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Wannamaker North Trail expands for cyclists and hikers

bike a thonGOOSE CREEK, S.C.–The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) is proud to announce the expansion of the popular Wannamaker North Trail.

Opened in 2012, the trail recently increased both parking capacity and trail length for cyclists and pedestrians. The former 8-mile trail now features nearly 15 miles of biking and hiking trails.

Running within the northern portion of the agency’s Wannamaker County Park in North Charleston, the Wannamaker North Trail is accessed via a separate entrance in Goose Creek located adjacent to Westview Boulevard, west of Springhall Drive.

A $100,000 grant from the State Recreational Trails Program funded the construction of a new 54-space parking lot and one-quarter mile of hiker/biker trail to support the Wannamaker North Trail. Both projects were managed by the City of Goose Creek, and are situated on City-owned land between Westview Boulevard and CCPRC’s park property. Simultaneously, CCPRC and the local mountain bike volunteer group, Lowcountry Fat Tire Freaks, added another 6.75 miles of new trail to the Wannamaker North Trail itself, for pedestrians and cyclists of all skill levels. Signage has also been upgraded throughout the trail.

The Wannamaker North Trail is designed for mountain bicyclists of all experience levels, as well as hikers. It features bare soil trails that were created by clearing out roots and reshaping existing dirt mounds, while keeping most of the tract’s large-diameter trees intact. The trail winds by beautiful live oaks and beech trees, while offering thrilling natural and man-made trail elements.

Future projects for the trail may include the construction of a pump track with rollers and berms, and a raised-trail challenge area to appeal to a variety of other bicycle enthusiasts.

Trail users should be aware that the terrain contains tight curves and elevation changes. Although cyclists should yield to pedestrians, all trail users must be cautious and aware of other users.

Both cyclists and pedestrians should follow the posted direction of travel. Dogs must remain leashed at the facility, and strollers are not permitted.

CCPRC asks users of the trail to bring their own water to the facility, and to observe the “pack it in, pack it out” rule to keep the park litter-free. Parking is available on site near the trail entrance, and public restrooms are available at Wannamaker County Park.

Admission to the Wannamaker North Trail is $1 per person for a full day’s use. Access to the trail is included with CCPRC’s Individual and Gold Pass memberships. The park is open from sunrise to sunset daily.

For additional information on the Wannamaker North Trail, including directions to the trail head, call 843-795-4386 or visit CharlestonCountyParks.com/WNT.

Nikki Gaskins Campbell
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