WOODSIDE WALKING TRAILS
The Walking Trail Group (WTG) began in August 2008 when two residents met with the WPPOA to discuss what could be done to improve and better define several nature trails that existed within Woodside. Subsequent to that meeting we began working with both the WPPOA and the Woodside Development Company to define the existing trails, make significant improvements, and to mark the trails with signs and blazes so that our residents could easily follow the routes. In subsequent years several new trails were developed.
The WTG is now a 240 loosely organized group who keep in touch by email and thru our website. We organize work parties to help improve & maintain the trails and also organize occasional hikes on our trails and on other trails in the Aiken vicinity. We maintain or are associated with 8 trails within or just outside the Woodside community. These are Creek Walk, Oakman Trail, Millroad Trail, Hollow Creek Trail, Azalea Trail, Meadow’s loop, The Reserve loop, and the Village Trail. When added to the 7-mile perimeter sidewalk, these trails provide 21 miles of walking opportunities within the Woodside community!
The WTG also maintains an up-to-date website where you can see all future and past outings, read about trail news, and find downloadable maps and descriptions of Woodside’s trails. See TRAIL NEWS & INFORMATION at the bottom of this page.
Want to join the WTG? Please use the the “contact” tab on the WTG website and your email address will be added to the WTG’s email list. Your request will be acknowledged, and you will then receive email WTG information about all WTG hikes and other activities.
A Guide to Walking in Woodside
The Woodside perimeter sidewalk
(7.0 miles)
The Village Trails
The Reserve Park Oval
(0.25 miles)
The Meadows Loop Trail
(0.6 miles)
The Creek Walk
(0.5 miles)
The Mill Road Trail
(1.0 mile in & out trail)
The Oakman Trail
(2.1 miles)
The Hollow Creek Trail (HCT)
(5.0 miles)
This lollypop shaped trail is Woodside’s longest and premier nature trail. So, grab your walking stick and put on your hiking boots for some serious hiking. The trail more or less follows the perimeter of the HCLP. Starting at the Trail Head Parking area the trail proceeds onto a very short section of roadway and then into the woods, and across a small bridge. It then skirts along two golf course holes before coming to the loop of the lollypop [0.6 miles]. The 3.9-mile HCT loop can be walked in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Walking clockwise you will cross a pedestrian bridge over Hollow Creek and enter a nicely wooded area with occasional views of two more golf holes. Leaving the golf course behind, the trail proceeds for 1.6 miles through remote woodlands around the perimeter of the HCLP to finally emerge at the dam impounding Anderson Pond. The dam and nearby fishing platform afford nice views of the pond. Trail access is also provided here from parking area. From the dam the trail follows a track close to Anderson Pond which affords some further nice water views. Leaving the pond behind, the trail goes through a beautiful area of mixed pine and hardwood to emerge in an area known as the “twin ponds”. Woodside’s sister equestrian community shares this portion of the trail and you will often see horseback riders here. At the twin ponds you will see a sign pointing to the bridle trail which can be used to walk to Woodside’s Anderson Pond gate. Proceeding on the HCT, you stroll through another hardwood forest on the way back to the start of the loop and then back to the trail head parking area.
Mill Road/Azalea Trail Complex
This system of loop trails is accessed from the trail head parking area. From the parking area follow the sign pointing up the hill into the wooded area above the parking area. At the next sign turn left and follow the blue blazes. The Mill Road, Azalea and Hollow Creek Trails follow a common path along White Dogwood and enter a few feet of wooded area before the Mill Road Trail goes right while to the Azalea and Hollow Creek trails proceed straight ahead. The area is well signed. If you walk along the Mill Road Trail you may see wildlife in the adjacent Hollow Creek Preservation area. The path is wide for 0.5 miles and then becomes a single track as it turns sharply left. The trail passes below the dam holding back Cunning Lake and then has a very nice section that follows along a stream and over a small bridge to eventually cross beneath the power line to join the second loop of the Azalea Trail. The total distance is about 0.75 miles. You can also access the Azalea Trail by going straight forward and over a substantial bridge used by hikers and golf course maintenance vehicle until you get to a signed point where you make a right turn to access the first loop of the Azalea Trail. The Azalea Trail consists of two loops making a figure eight. You can walk just one of these loops or both, either clockwise or counterclockwise. The Two loops are joined by short section of trails that cross a small stream via a bridge. The entire trail from the parking area and back is about 1.5 miles with an elevation gain of about 300 feet. The area is completely wooded and provides a nice walk even in the heat of the summer. On the first loop, whether you hike it clockwise or counterclockwise, there are good hills to climb! In the Spring there is a nice display of native azaleas on both sides of the stream – hence the trail’s name. There are many ways to use this trail complex to make circular hikes. A popular way is to use the Mill Road Trail to join the second loop of the Azalea Trail; turn right at the juncture and proceed around the second loop to where it joins the first loop. Cross the bridge, and turn right to proceed around the first loop to the point where it joins the Hollow Creek Trail. Go over the bridge and back to the parking lot – a total of 2.75 miles with some good hill to keep you in shape! For an easier hike start out the same way but turn left at the junction of the Mill Road and Azalea Trail and follow along the power line to the junction of the trail with the Hollow Creek Trail and hence to the parking lot – a total of 1.5 miles with only minor hills. Of course, there are many other combinations but no matter how you choose to walk this system you are in for a treat.