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Cottonwood Trail in South Carolina
4.7 ★★★★★ 425 Google reviews · Running trail in Spartanburg, South Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Cottonwood Trail in South Carolina's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Riverfront trails for walking, hiking, biking and running; also dog-friendly.
What runners say about Cottonwood Trail in South Carolina
“Gorgeous, easy hiking and biking trails with multiple places to go along the river and under the trees.”
“Every easy walk and love seeing the deer.”
The trail system is interesting alongside the river here. Plenty of nature and wildlife to satisfy. The wetlands area is great for bird watchers and there is a nice picnic area down the trail and across the bridge.
Easy walk, nice surroundings. I really enjoyed Saturday morning walk in this trail. It was fairly empty, only a handful of people. Most of the trail is flat and easy. Bridge over wetlands is beautiful. My only wish is better identification of trails. There’s no markings.
Beautiful nature preserve. Large enough to keep you interested for a couple of hours of hiking. Alternating between wooded and open areas. Most of the trails have sand , some are a bit muddy. Some parts of the trail have beautiful bridges/paved like in the photos. Quiet, not crowded
Beautiful hike. Great for kids, long but not strenuous! The Nature Preserve was perfect for the kids to rub around and play.
Trail conditions & character
“Gorgeous, easy hiking and biking trails with multiple places to go along the river and under the trees.”
“Some parts of the trail have beautiful bridges/paved like in the photos.”
“(Some trails have tree roots high enough that biking may be difficult……choose wisely !”
“There is a large sculpture at one trailhead, many flowers are in bloom, the Cottonwoods are big and shaded the trails nicely.”
“I recommend it to anyone who is looking for an easy, flat walk through the woods.”
Plan your run at Cottonwood Trail in South Carolina
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- Websitespartanburgconservation.org
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–9 PM |
Running trails near Spartanburg
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 371 reviews
115-acre urban preserve featuring over 5 mi. of wooded trails, wetlands & a variety of wildlife.
River Birch Trail & Wildflower Way
4.7 ★★★★★ 111 reviews
Concrete, shaded and scenic trail for walking, hiking and biking near a river.
Cottonwood North Trail Head
4.6 ★★★★★ 12 reviews
The Rail Yard
4.7 ★★★★★ 42 reviews
Kid-friendly park featuring picnic tables, a trail, and exercise equipment.
Drayton Mills Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 8 reviews