Living in Pumpkintown puts you close to some of the most beautiful mountains, forests, and backroads in South Carolina. It also leads many newcomers to ask the same question:
“Where can I legally ride a UTV around here?”
The answer surprises many people. While Pickens County is surrounded by thousands of acres of public land, most of the forests around Table Rock, Jocassee, Caesars Head, and the Mountain Bridge Wilderness are closed to motorized recreation. That means you cannot legally take a UTV onto hiking trails, forest roads that are not designated for off-road vehicles, or protected wilderness areas.
Fortunately, there are several excellent places to ride within a reasonable drive of Pumpkintown.
Gulches Off Road Vehicle Park
Located about an hour south of Pumpkintown, Gulches has become one of the premier off-road destinations in South Carolina.
The park offers trails ranging from beginner-friendly routes to extreme rock crawling obstacles that attract Jeep and UTV enthusiasts from across the Southeast. Full-size side-by-sides are welcome, making it one of the best options for owners of Polaris RZRs, Can-Am Mavericks, Honda Talons, and similar machines.
For many local riders, Gulches is the closest destination where they can spend an entire day exploring trails without worrying about vehicle width restrictions.
Wayehutta OHV Area
Located near Sylva, North Carolina, Wayehutta offers a completely different riding experience.
Instead of rock obstacles and mud pits, riders will find forested mountain trails winding through the Nantahala National Forest. The scenery alone makes the drive worthwhile, especially during the fall when the mountains explode with color.
The trail system includes nearly 30 miles of designated routes and is one of the closest public trail systems to the Upstate.
Enoree, Parsons Mountain, and Cedar Springs
These three public trail systems are located in South Carolina’s National Forests and are often overlooked by Upstate riders.
There is one important catch: they are limited to vehicles 50 inches wide or less.
That means many modern side-by-sides are too large to use them. Riders with compact machines such as the Honda Pioneer 500, Honda Pioneer 520, or Polaris RZR Trail can enjoy these public trail systems, but owners of wider UTVs will need to look elsewhere.
Why Can’t We Ride Around Table Rock?
This is probably the question local residents ask most often.
The mountains surrounding Pumpkintown contain some of South Carolina’s most protected natural areas. Table Rock State Park, Jones Gap State Park, Caesars Head State Park, and the Jocassee Gorges are managed primarily for hiking, camping, wildlife habitat, and watershed protection.
While many old logging roads once crossed these mountains, most have been closed to motorized recreation for decades.
As a result, there are currently no public UTV trail systems in the Table Rock area itself.
The Local Dream
Many outdoor enthusiasts have imagined what a legal UTV trail system in the foothills could look like. Scenic mountain routes, waterfall overlooks, and forest roads connecting communities such as Pumpkintown, Sunset, and Cleveland would undoubtedly become one of South Carolina’s most popular outdoor attractions.
For now, however, riders looking for legal off-road adventures will need to load up the trailer and head to one of the nearby established trail systems.
The good news is that several excellent options are within an hour or two of Pumpkintown, making it possible to spend a day on the trails and still be home in time for supper.
