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Running trails in Charleston, SC
Charleston has 17 trails in the directory — 3 paved, 1 boardwalk, 1 with a stated distance, 2 shaded, and 5 open 24 hours. 14 of them post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 20,301 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Waterfront Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 11,268 reviews
Well-known park with Charleston Harbor views, plus a large lawn, walkways & fountains.
James Island County Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,630 reviews
This serene park with tidal creeks & trails is a popular spot for biking, crabbing & camping.
Hampton Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,851 reviews
Featuring extensive floral displays, this park also offers a baseball diamond, playground & trail.
Colonial Lake Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,088 reviews
Historic tidal pond & dog-friendly park with paved pathways, benches, fishing & open green space.
Brittlebank Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,019 reviews
Scenic riverfront recreational area featuring a playground, walking paths & a fishing pier.
Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
4.6 ★★★★★ 768 reviews
Tours & interactive exhibits at the birthplace of the Carolina colony, first settled in 1670.
Governors Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 214 reviews
Grassy place featuring baseball, soccer and softball fields as well as a dog park.
Carolina Bay Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 101 reviews
Relaxed park that features a playground for kids and picnic areas.
Fort Lamar Heritage Preserve
4.1 ★★★★☆ 111 reviews
Park with a picnic area and walking trails known for its historical significance and birdwatching.
Pinckney Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 77 reviews
Relaxed park with picnic tables and a playground featuring slides, swings and a tire swing.
West Ashley Greenway (East Coast Greenway)
4.7 ★★★★★ 37 reviews
Wide paved and gravel path spanning 8.5 miles, popular for walking, biking, and running.
Charleston County Parks
4.6 ★★★★★ 13 reviews
The Trail Walking Path
5 ★★★★★ 1 reviews
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Charleston
- Match the surface to your legs. Charleston gives you a choice: 3 paved, 3 mixed, and 1 boardwalk. Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More paved trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? A loop finishes back at the car with no backtracking; on an out-and-back you simply turn round at half your distance. The longest stated distance in Charleston is Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site at 6 mi. 1 trail is long enough for a 5-mile-plus run without repeating yourself.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 5 trails in Charleston are open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 14 of the 17 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm. 2 are lit, which is what you want for winter evenings.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 7 have trailhead parking, 8 have restrooms, and 2 have a water fountain in Charleston. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 2 shaded, 1 with mile markers, 7 that runners describe as quiet, 10 dog-friendly, and 4 smooth and wide enough for a stroller or a wheelchair. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Charleston trails by type
Running trails near Charleston
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.