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Killer Three Loop Mountain Bike Trail
Sumter, South Carolina
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:    |
19 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 1/15/11 by wfravel |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 11 miles | Global Rank: #1040 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 40 | Wishlist: 26 |
| Avg. Speed: 6.03 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 60min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +621/-917 ft |
Directions:
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Description: Located on Manchester State Forest in Sumter county, in an outlying area of the sandhills, this trail is characterized as rolling with a sandy bottom and many creeks. This single track ride can also be technical in some areas and offers a series of whoop-de-doos. A local bicycling club uses this loop for races in the beginning of each year. The forest has a mixture of pine and hardwoods, along with draping Spanish moss. In the spring, you will find an abundance of dogwood, Magnolia and azalea dotting the forest, as well as red fox, deer, and wild turkey. This trail is mostly flat with a few short climbs and descents. The sand, leaves, and pine straw makes these climbs fairly tough. A very fun track to ride.
added in 2003 by guest
Description: Located on Manchester State Forest in Sumter county, in an outlying area of the sandhills, this trail is characterized as rolling with a sandy bottom and many creeks. This single track ride can also be technical in some areas and offers a series of whoop-de-doos. A local bicycling club uses this loop for races in the beginning of each year. The forest has a mixture of pine and hardwoods, along with draping Spanish moss. In the spring, you will find an abundance of dogwood, Magnolia and azalea dotting the forest, as well as red fox, deer, and wild turkey. This trail is mostly flat with a few short climbs and descents. The sand, leaves, and pine straw makes these climbs fairly tough. A very fun track to ride.
added in 2003 by guest 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Campbells Pond in Wedgefield
Harbison State Forest in Columbia
Manchester State Park in Wedgefield
Lynches Woods in Newberry
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by Chris35rt on January 8, 2012
This is my home town trail system when its covered with leaves it just as fun as if the leaves were gone. Get ready for two nice climbs and some technical areas with great flow to test out your bike handling skills. As of 1-14-2012 trail crew and performing maintenance weekly to the trail so come on out and ride. * Review edited 1/14/2012
* Review edited 1/14/2012
Similar Trail: Fats brown wave
reviewed by radams89 on October 23, 2011
Not very fast or exciting. I wasn't itching to get back on the trail after one loop. The two side loops were in miserable shape.
reviewed by traebird@gmail.com on February 28, 2011
yesterday, 27 Feb 2011, was my first time here and it was a really fun ride...really nice locals here and theyve done a great job putting this trail together...mostly fast when not twisting thru the turns and the setting is really cool...go before it gets hot and plan on about an hour and half 10.5 mile ride (unless you are really fast)...cant wait to go back!
reviewed by jaybird57 on January 21, 2011
(This review written by a former K3/Manchester local) Fun trail to ride esp. when Harbison (Columbia, SC) is underwater. Nice mix of tight, twisty singletrack & some nice ups & downs along w/ some BIG ring sections where you can simply drop the hammer! The folks who maintain K3, Campbells, et al. have down a wonderful job creating interesting lines & very entertaining & informative trail markers/signs (see photo album!). Some sections do get a bit sandy in the summer & drier months, thus I prefer to ride K3 in late fall/winter/early spring when other local trails are too wet to ride, but that is just my preference so don't let me deter you from riding this fun trail anytime you'd like! And don't get me wrong, we're not talking Sesqui S.P. type sand here! That place is a sandbox in the hotter, drier months but that's another story ;-) The trail drains water very quickly so it can be riden quite literally the very next day after a hard rain. You can combine K3/Red Loop/Campbells Pond w/ the Wateree Passage of the Palmetto Trail for a veritable "Epic" right here in the Midlands of S.C. Enjoy!
* Review edited 1/21/2011
reviewed by nittanyjja on July 9, 2010
Sand, Sand and more Sand!! The trail has become very slow and difficult due to a lot of areas with heavy sand. The trail has the potential to be very fast in its design but unfortunately is not. There are some great sections, namely the Double Helix, Watermelon Patch and Collarbone. In addition, make sure you get a pass from the Gun/Rifle Range for $5 before you get on the trail. A State Forest Police officer attempted to give us $450 fines for riding without a permit.
reviewed by sturides on April 7, 2010
Rode this trail for the first time today. What a great surprise! I had no idea of the quality of this trail. I combined it with Red Loop. Should have been around 14 miles but my Blackberry gps said 12. Great variety, fast sections, pump sections, short climbs, tigth singletrack and double. Some sandy areas. Guessing that this is the place to ride after rain have trashed other trails. I'll be back fo sho. Thanks to the local riders who have made this a great trail. Here is the link to my ride. http://www.sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/229814* Review edited 4/7/2010
* Review edited 4/7/2010
Similar Trail: Harbison
reviewed by mountaingen on February 27, 2010
The trail is sweet! Rode it today, and enjoyed the changes, curves and terrain. Recent work was done on that trail and the red loop and its in great riding condition.
reviewed by hulio2 on August 15, 2009
This trail is a blast!!! It changes elevation all the time. It also has several off chutes and other trails there. You could ride in this park all day and not see the same tree twice.
reviewed by Calvin on July 22, 2009
This is a fun trail. Decent climbs for the terrain with some nice single track. Can get real sandy in the turns and take your momentum away, but still a good trail overall. This is just one trail out of I think three in the park. HELMETS are required to ride this trail, guess the guys in the photo's cannot read the signs at the trail head. Please wear your helmets so we don't lose this trail.
Similar Trail: In the area Harbison State Forest, Lynches Woods in Newberry, and if in Charleston give Marrington a try.
reviewed by naygoo on May 3, 2009
K-3 has suffered some disruption due to logging recently, but the trail is looking great thanks to the volunteers who maintain it. The information on this page is wrong, the K-3 is now about 10.5 miles. Regarding frelup's review of the Hardcore trail below - the Hardcore has been re-worked and re-signed since his review and is in great shape now. It was renamed "Red Loop", I believe because the name "Hardcore" was scaring people away. :-) It's a great 5-mile trail with some fun climbs and technical sections.
reviewed by frelup on March 6, 2008
THIS REVIEW IS ONLY ABOUT THE HARDCORE SECTION OF KILLER III. The "Hardcore" section of this trail is terrible! It starts off alright going through some singletrack with leaves and then very slightly starts uphill with some sand. Next, the tight singletrack turns into about 6 feet wide four wheeler / dirtbike trails. VERY thick dirt that you sink down into, no trail markers, just an uncomfortable ride. If you keep riding (a very tough decision for us, whether to turn around or not) you will eventually find a trailmarker and a great little singletrack. Once you start to enjoy yourself you hop right back on the four wheeler trail. Killer III by itself is a great trail. Just stick with that and if that's not enough, ride Cambell's Pond afterwards. K3 and Cambell's Pond are great. Hardcore is terrible.
Similar Trail: NONE!
reviewed by Flavtown on February 22, 2008
I love this trail! There are plenty of great downhill sections with good (but not to difficult) climbs. "The Collarbone" and "Double Helix" are the most exciting sections, but other flat sections, like "The LZ" are fun too. The trail gets pretty narrow at times, and I have banged a few trees out there so be careful. Also watch the trail for "Cypress Knees" sticking up. You can take the 3 mile "Hardcore" extension, it sucks horribly. It's basically a soft four wheeler trail, so stick with K3. Cambell pond is a shorter version of Killer III from the same trailhead. Definitely a fun ride. RIDE THE REDHORSE!
* Review edited 3/9/2008
Similar Trail: Cambell Pond, Manchester SC.
reviewed by frelup on January 3, 2008
Very fun! The best trail Manchester has to offer. About 10 miles by itself, there is an optional extension called Hardcore and it is about 3 additional miles. My friends and usually just ride K3 without Hardcore (a little too much climbing). The other trail in Manchester is Cambell's Pond. Also worth checking out!
* Review edited 2/21/2008
reviewed by mcpiv on September 3, 2007
One of my favorite trails in the midlands. Good variety of terrain. Some sand, but not too much. Who ever does the trail work here does an great job, Thanks! Area is relatively flat but has some short climbs. Trail makes good use of natural features. Lots of tight, twisting singletrack. Only down side is that the trail is only open on Sundays during deer hunting season.
reviewed by KenfromCali on April 8, 2007
I took the drive out the the Killer Three again. I wanted to add the Hardcore trail to the mix. I have say it was a great ride with a lot of potential. The trial was either not rode a lot or was new and still being developed (I think it's a new loop). There were parts that were very tough to follow and I did turn around once because I thought I may be going the wrong way. Follow the old motocross trails and from time to time a marker will appear. There was a downed tree with some ramps being constructed (see photo's). I'm not sure where the trail workers were going with it next...but it looked fun and promising. Despite the poor condition of the trail...I had a blast and once developed, the trail will prove to be a fun and challenging section to the Killer Three. This trail should be avoided if you are a beginner, there are many techical climbs with roots, rock and trees positioned so that even the most seasoned of riders will find some sections fairly challenging.
Similar Trail: Santee, Harbison, Lynchs Woods, Marington Trail
reviewed by KenfromCali on March 31, 2007
I had to drive about 75 miles to get here from Summerville (Charleston Area). I was hoping for something different than in the Low Country...Man did I get a treat! There is enough varying terrain that I'll make the trip every few weekends! I loved it. Trail is marked pretty good with some interesting trail markers. The trail is easy to follow as it gets enough riders that it was clear.
Similar Trail: Marrington Plantation, Santee State Park
reviewed by rmurph4 on February 18, 2007
This baby is FAST. Great, tight, twisty singletrack in places, but for the most part take it as fast as you can. Excellent markings and very well maintained. Would recommend as a must to anyone in the Columbia area. Add the Hardcore loop option for some sweet whoop-de-doos and aerobic sand workout.
Similar Trail: Horn Creek, Harbison
reviewed by leadbutt on August 15, 2005
I rode the K-3 loop and Campbells Pond this past weekend. This place is GREAT! The K-3 is so diversified, you wonder if you're on the same trail from section to section. The only downside is the big sand pits (inevitable in SC) and the roots (inevitable almost ANYWHERE on the east coast). You really have to watch for the sand as it will pitch you if you rush in. Even with 30 lbs of air in the tires, I got squirrelly more than once. The roots are wicked here, esp. that one before the bridge which has washed away to create a two foot drop. The rest of the trail is awesome...I don't remember which section led into what (delirious from the 95 degree heat I guess) but it was well marked with neat signs and designations.
Similar Trail: Cheraw State Park (not as technical), Westwood Park in NC
reviewed by eastcoast_skier on September 8, 2004
For the Sumter area, this trail is about it. It should not be looked at as bad, though. The Killer Three name is kind of a joke though. This trail can get very sandy at times, and a little overgrown, but the volunteers with Buddy's Bike Shop in Sumter do a pretty good job of maintaining it.
