Mar 22 2008
Biking and Hiking
The terrain on Tybee Island, Georgia is pretty flat, and the island is only 2.75 miles long, so you can get almost anywhere without gasoline.Tybee’s designated bike route is a combination of paths and safe streets, and is a great way to tour our neighborhoods, which you can also walk.
Biking is allowed on the beach, and it isn’t tough pumping if you go right after a high tide. The sand is solid and you can breeze along while enjoying the sights of the sea and the island. Of course, walking on the beach is a delight, and we have about 5 miles of them which are clean and pristine. You can go shelling when the tide goes out and find nice specimens of shells, fossilized shark teeth, and other “goodies,” especially on the north beach. (A reminder: if you see starfish, don’t pick them up or they’ll die.) You can also see the birds that inhabit coastal Georgia.
Ft. Pulaski also has great biking and hiking trails. It costs $3 to get in, even with a bike, but the ticket is good for 6 days, and there’s no doubt that you’ll want to go back. The park includes 5,623 acres of scenic marsh and uplands that support a variety of animal life characteristic of southern barrier islands. White-tailed deer, alligators, and raccoons as well as resident and migratory birds grace the landscape. Spanish moss drapes from yaupon holly bushes and vegetation includes cabbage palms, various wetland grasses, and a variety of temperate hardwood and pine trees. You also can see ruins of former buildings and lookouts, and visit the place where John Wesley, founder of Methodism, landed when he came to Savannah. The ticket also admits you to the Fort which is an outstanding park and monument.
There is a scenic, six-mile long Old Railroad Trail along US-80 which is one of the Rails to Trails sites of former railroad tracks. The tracks were built in the late 1800’s to bring Savannahians to Tybee and the train thrived until the road was built in 1923. The last train went out in 1931 and the tracks were abandoned. They now offer a wonderful hiking/biking trail along the Savannah River, the Bull River and wonderful marshland. To get there go off of the island and once over the Lazaretto Creek bridge, go about 2 miles. Parking and the trail will be on your right.
Need a bike? We have Tim’s Beach Gear and Bikes who will deliver and pick-up bicycles anywhere on the island. He also has a stand at the beach end of 13th St. We also have Fat Tire Bikes located on 1405 Butler Ave. where you can rent a bike.
