Biking is a great way to stay active and healthy as you age

Swamp Rabbit Trail­ ­— South Carolina

The Swamp Rabbit Trail in upstate South Carolina runs for more than 23 miles in various segments, but the prime route for bicyclists is a 12-mile stretch along the Reedy River. Start your ride in the heart of Greenville at Cleveland Park and head north past the Falls Park waterfalls to the new Unity Park. The paved path is 12 feet wide, in addition to a soft-surface lane for foot traffic, and there are restroom stations with bike racks and water fountains all along the way. Passing through the Furman University campus, you arrive in the aptly-named town of Travelers Rest after about a two-hour ride. Take a refreshment break there, then head down the Swamp Rabbit Trail for an evening of sidewalk shopping and casual dining in lively downtown Greenville.

Withlacoochee State Trail — Florida

The Withlacoochee State Trail is one of Florida’s premier destinations for cyclists, a 46-mile paved path through small communities and impressive natural areas in three counties. The north-south route starts with passages in the towns of Citrus Springs and Inverness to historic Fort Cooper State Park and along the untamed shores of Lake Holathlikaha. After a refreshment stop in Floral Springs, the trail meanders through the wilds of the Withlacoochee State Forest and the Croom Wildlife Management Area to its terminus in Tribley. Covering generally flat terrain and with convenient rest stations at trailheads along the way, the Withlacoochee State Trail can be comfortably biked in a single day or part of a full-weekend cycling adventure in central Florida.

Virginia Creeper Trail — Abingdon, Virginia

An award-winning bike and hiking path on a former railroad corridor that runs through 34 miles of southern Virginia countryside.

West Ashley Greenway — Charleston, South Carolina

A wide rail trail that extends for more than 10 miles, with paved surfaces through Charleston neighborhoods near the Ashley River to packed-earth embankments above tidal wetlands

Jekyll Island Biking Trail, Jekyll Island, Georgia

A paved bike path through maritime forests and along unspoiled beaches encircles the entire island for 20 miles, with stops at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and in Jekyll’s unique historic district

Butler Hike and Bike Trail — Austin, Texas

A multi-purpose bicycle and walking path in the Texas state capital that loops around the city’s Lady Bird Lake for 10 miles

South Platte River Trail — Colorado

Multiple access points in the Denver area for a paved cycling trail that winds for 36 riverside miles through city parks, gardens, and historic sites

Indian Bend Wash Path — Arizona

A paved bike trail that runs for 12 miles in the greenbelt that connects Scottsdale’s shaded neighborhood parks with Tempe’s Valley of the Sun

Paseo Del Bosque Bike Trail — New Mexico

A north-south route for 16 miles through Albuquerque in a state park along the Rio Grande, with stops for botanical gardens and cultural sites

Jordan River Parkway Trail — Utah

A 40-mile paved pathway from Utah Lake through Salt Lake City, an easily accessible portion of the 170-mile Golden Spoke Trail from Provo to Ogden

Reposted from an article in Ideal-LIVING Magazine, 2023 Summer Issue – Best Places to Live