram tail, I automatically jumped on the parallel trail. After a pleasant 1/2 mile diversion, I realised again that I was off the Loop Trail. I broke out the map again, backtracked, and picked up the Loop. The sign was clearly visible the second time through, and I simply had fallen prey to my preconceived assumption. Lesson learned, so I finished the trail without further diversion.
The Downtown Loop starts at the edge of Morgan Square where there's plenty of parking and restaurants. Leaving town, you have a long stretch of downhill in a dedicated bike lane. I was making good speed and enjoying the clear 80 degree day, but in the back of my mind I was starting to wonder how I was going to get back up that beautiful hill. The uphill presented itself in about 1 1/2 miles, and man, did I work up those hills. I wouldn't say the hills were too steep, but for an out of shape middle aged tater, they were a workout. The trail leveled out and passed through a quiet neighborhood, then by a lake. I passed some public restrooms a 2 1/2 mile mark. The Trail elevation changed periodically, but it was an easy up and down. There's a small patch on a busy 4 lane highway before intersecting the Tram Trail, but the next few miles are protected along the Tram and then some quiet neighborhoods. Good architecture in the 7 mile range. Lots of craftsmen and early 20th century bungalows. As the Downtown Loops nears the finish line, it throws a couple of more hills at you, but you know you're close and hunker down for the big finish.
I cycled solo today, but if I had a friend along, I would have finished the ride off at Wild Wings, but today I settled on a Jack In the Box burger on the way back down I-85 to Greenville. Overall, a fine ride that I'll definitely do again. Even with my slow pace and detours, I finished in an hour. And next time, I'll have a better feel for the trail route and should be able to enjoy it much more.
Map and Directions for Spartanburg's Dowtown Loop
Mary Black Rail Trail
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| Morgan Square - Start of Downtown Loop Trail |
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| Duncan Park Lake |
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| Mary Black Tram Trail (note nefarious parallel trail to the right) |
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| Last Two hills Before the Big Finish |
