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Running trails in South Carolina
365 trails across 61 cities in South Carolina, with the most in Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston — including 59 paved, 53 loops, 96 shaded, and 19 long enough for a 5-mile run. Every listing shows the things runners actually decide on: surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and trailhead parking. Pick a city for the full local list, or filter the South Carolina trails below.
Cities in South Carolina
Every city and town in South Carolina with a running trail in the directory, most trails first.
- Greenville
- Columbia
- Charleston
- Hilton Head Island
- Hardeeville
- Spartanburg
- Summerville
- Florence
- Fort Mill
- Mt Pleasant
- Rock Hill
- Anderson
- Cayce
- Goose Creek
- Aiken
- Beaufort
- North Augusta
- Sumter
- Clemson
- Gaffney
- Myrtle Beach
- Bluffton
- Central
- Conway
- Greenwood
- Greer
- Hanahan
- Tega Cay
- Easley
- Irmo
- Lexington
- Moncks Corner
- Newberry
- West Columbia
- Fountain Inn
- Little River
- Simpsonville
- Huger
- North Myrtle Beach
- Okatie
- Orangeburg
- Pomaria
- Port Royal
- Chapin
- Cleveland
- Dalzell
- Drayton
- Folly Beach
- Glendale
- Johns Island
- Lancaster
- Landrum
- Little Mountain
- Lyman
- North Charleston
- Pendleton
- Pickens
- Prosperity
- Sullivan's Island
- Taylors
- Windsor
Notable running trails in South Carolina
The South Carolina trails runners review most, ranked by rating weighted by review volume. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to narrow to the run you're actually planning. See the full best-of-South Carolina ranking →
Falls Park on the Reedy
4.9 ★★★★★ 21,473 reviews
Picturesque park with waterfall views, a curved suspension bridge & many acres of gardens.
Coligny Beach Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 11,470 reviews
Oceanside park with landscaped walking & biking paths, plus Wi-Fi, swings & beach equipment rentals.
Waterfront Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 11,268 reviews
Well-known park with Charleston Harbor views, plus a large lawn, walkways & fountains.
Myrtle Beach State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 8,728 reviews
Sandy parkland offering recreational oceanfront, a nature center, forested areas & campgrounds.
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 4,070 reviews
Celebrated riverfront park providing landscaped green space, a playground & stage for performances.
Paris Mountain State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 4,063 reviews
Serene park with miles of hiking/biking trails, canoe & kayak rentals, & dozens of campsites.
Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,947 reviews
A nautical-themed playground, 1,250-ft pier with bench swings, cafe/gift shop & scenic harbor views.
James Island County Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,630 reviews
This serene park with tidal creeks & trails is a popular spot for biking, crabbing & camping.
Caesars Head State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,378 reviews
Scenic destination with acres of mountain park for visitors seeking waterfall views & hiking trails.
Greer City Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,153 reviews
Well-kept park featuring a playground with swings, a fountain and an amphitheater.
Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,137 reviews
Old pump houses shed light on the canal works amid natural hiking & biking trails & picnic tables.
Myrtle Beach State Park Pier
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,063 reviews
Relaxed park with a mile-long pier featuring fishing, gift shops, ice cream and a campsite, plus outdoor showers.
West Columbia Riverwalk Park and Amphitheater
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,112 reviews
This park on the Congaree River features an amphitheater & connects with the Three Rivers Greenway.
Conestee Nature Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,652 reviews
Home to more than 200 bird species, this 400-acre wildlife preserve offers paved trails & bog walks.
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,620 reviews
29,000-acre refuge featuring a visitor center & 4-mile wildlife drive, plus hiking & biking trails.
Cleveland Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,514 reviews
Lakeside park with fishing, an amphitheater & a promenade on the water, plus rental facilities.
Shem Creek Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,313 reviews
Boardwalks, trails & fishing boats highlight this tranquil town park with creek & wetlands views.
Century Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,186 reviews
Preserve with various sports fields, a stadium, recreation centers & spacious playgrounds.
Gahagan Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,123 reviews
Family-friendly park with baseball & football fields, plus a castle-like playground & picnic tables.
Cleveland Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,073 reviews
Venerable urban park on 122 acres with a fitness trail, picnic shelters & tennis/volleyball courts.
Folly Field Beach Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,998 reviews
Tranquil beach with restrooms & outdoor showers, plus seasonal umbrella & lounge chair rentals.
Conway Riverwalk
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,908 reviews
Tranquil path bordering the Waccamaw River, with benches, grassy areas & playgrounds along the way.
Cherry Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,966 reviews
Green space, a 1.5-mile trail, picnic areas & fields, including 5 baseball diamonds, on 68 acres.
Croft State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,901 reviews
This 7,000-acre park boasts 12 miles of hiking & horse trails, 2 lakes & an equestrian center.
Azalea Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,895 reviews
Scenic park with landscaped flower beds, ponds, sculptures, winding walking trails & tennis courts.
Hampton Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,851 reviews
Featuring extensive floral displays, this park also offers a baseball diamond, playground & trail.
Unity Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,832 reviews
Playgrounds and swings, plus a climbing wall, for kids of all ages, next to a park with picnic tables.
Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,825 reviews
Serene public botanical gardens featuring mature trees & conifers, butterflies & a walking trail.
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,788 reviews
Oceanside preserve featuring a lighthouse, a beach, surf fishing, birdwatching & more.
Francis Marion National Forest
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,816 reviews
Large pine forest & marsh area with hiking, biking, motorcycle & canoe trails, plus rifle ranges.
No trails match those filters.
South Carolina trails by surface
Surface is the biggest split in trail running — asphalt is fast and predictable, crushed limestone is softer but still smooth, dirt is easiest on the joints and the most fun, boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick when wet.
More ways to find a trail in South Carolina
- Best running trails in South Carolina — the state-wide ranking from runner reviews
- Loop trails — 53 in South Carolina come back to the trailhead without backtracking
- Long-run trails (5+ miles) — 19 in South Carolina are long enough for a proper long run
- Shaded trails — 96 in South Carolina keep tree cover over the path for summer miles
- Lit trails — 37 in South Carolina have lighting for pre-dawn and post-work runs
- Trails with restrooms — 180 in South Carolina, and 79 with water fountains
- Trailhead parking — 173 in South Carolina have parking at the trailhead
- Dog-friendly trails — 164 in South Carolina you can run with a dog
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible — 92 in South Carolina are smooth and wide enough
- Scenic trails — 202 in South Carolina runners single out for the views
- Browse by surface — paved, crushed limestone, natural dirt or boardwalk
- All trail features — loops, shade, lighting, restrooms, mile markers and more
- Running trails by state — the rest of the country
- Trail-running guides — surfaces and your knees, loop vs out-and-back, trail etiquette, running before dawn
Trail features in South Carolina
- Scenic Running Trails
- Trails with Restrooms
- Trails with Trailhead Parking
- Dog-Friendly Running Trails
- Quiet, Uncrowded Trails
- Shaded Running Trails
- Stroller & Wheelchair-Accessible Trails
- Trails with Water Fountains
- Loop Trails (No Backtracking)
- Flat & Fast Running Trails
- Lit Trails for Early & Night Runs
- Hilly Trails & Hill Workouts
- Trails with Mile Markers
- Long-Run Trails (5+ Miles)