The best cycling routes around Berea

Overall, this route is beautiful. It is mostly on backroads so traffic isn't too bad. There is a short section on Hwy 11 where cars speed by at 55 to 65 mph, but there is a bike lane. Do this route if you are not overly anxious about cars sharing the road. Some of the roads are bumpy and one short section had no shoulder and rumble strips gouged into the white line. I will say that every driver was considerate waiting behind until safe to pass me on curves. Most gave me a wide berth when they passed which is much appreciated! You will be pedaling uphill and going fast downhill, so it is lots of fun if that is your thing. Use a bike with a wide selection of gears. You won't need wide tires but don't use your racing slicks either. Stop at Hagood Mill and don't miss the waterfall at the beginning, and the tea company at the end, of Carrick Creek Rd. The ride through the Nine Times Preserve is lovely. After the ride, I had lunch - a chicken, mushroom and cheese crepe - at The Full Plate Creperie Eatery in downtown Pickens. Delicious!

A fascinating pedestrian bridge for connecting with nature in the public gardens on both sides of the Reedy River. There are plenty of quiet places to relax in the park. Here you can enjoy the river's currents and surrounding beauty.

Opened in May 2022, Greenville's Unity Park, located along the Rabbit Swamp Trail, features cutting-edge playgrounds, a 4,100-square-foot splash pad, green spaces, covered picnic tables, and a 10,000-square-foot welcome center. The 60-acre park includes basketball courts, a historic baseball field from 1925, and three bridges spanning the Reedy River. Visit unityparkgreenville.com/1843/Unity-Park.

Frank's Corner is where the Lakeview Link and the Swamp Rabbit Trail meet, south of Berea. Frank's Corner is marked by a bronze statue of a toddler riding a bike, representing joy of getting outside on the Swap Rabbit Trail.

In 1889, the Swamp Rabbit railway began its operations. The rail car featuring Berea's Swamp Rabbit Trail Station today dates back to 1947. It served as a “Heater Car” with two large furnaces providing heat to other freight and passenger cars. In 2007, began as salvage operations of the rails, the rail car was pushed to this location in preparation to be moved via road to a museum in Indiana. Nevertheless, the transport costs including reinforcing a number of bridges proved too great. As a result, the railcar is still in its place. It was renovated in the course of opening the Rabbit Swamp Trail and features the resting place at Berea.

The Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 22-mile Greenway, meanders along the Reedy River and former railroad corridors, elegantly linking Travelers Rest and Greenville. Ideal for walking and cycling, it offers picturesque views and a delightful journey.

In the heart of Greenville, the Reedy River descends in a stunning waterfall. Once an industrial hub, it became “Falls Park on the Reedy” in the '60s. The elegant Liberty Bridge arches over the river, offering a breathtaking view of this natural wonder.

The Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 22-mile Greenway, meanders along the Reedy River and former railroad corridors, elegantly linking Travelers Rest and Greenville. Ideal for walking and cycling, it offers picturesque views and a delightful journey.