RIDE REVIEW
The Swamp Rabbit is a multi-use path, and it is not a ride you want to do if you want to go mash some hills. It's practically a pancake, but if you do the entire length you will log just under 1000ft of climbing.The trail starts off easy to see as standard double wide multi path, but you quickly get to a part where you can either ride in the street or on the sidewalk. We actually lost our way and had to double back because we felt like we had gone waaay too long off the actual trail, and we were right. You make one turn onto a street and just a short way away the entrance to the continuation of the trail is on the opposite side of the road, and it is not clearly marked. Keep your eyes open for it, it is easy to pass.
Once you are back on the pathed path, the trail markings get a little better. You'll know you are on the right track if you keep seeing letter number combos painted on the ground every so often counting downward from the mid 360's, Example: SR357
Almost immediately the trail starts to get crowded as you head towards downtown Greenville. You'll do some interesting twists and turns to get through the downtown section, as you need to cross and recross the river a few times. Easy to make some wrong turns here, so it may be best to follow someone who looks like they know where they are going.
The downtown section passes quickly. As you continue on, you'll notice that your bike suddenly seems like it is a bit heavier than usual. But what is really happening is that you are on a false flat - subtle upgrade for a fairly long clip once north of town. Nothing hard though, I only mention it because it is SO subtle that you may be inclined to think something is wrong with your bike. Also, there is a section where the path gets kind of narrow, but there is a rubberized section off to the side for runners. I didn't know what it was so I started riding in it and thought I had a flat. Duh.
The other thing I notoced about this trail is that there are A LOT of daybikers who don't even own a bike, but have rented a giant beach cruiser beast which they are struggling to keep control of. These people tend to REALLY want audible warnings of when you are going to pass. If you pass without warning, be prepared for them to go all trail boss on you. It never ceases to amaze me that the people who want to yell at you for not announcing that you're going to pass on the left are the same people who struggle to keep their bike under control and to the right.
Guess what n00bs, you are breaking as much a rule as I am for taking up the entire fucking trail with your weeble wobble wackity wack ridiculousness! When I see you careening recklessly back and forth across the full width of the trail I'd rather sneak past you than call out that I'm going to pass, because when I do, you'll immediately steer in the same direction I'm about to pass you from. I learned the hard way about that one. So, I am going to ride in the way I think is safest for ME, not YOU. You're probably going to wreck anyway with or without my interference, my hope is to just get past you and away from you before you wreck into ME. I realize that this may not be a popular opinion, but riding defensively around people less experienced than me has worked well for 43 years, I'm not about to change it now because I "offended your bicycle etiquette requirement". For the record, my buddy was using his Incredibell AND I was calling out to other riders who we had to pass, but in general we would just sneak past any weeble wobblers. People we did call out to about passing usually gave us a "Thank You" as we rode by.
There is one section of trail where the double wide path stops, and then continue about 100 yards or so to your right, across a big barren intersection with lots of train tracks. This is a component of the trail that could definitely be better marked. When you get to this intersection, to continue, it almost looks like you are heading inside the gate of some sort of industrial complex. I should have taken a pic or video of this section. I could easily see some people get lost at this point, so be careful.
Travelers Rest is a micro-town just a few miles from the northern terminus. If you are on a date-ride, Travelers Rest is a great place to stop for a bite, a beer, or to basically refuel however you need to. The actual trail continues a bit north of TR, and then ends abruptly.
The ride back is excellent, because all that upgrade you just worked through is downhill on the way back. Again, it is so subtle that you can barely tell, but you'll feel like you are really making time and having fun with lots of coasting on the return trip. Take your time, look around, have fun. Remember to slow it down through the downtown section. Most importantly, if you started next to the bowling alley like I described, then when you get back to the bowling alley, keep following the trail all the way to the top of the street/intersection, because it is the most climbing you'll have done all day and if you don't go all the way to the top, YOU HAVE CHEATED and not done the WHOLE trail. You'll thank me later for challenging you to go the whole way. It's only another 200 yards but it is a tough 200.
Overall I really enjoyed myself on this trail. There are enough things to look at along the way that you don't get bored, but you'll eventually get to sections where you can open up the throttle a little bit. I'd also say this is a great "date trail", and you could easily do more of it than you think you can even if you rarely ride. My Strava results for the ride were just under 34 miles out and back. You can always use the interactive trail map on your mobile device for help.
