Parsons Mountain OHV Trail
Parsons Mountain OHV Trail is a 10-mile one-way loop with an optional cut-through section in the Long Cane Ranger District of Sumter National Forest, approximately 2 miles south of the historic town of Abbeville in the South Carolina Upstate: the oldest planned city in inland South Carolina, founded in 1764, sitting at the confluence of three creeks on the Inner Piedmont. The Sumter National Forest at this latitude is Piedmont hardwood country: rolling upland terrain of oak, hickory, and mixed hardwood forest on the red-clay soils of the Carolina Piedmont, with occasional creek crossings where the drainage systems flowing toward the Savannah River watershed cut through the ridge topography. The one-way designation keeps the 10-mile loop running in a single direction, eliminating the head-on traffic that can be problematic on narrower wooded single-track systems. Trail ratings span beginner to intermediate, accessible enough for riders past the pure beginner stage who want consistent mileage through mature hardwood forest without extreme technical challenge. ATVs and dirt bikes are the permitted vehicle classes; full-size 4x4 trucks are not permitted on the trail corridor. A day-use OHV permit is required at $5/day or $50/season via Recreation.gov, and importantly, the same permit also covers the Cedar Springs and Enoree OHV trails in the same Long Cane Ranger District, providing good value for riders who visit multiple Sumter NF systems. Restrooms are at the trailhead; no on-site camping (864-388-9521).