HomeSouth CarolinaColumbia › Palmetto Trail: Capital City Passage

Palmetto Trail: Capital City Passage

4.7 ★★★★★ 33 Google reviews · Running trail in Columbia, South Carolina · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Palmetto Trail: Capital City Passage'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.

Open 24h

What runners say about Palmetto Trail: Capital City Passage

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (33 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“Every part of this Riverwalk Trail is beautiful, well designed, good signage, well maintained!”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Every part of this Riverwalk Trail is beautiful, well designed, good signage, well maintained!”

Very nice trail manned by park rangers. Well maintained with lots of educational plaques and wildlife.

★★★★★ — Mike , Oct 2023

Really pretty city setting! I love this trail, very clean and well maintained.

★★★★★ — Zachary , Oct 2021

Capital City Passage, the first urban passage on the Palmetto Trail, features South Carolina’s largest city and seat of state government. The passage follows city sidewalks through beautiful neighborhoods, past city parks and schools, along the historic Horseshoe at the University of South Carolina, and across the…

★★★★★ — Dale , Jun 2021

What a jewel for the Midlands! Every part of this Riverwalk Trail is beautiful, well designed, good signage, well maintained! Fun walks!

★★★★★ — Tony , Sep 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 33 reviews →

Plan your run at Palmetto Trail: Capital City Passage

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • 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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Websitepalmettoconservation.org
  • Phone+1 803-771-0870

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Palmetto Trail: Capital City Passage

Riverfront Park, Columbia Canal and, 312 Laurel St, Columbia, SC 29201

Get directions

Running trails near Columbia

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 3,137 reviews

Columbia, SC

MixedLitScenicDog-friendly

Old pump houses shed light on the canal works amid natural hiking & biking trails & picnic tables.

under a mile away

Vista Greenway Trail

3.8 ★★★★☆ 5 reviews

Columbia, SC

under a mile away

Gist Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 465 reviews

Columbia, SC

Scenic

Tranquil destination for hiking, running, swimming and fishing, with a picnic area.

under a mile away

West Columbia Riverwalk Park and Amphitheater

4.7 ★★★★★ 3,112 reviews

West Columbia, SC

ShadedLitScenicDog-friendly

This park on the Congaree River features an amphitheater & connects with the Three Rivers Greenway.

under a mile away

River Walk

4.7 ★★★★★ 27 reviews

West Columbia, SC

Scenic

under a mile away

Three Rivers Greenway Cayce Bike Walk Trailhead Access Point

3.8 ★★★★☆ 4 reviews

Cayce, SC

1.1 miles away

All running trails in Columbia, SC →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.