Places to Walk and Exercise in Sumter County

Compiled by the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health Prevention Research Center and Sumter County Active Lifestyles

Walking Routes and Tracks

Alice Drive Middle School Track
40 Miller Road
(803) 775-0821
The track is located behind the school. Walkers are encouraged to walk before 8:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. The track is open on weekends for use anytime. It is closed during track and field practices and events.

Bates Middle School Track
715 Estate Street
(803) 775-0711
This dirt track is located in front of the school. Walkers are encouraged to walk before 8:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. The track is open on weekends for use anytime. It is closed during track and field and football practices and events. Signs are posted about attire.

Cherryvale Track
4340 Confederate Road (at the Cherryvale Community Center)
(803) 494-4332
This asphalt walking track is open daily from dawn to dusk. 6.75 laps is one mile.

Greater Township Community Track
4050 Highway 261 North (at the Rembert-Rafting Creek Community Center)
(803) 432-3188
This asphalt walking track is open daily from dawn to dusk. 7.8 laps is one mile.

Crosswell Park
301 Crosswell Drive (adjacent to Crosswell Elementary School)
Crosswell Park is open 7 a.m. - dusk. It has a paved walking track that is approximately 1/3 mile long.

Dillon Park
1210 Clara Louise Kellogg Drive (off North Pike Road, next to the National Guard Armory)
(803) 436-2248
Dillon Park is open sun-up to midnight. It has a one-mile paved walking track and is lit.

Live Oak Park
Highway 15 South (across from Clipper Road entrance to Industrial Park) This park is under development, but the asphalt walking track is open daily from dawn to dusk. 6.3 laps is 1 mile.

V.I.M. Park
Middle and Wallace Streets
The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. It has a natural-surface walking track. 9.3 laps is one mile.

Wedgefield Park
Highway 261 South and Wedgefield Road (Highway 763)
Wedgefield, SC.
The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. It has a natural-surface walking track. Four laps around is slightly over one mile.

Birnie HOPE Center
210 S. Purdy Street
(803) 436-2645
The center is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. It offers free aerobics classes. (Call for class times.) The gym and baseball field are available for walking when the center is open.

North HOPE Center
905 N. Main Street
(803) 436-2691
The center is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. It offers free aerobics classes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, 8-9 a.m. Chair aerobics is offered on Wednesdays from 8-9 a.m. The gym is usually available for walking 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Monday-Friday. The park next door has a walking track.

South HOPE Center
1125 S. Lafayette Boulevard
(803) 436-2653
The center is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. The gym is available for individual walking 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Sumter Mall
1057 Broad Street
(803) 775-6387
The mall is open for walking Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday, noon - 6 p.m.
Join Heart & Soles, a free walking program, to be eligible to win monthly prizes! Call the mall office for information.

Walking & Hiking Trails

Cypress Park
N. Wise Drive (behind Fed-Ex)
(803) 436-2248
Cypress Park is open dawn to dusk. It has a natural-surface trail that is approximately 1/4 mile in length. This trail connects up with the 6-mile long Cypress Trail.

Cypress Trail
The County is developing the Cypress Trail, which will eventually go throughout the county. Currently, two segments are open. The segment accessed in Cypress Park (see Cypress Park, above) is a 6-mile loop. The YMCA segment runs adjacent to the YMCA on Miller Road. It is a paved, linear trail that is 0.8 miles.

Manchester State Forest
6740 Headquarters Road
Wedgefield, SC
(803) 494-8196
www.state.sc.us/forest/refman.htm
Natural-surface trails.

Mill Creek County Park
7975 Milford Plantation Road
Pinewood, SC
(803) 436-2248
Natural-surface trails.

Palmetto Trail
www.palmettoconservation.org
The Palmetto Trail runs through the entire state. Approximately 25 miles of the Palmetto Trail runs through Manchester State Forest and Poinsett State Park in Sumter County. The Palmetto Trail can be accessed through six trailheads in Sumter County:
   Packs Landing - Packs Landing Road, Pinewood, SC
   Sparkleberry Landing - Sparkleberry Lane off Camp MacBoykin Road
   Manchester Forest Headquarters (address above)
   Mill Creek County Park (address above)
   Poinsett State Park (address above)
Wateree Passage - Poinsett Park to Wateree River

Poinsett State Park
6660 Poinsett Park Road
Wedgefield, SC
(803) 494-8177
The park is open Sunday-Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday-Sunday during Daylight Savings Time.
Natural-surface trails.

Sumter High School Environmental Center
Sumter High School
2580 McCray's Mill Road
(803) 481-4480, ext. 420
The center contains seven different nature trails that connect with each other and are blazed for easy following. The trails are open to the community Monday - Friday from 4:00 p.m. until dusk during school time. On school holidays and weekends, trails are open from 9:00 a.m. until dusk. Enter through Gate 5 from Stadium Road, drive straight through the two parking lots, turning left as the Environmental Center sign. Parking is located in the second parking lot nearest the basketball court and greenhouse.

Woods Bay State Natural Park
11020 Woods Bay Road
Olanta, SC
(843) 659-4445
The park is open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily.
Natural-surface trails and board walk provide a 0.9-mile loop.

USC Sumter Sidewalk Trail
200 Miller Road
(803) 775-8727
A marked, one-mile sidewalk trail winds through the campus. It is open to the public when school is in session.

Biking Trails

Sumter County Active Lifestyles (SCAL) has developed a Bike Sumter County map that identifies various cycling routes of different lengths throughout the county to guide both the novice and more experienced road rider. In addition to identifying routes, the map provides basic bicycle maintenance information, safety tips and rules of the road for bicyclists and motorists. Maps are available at the Sumter County Recreation and Parks Department at 155 Haynsworth Street in Sumter.

Manchester State Forest
6740 Headquarters Road
Wedgefield, SC
494-8196
www.state.sc.us/forest/refman.htm
Bike trails closed Sept. 15--Dec. 30, except for Sundays.
Permit is required for all activities except hiking. Fee is $5 daily or $25 per year for age 16+; age 15 and younger must be accompanied by a person with a permit.

Killer Three (K3) Bike Trail is 10 miles long.

Hard Core Trail is 2.5 miles long.

The K3, Hardcore and Campbell Pond Loop trails are open from sunrise to sunset on Sunday only, during deer hunting season from September 15 through December 30.
The K3, Hardcore, and Campbell Pond Loop trails are open daily from December 31 through September 14. Riders should take safety precautions when riding from December 31 through April 30 (small game and turkey seasons).
Night riding on the K3 and Hardcore trails is allowed from December 31 through September 14, provided the following safety guidelines are followed. Every bicycle, when in use after sunset, shall be equipped with a visible light from the front and a reflector visible from the rear. Caution shall be taken at all road crossings along the trails. Helmets are required.

The Poinsett Connector Trail is open from sunrise to sunset daily for an additional fee.
Sections of the Palmetto Trail are open to bicycles daily as outlined on the Palmetto Trail Map. Riders should take safety precautions when riding during all hunting seasons.

Fitness Centers

Anytime Fitness
1288 Broad Street
(803) 469-0999
www.anytimefitness.com
Hours:
Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sunday - closed
Open to members 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Curves for Women
2041 Wedgefield Hwy., Ste. 1
(803) 773-7333
www.curves.com
Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sunday- closed
Membership Fee: Call for information.
Amenities: One-on-one training available; various exercise machines available for individual workouts; no aerobics classes.

Free Weight Gym & Fitness
2700 Thomas Sumter Highway (521 North)
(803) 469-3649
Hours: Members have 24-hour access. To meet with staff, call for an appointment.
Membership Fee: Call for information.
Amenities: One-on-one training available.

Lady Fitness, Inc.
342 West Liberty Street
(803) 773-8888
Hours:
Members have 24-hour access. The center is staffed Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - noon; 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Membership Fee: Call for information. A set-up fee may be required.
Amenities: various exercise machines available for individual workouts; supervised childcare available Monday - Friday, 9-11 a.m. (8 a.m. - 8 p.m. for children not needing direct supervision) for $2.00 per class. Classes include step aerobics, kickboxing, and ball.

Sumter Family YMCA
50 Willow Drive
(803) 773-1404
www.ymcasumter.org
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 4 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Fridays 4 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Saturday 6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Membership Fee: Call or go to website for information. Senior rates are available, as well as scholarships to assist with membership fees.
Amenities: Various exercise machines for individual workouts; numerous group fitness classes including: aerobics, water aerobics, yoga, spinning, and Pilates. Two swimming pools are available. Massage therapy is available (additional fee). Childcare is available Monday- Saturday for $2.50 per hour per child.

Swimming

Aquatic classes are offered at the YMCA and the South HOPE Center. Check both centers for class schedules and prices.

Other Places to Go for Exercise

Sumter County Recreation and Parks Department
155 Haynsworth Street
(803) 436-2248
They offer a variety of exercise programs for various ages.

Churches and worksites
Some area churches and employers may sponsor exercise classes or have recreational facilities, walking trails, or space you could use to put together your own aerobics or dance group or walking team. Be creative in finding places to exercise.

Your own neighborhood
A fine place to walk could be as close as your front door. You could map out your distance in a car if you like to keep track of distance. Be especially cautious of traffic if your neighborhood has no sidewalks.

Alternatives for Bad-Weather Days

Don't let the weather stop your exercise plans. Consider taking a walk indoors or staying at home for a 30-minute workout. Here are seven activities you can do indoors:
1) Walk at the Sumter Mall: you may even find that your favorite store is having a super sale!
2) Join the aerobics classes or walk at the one of the HOPE Centers: after all, the classes are free!
3) Rent an exercise DVD. (Video Disclaimer: Participants can choose from a variety of aerobic exercise DVDs to suit their exercise needs and fitness level. USC cannot endorse any particular one. Participants should always work at their own pace. Videos prepared by qualified exercise specialists are preferred over "movie star" videos.)
4) Dance to your favorite music at home: pop, hip hop, salsa, reggae, or rock; whatever you enjoy!
5) If you have a treadmill, dust it off and start walking while listening to your favorite music or watching your favorite television show.
6) Try riding a stationary bike or using a treadmill at the gym.
7) Go on a cleaning binge! Who says spring cleaning has to be done only in the spring?
If you are outdoors during hot weather:
• Exercise very early or late in the day when it's cooler. Remember to drink plenty of water and wear lightweight clothing.
• Try swimming. Aquatics classes are offered at the YMCA and the South Hope Center.

Disclaimer: Inclusion in this list does not constitute endorsement by the University of South Carolina, Sumter County Active Lifestyles, or the Sumter County Department of Recreation and Parks. Participants are advised to get full information concerning the amenities offered at a fitness club and the credentials of the staff. Information was accurate at the time of inclusion but is subject to change.

Permission to use the walking track maps has been granted by the SC Trails Program.

Updated: August 12, 2008