Cycling from Harbour/Sunset Pointe

[sea]

We are considering staying at the above resort in March 2016. While it is our home resort, we have not stayed previously and would appreciate having some questions answered.

We are interested in cycling, and would like to avoid cycling on roads with vehicle traffic, instead preferring to use the bike paths that we've heard so much about on HHI. Is it possible to depart Harbour/Sunset Pointe (with a bicycle) and avoid roadways? To clarify......we don't mind crossing roads, but don't want to be cycling along side vehicles on roadways.

We would be interested in visiting the beach, a grocery store, the Sea Pines bike trails, and Harbour Town by bicycle. Is it possible to do this and avoid roadways? If so, please share how.

I called the resort but didn't get the level of detail I was looking for.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

 

[lweverett]

You can easily cycle around Shelter Cove - there are two grocery stores there. You can cycle over to the plantation and beach across the highway - there is a tunnel somewhere. Even if you could cycle on bike paths to Sea Pines for their paths it would be a long ride along the main road.

 

[AlmostRetired]

Sea Pines is well worth cycling around. It has over 15 miles of trails. This includes both Harbor Town and South Beach. It is a long bike ride from where you are staying to Sea Pines even if someone came up with a path that you can take. My suggestion is you put your bikes in the trunk (if you can) or have your Marriott call the Grand Ocean or Monarch to rent a bike there. It might cost as little $5 per bike per day.

 

[Bunk]

We spent a week at Harbour/Sunset Pointe a few years ago and rented bikes.

We were able to bike to the bike paths and beaches with no problem. If I recall, there was a tunnel that let us ride our bikes under 278 so we could avoid the car traffic.

Here is a link to a map showing bike paths:

http://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/publications/brochures/BikePathBrochure.pdf

We rode from Harbor/Sunset Pointe to the beach frequently and rode out bikes along the beach. The beach by the Marriott Hilton is fairly close and we often stopped at the Marriott Hilton to use the bathroom and for lunch. We rode on a large part of the bike lanes shown on the map and had no real concerns about car traffic. We also rode our bike to the marina, which is very close by.

I think Harbor/Sunset Pointe is a very nice place to stay. While it is not on the beach, it is on a lagoon. So you have nice views of the lagoon, sometimes see dolphins swimming, and sometimes get a very nice sunset.

 

[GreenTea]

Yes, with a small *. To get from those resorts to the paths you need to bike along pretty empty access roads. Definitely not a big deal. Once you get to busy area, you will cross under the busy road and will on a path to the beach from there.

 

[ilene13]

We used to own at Harbour Pointe. We loved biking from there. There is a tunnel that goes under 278 and you end up a bit to the left of the Palmetto Dunes entrance. We would then bike into Palmetto Dunes and then throughout it. It was great.

 

[jme]

We spent a week at Harbour/Sunset Pointe a few years ago and rented bikes.

We were able to bike to the bike paths and beaches with no problem. If I recall, there was a tunnel that let us ride our bikes under 278 so we could avoid the car traffic.

Here is a link to a map showing bike paths:


http://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/publications/brochures/BikePathBrochure.pdf

We rode from Harbor/Sunset Pointe to the beach frequently and rode out bikes along the beach. The beach by the Marriott Hilton is fairly close and we often stopped at the Marriott Hilton to use the bathroom and for lunch. We rode on a large part of the bike lanes shown on the map and had no real concerns about car traffic. We also rode our bike to the marina, which is very close by.

I think Harbor/Sunset Pointe is a very nice place to stay. While it is not on the beach, it is on a lagoon. So you have nice views of the lagoon, sometimes see dolphins swimming, and sometimes get a very nice sunset.

That map doesn't show the Sea Pines paths which are the best by far.

Here is a link to my personal Sea Pines map, which includes the three major (and best) paths. One goes to Harbour Town (lighthouse), one to Plantation Drive (out to Lawton Stables), and one goes to South Beach (2 routes, only one highlighted).

route #2 (see 2nd link below) to South Beach, not shown, starts at "Live Oak"/Plantation Club on map, and continues STRAIGHT down North Sea Pines Drive onto South Sea Pines Drive, rather than along Greenwood Drive (& Circle) onto South SP Drive, as highlighted in blue. I prefer the route #2 if starting from Live Oak/Plantation Club area, but route #1 shown is for those coming from Harbour Town and heading to South Beach.

1. Overall Map:
First MINIMIZE the blue box & text on left by clicking little arrow next to blue box,
and also MINIMIZE lower images by clicking on small double arrow near word "Explore"/yellow man figure. This will eliminate all the boxes to view maps more clearly!!!

https://goo.gl/maps/bhPVLTsuwP32


2. Variation of South Beach route, explaining route #2:
Take straight line (parallel to ocean) from where it says "Live Oak", down North Sea Pines Drive straight to South Sea Pines Drive and into South Beach (rather than going to SB via Greenwood Circle).
https://goo.gl/maps/UG7hTpnjhKL2

Enjoy! HH's bike paths are well known and very enjoyable, but watch out for strategically placed trees in the middle of many turns/curves. Pine bark does NOT taste good.



.

 

[MULTIZ321]

That map doesn't show the Sea Pines paths which are the best by far.

Here is a link to my personal Sea Pines map, which includes the three major (and best) paths. One goes to Harbour Town (lighthouse), one to Plantation Drive (out to Lawton Stables), and one goes to South Beach (2 routes, only one highlighted).

route #2 (see 2nd link below) to South Beach, not shown, starts at "Live Oak"/Plantation Club on map, and continues STRAIGHT down North Sea Pines Drive onto South Sea Pines Drive, rather than along Greenwood Drive (& Circle) onto South SP Drive, as highlighted in blue. I prefer the route #2 if starting from Live Oak/Plantation Club area, but route #1 shown is for those coming from Harbour Town and heading to South Beach.

1. Overall Map:
First MINIMIZE the blue box & text on left by clicking little arrow next to blue box,
and also MINIMIZE lower images by clicking on small double arrow near word "Explore"/yellow man figure. This will eliminate all the boxes to view maps more clearly!!!

https://goo.gl/maps/bhPVLTsuwP32


2. Variation of South Beach route, explaining route #2:
Take straight line (parallel to ocean) from where it says "Live Oak", down North Sea Pines Drive straight to South Sea Pines Drive and into South Beach (rather than going to SB via Greenwood Circle).
https://goo.gl/maps/UG7hTpnjhKL2

Enjoy! HH's bike paths are well known and very enjoyable, but watch out for strategically placed trees in the middle of many turns/curves. Pine bark does NOT taste good. .

And on your bike-ride down to South Beach, be sure to follow the signs and visit the Stoney-Baynard Plantation. For more info see
http://www.heritagelib.org/articles/the-stoneys-the-baynards-and-their-mansion

The Mausoleum pictured in the above link is where William E. Baynard is buried. It is the oldest remaining intact structure on Hilton Head and is located in the Zion Chapel-of-Ease Cemetery located at the intersection of Mathews Drive, William Hilton Parkway, and Folly Field Road.There are also grave-sites of Revolutionary War Patriots buried in the Zion Cemetery.


Richard

 

[jme]

And on your bike-ride down to South Beach, be sure to follow the signs and visit the Stoney-Baynard Plantation. For more info see
http://www.heritagelib.org/articles/the-stoneys-the-baynards-and-their-mansion

The Mausoleum pictured in the above link is where William E. Baynard is buried. It is the oldest remaining intact structure on Hilton Head and is located in the Zion Chapel-of-Ease Cemetery located at the intersection of Mathews Drive, William Hilton Parkway, and Folly Field Road.There are also grave-sites of Revolutionary War Patriots buried in the Zion Cemetery.


Richard

Very interesting, Richard, thanks!

Never heard of it, and that surprises me. Seems like info on that would be mentioned in island publications more often. I will make it a point to check that out. Great anecdote.




.

 

[jdunn1]

I really like this thread. I took my son and three other boys to harbor point this past August. First week of the month. We had a blast. Loved bike riding all around the island, especially to the beach. The resort is not close to the beach but no further than disneys resort which is basically next door to the Marriott with shelter cove marina in between. The boys and I rode to coliginy plaza a few times though that was always a long bike ride. We never had to ride on the streets except in the shelter cove area occasionally. I will warn you to be careful crossing street and driveways in that area. Must be a locals area and I found those drivers to be almost blind to bikers. They were all older drivers so I am not sure how much they actually saw when driving but bikers were never on their radar screens because we almost got run over a couple times simply crossing driveways along a bike path.

Sounds like you will be there in March so I do not think the beach will be the biggest draw for you. I've been there in March and the weather is not always great for the beach but I am sure you will get some Warmers days.

Biking to the new shopping center where krogers is was always a treat. I like what they did with that area, though I do miss the piggly wiggly.

Biking to the beach is definitely done by going under 278, wich is a really neat stretch of bike trails.

I can't say enough about how much fun it is to bike ride in Hilton head and in my oppinion harbor point is the best area to bike on the island. It is right In the middle of the island and biking to the beach is easy and fun.

Enjoy.

-Jim

 

[jme]

duplicate post

 

[Fasttr]

That map doesn't show the Sea Pines paths which are the best by far.

And on your bike-ride down to South Beach, be sure to follow the signs and visit the Stoney-Baynard Plantation.

jme....followed your route, and then some today.....biking from GO to South Beach, bought some T's and ate lunch at the Salty Dog, biked our way from South Beach up to Harbor Town for a little shopping, then back over and out the Greenwood Gate, to Pope Ave, down Pope Ave to Cologny Plaza for a little more shopping, then back to GO. Was a nice ride. Not sure how far that is, but my a$$ thinks is was pretty far.

MULTIZ321...I missed the turn off to go to Stoney-Baynard Plantation on our way from South Beach to Harbor Town, but its on the list....so will certainly make sure I find it on our next bike ride through Sea Pines.

 

[jme]

jme....followed your route, and then some today.....biking from GO to South Beach, bought some T's and ate lunch at the Salty Dog, biked our way from South Beach up to Harbor Town for a little shopping, then back over and out the Greenwood Gate, to Pope Ave, down Pope Ave to Cologny Plaza for a little more shopping, then back to GO. Was a nice ride. Not sure how far that is, but my a$$ thinks is was pretty far.

MULTIZ321...I missed the turn off to go to Stoney-Baynard Plantation on our way from South Beach to Harbor Town, but its on the list....so will certainly make sure I find it on our next bike ride through Sea Pines.

sounds fun, lots of trails to investigate...........very jealous, as temps are great right now, and it's sunny and beautiful. I'll be there this next weekend for a wedding, but may not get to go biking. Also happy to hear you're keeping the local economy going!

and oh yeah, that bicycle seat sure looks like an innocent and innocuous little item, doesn't it? walking like a cowboy, are you? But it can wreak havoc. Just be glad your troubles are all behind you.

 

[jont]

jme....followed your route, and then some today.....biking from GO to South Beach, bought some T's and ate lunch at the Salty Dog, biked our way from South Beach up to Harbor Town for a little shopping, then back over and out the Greenwood Gate, to Pope Ave, down Pope Ave to Cologny Plaza for a little more shopping, then back to GO. Was a nice ride. Not sure how far that is, but my a$$ thinks is was pretty far.

That's a lot of bike riding there cowboy. Giddyup!

 

[Fasttr]

That's a lot of bike riding there cowboy. Giddyup!

Today I'm looking for a less strenuous ride in a Rickshaw....I hear they have the homeless pulling them in Sea Pines.

 

[jont]

Today I'm looking for a less strenuous ride in a Rickshaw....I hear they have the homeless pulling them in Sea Pines.

It's the romance of the Handsome Cab without the guilt or dander of the equine.

Ask for Rusty

 

[Fasttr]

We would be interested in visiting the beach, a grocery store, the Sea Pines bike trails, and Harbour Town by bicycle. Is it possible to do this and avoid roadways? If so, please share how.

I called the resort but didn't get the level of detail I was looking for.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

We biked from Grande Ocean to Harbor/Sunset Point and Shelter Cove area shopping today. I would say it was about 5+ miles one way. Based on the knowledge gleaned from that trip, you can certainly bike on bike paths from Harbor/Sunset all the way to Sea Pines/Harbor Town and I would estimate it to be about 8 miles one way. You basically just bike the trail on the east side of William Hilton Parkway (the trail on west side of the parkway does not go all the way down) all the way to the rotary at Pope Ave (about 3.5 miles total from Harbor/Sunset) then follow the trail around Office Park Rd (just east of Pope Ave rotary) to Greenwood Drive and into Sea Pines at the Welcome Center (Greenwood Gate). From there my Sea Pines bike map says its about 4.2 miles to Harbor Town...and once in Sea Pines, the signage is excellent to find what you are looking for.

Its a doable round trip, but its certainly a decent amount of biking.

 

[PHLarry]

Here's a link to the Sea Pines Bike Map; www.seapines.com/pdf/sea-pines-bike-trail-map.pdf
It provides mileage as well as landmarks including the Stoney-Baynard Ruins. Which is worth a visit.
Worth noting; you cannot ride bikes into Sea Pines without having a bike pass (GO provides these to guests). If you don't have a bike pass you'll have to pay for a day car pass and drive in with your bikes.

 

[Old Hickory]

We spent a week at Harbour/Sunset Pointe a few years ago and rented bikes.

We were able to bike to the bike paths and beaches with no problem. If I recall, there was a tunnel that let us ride our bikes under 278 so we could avoid the car traffic.

This. And you can ride along the Shelter Cove boardwalk to reach the tunnel. Also, I seem to remember a designated bike storage and beach access for Harbour/Sunset Pointe visitors at the Dunes House beach bar in Palmetto Dunes.

 

[sea]

Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful suggestions. We can't wait to get to HHI and enjoy the biking trails and sights along the way. Very much appreciated!!