The Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago or Triple C Rail Trail is a rail trail in the Piedmont region of north-central

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

. The trail begins just west of Tirzah, runs west through

York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

James Ross Wildlife Reservation James Ross Wildlife Reservation is a South Carolina Wildlife Management Area located near York and Sharon managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. History The property is believed to be named after James Ross, born in 1744, ...

(a South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Management Area), Sharon, Hickory Grove,

Smyrna Smyrna ( ; grc, Σμύρνη, Smýrnē, or , ) was a Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to promi ...

, and ends near Kings Creek. Please note, as of 4/18/15 all sections of this trail (except for the part shared by the paved York Bicycle Trail) are so overgrown as to be impassible. Also there is no signage of any kind signifying it exits at all. Use discretion. Passable sections are indicated in Google Maps as dirt bicycle trails - 7/25/16 route does get overgrown as SCDOT does not maintain the trail although owns the full right of way, which is indicated by county GIS maps.

Route

The Triple C Rail Trail is approximately from end to end, and it generally follows an east–west orientation. The trail is located wholly within

and

Cherokee The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...

counties. The trail's eastern terminus is off South Carolina Highway 161 near the Plains Midstream Canada Tirzah Propane Storage Facility, about east of York. The trail roughly parallels Highway 161 in a westerly direction for about until it reaches the city of

. Heading southwest out of york the trail passes under the Kings Mountain Railroad Trail and US Route 321. The trail strikes out through woodlands west of

as it heads towards Sharon. Along the way it passes through the

. Approximately west of York, the trail passes through the town of Sharon.The section between York and Sharon is fairly remote, and not easily accessible by road. A half mile outside Sharon, the trail begins running parallel to SC Hwy 211 for about . Just before entering Hickory Grove, the trail moves eastward to run through the east side of town. North of Hickory Grove, the trail parallels

South Carolina Highway 97 South Carolina Highway 97 (SC 97) is a State highway (US), state highway in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The highway connects Camden, South Carolina, Camden, Great Falls, South Carolina, Great Falls, Chester, South Carolina, Cheste ...

for approximately until the trail reaches the town of

. Beyond Smyrna the trail enters

Cherokee County Cherokee County is the name of eight counties in the United States: * Cherokee County, Alabama * Cherokee County, Georgia * Cherokee County, Iowa * Cherokee County, Kansas * Cherokee County, North Carolina * Cherokee County, Oklahoma * Cherokee Co ...

and roughly parallels SC Hwy 97 until the trail ends near the intersection of Hollifield Drive and Manning Road near Kings Creek. Most recent section of railroad abandonment along the Triple C Rail Trail

Most recent section of railroad abandonment along the Triple C Rail Trail

Cities, Towns and attractions located along or near the trail (from east to west): * Tirzah *

* Kings Mtn Railroad Trail in York *

* Sharon * Hill's Mercantile * Hickory Grove *

- The smallest town in South Carolina * Kings Creek

History

The trail runs along the abandoned

right of way Right of way is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e. by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another. A similar ''right of access'' also exists on land held by a gov ...

of the

Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad The Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad, informally known as the Triple C, was a Southeastern railroad that operated in the late 19th century. The company was formed in 1886 with the idea of extending a rail line from Charleston, South Car ...

, or Triple C. The section of railroad between Tirzah and

was constructed between 1886 and 1889. After a series of reorganizations, the railroad became a part of the Southern Railway and eventually

Norfolk Southern The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad in the United States formed in 1982 with the merger of Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. With headquarters in Atlanta, the company operates 19,420 route miles (31, ...

. Freight and passenger service continued for many years. In the mid-1980s, Norfolk Southern ended rail service between York and Smyrna. Then again in the late 1980s Norfolk Southern ended service between York and Tirzah. The tracks were removed, and the first section of the Triple C Rail Trail opened as part of the York Bicycle Trail in the late 1990s. Around the same time a second portion was opened across the

. The trail continued opening in stages with the most recent section (near

Kings Creek, South Carolina Kings Creek (or King's Creek) is an unincorporated community in Cherokee County, South Carolina, United States. It is located in the vicinity of South Carolina Highways 5 and 97. Situated nearby is the NRHP-designated King's Creek Furnace Site. T ...

) being completed in 2007. The trail is operated by the City of

, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and

SCDOT The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is a government agency in the US state of South Carolina. Its mission is to build and maintain roads and bridges and administer mass transit services. By state law, the SCDOT's function and ...

Activities

The trail is relatively flat with only gentle grades. It is topped with crushed

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

along most of the trail and

Asphalt Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term ...

within the city of

Bicycling Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...

and

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

are extremely popular during the spring, summer, and fall. Horseback riding is allowed on the western end of the trail, between Kings Creek and

. The trail intersects with two other hiking trails, including the Kings Mtn Railroad Trail. Wildlife viewing is also popular.

Hawks Hawks are birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. They are widely distributed and are found on all continents except Antarctica. * The subfamily Accipitrinae includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, sharp-shinned hawks and others. This subfamily ...

and other large birds are commonly seen along the trail.

Canada geese The Canada goose (''Branta canadensis''), or Canadian goose, is a large wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. It is native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America, and it is o ...

and

duck Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form ...

s are also common.

wild turkey The wild turkey (''Meleagris gallopavo'') is an upland ground bird native to North America, one of two extant species of turkey and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes. It is the ancestor to the domestic turkey, which was originally d ...

s and

white-tailed deer The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced t ...

live in the wooded areas and are seen along the trail. Motorized vehicles are strictly forbidden from using the trail. This ban includes

motorcycles A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

snowmobiles A snowmobile, also known as a Ski-Doo, snowmachine, sled, motor sled, motor sledge, skimobile, or snow scooter, is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. It is designed to be operated on snow and ice and does not ...

and all-terrain vehicles.

Camping Camping is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home, either without shelter or using basic shelter such as a tent, or a recreational vehicle. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more na ...

is currently not allowed along the trail. Numerous lodging establishments are available in York.

Hunting Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products ( fur/ hide, bone/tusks, horn/antler, ...

, small game and furbearers is allowed within the

, authorization is needed from the SCDNR. Parking areas are available at several locations along the entire length of the trail. Trail users should carry enough water to last for the duration of their trips, as potable water is not readily available. The City of York offers a full array of services and supplies. Restaurants are located in York and Sharon. Gasoline and other supplies are available at general stores located in York, Sharon and Hickory Grove.

Future expansion

The last section of the trail to open was in 2007, and there are no immediate plans to expand the trail at this time. However, several future plans exist, including one to incorporate portions of the trail, along with an extension to Rock Hill, as part of the Carolina Thread Trail

References

External links