HomeSouth CarolinaSummerville › Sawmill Branch Trail - Ashley Dr. Trail entrance

Sawmill Branch Trail - Ashley Dr. Trail entrance

4.7 ★★★★★ 72 Google reviews · Running trail in Summerville, South Carolina · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from Sawmill Branch Trail - Ashley Dr. Trail entrance'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.

MixedDog-friendlyWaterTrailhead parking

What runners say about Sawmill Branch Trail - Ashley Dr. Trail entrance

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (72 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Clean and well kept minus the water fountain (which was a bummer bc when we went, it was 93 degrees and we were HOT!”

🏃 great for running 2 mentions

“Great place to bike , walk , or run.”

Paved, Long, Well-traveled. If you are looking for a solid trail, then the Sawmill Branch Canal Trail is the path to fitness. This paved path is suitable for walkers, joggers, cyclists, and more. The path is wide enough to accommodate pasing or being overtaken without the need to go off the trail.

★★★★★ — Jp , May 2023

It would appear that more and more people are allowing their dogs to run wild on this trail as you can see in the pictures They all seem to have the same comment oh he doesn't bite No he doesn't bite you !

★★★★★ — John , Jun 2022

I Always love this place no matter what area I actually start from, definitely Not impressed with the construction work,... 🎶 🎼 🎶 paved paradise and put up a parking lot 🎶🎵 always chimes in my mind, which is multiple times a day as I live right off of it...

★★★★★ — Kimberly , Mar 2023

Nice greenway to walk, jog or ride bikes. Occasionally you'll see various wildlife. However, be cautious while riding bikes. The edges of the trail aren't maintained and grass has grown over some areas and the trail gets bottle necked if walkers or other bikes go by these areas at the same time. Otherwise, nice trail.

★★★★☆ — Gregory , Aug 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 72 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🛣️ Paved surface 5 mentions

“🎶 🎼 🎶 paved paradise and put up a parking lot 🎶🎵 always chimes in my mind, which is multiple times a day as I live right off of it.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 5 mentions

“Water fountain for dogs and people, nice trails, really enjoy taking walks here”

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🚰 Water fountains 3 mentions

“There's only enough parking for about 2 cars and the water fountains don't work, but the path is freshly paved and very smooth.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“🎶 🎼 🎶 paved paradise and put up a parking lot 🎶🎵 always chimes in my mind, which is multiple times a day as I live right off of it.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack

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Plan your run at Sawmill Branch Trail - Ashley Dr. Trail entrance

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • 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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitesummervillesc.gov

Where to find Sawmill Branch Trail - Ashley Dr. Trail entrance

188 Ashley Dr, Summerville, SC 29485

Get directions

Running trails near Summerville

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

Azalea Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,895 reviews

Summerville, SC

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Scenic park with landscaped flower beds, ponds, sculptures, winding walking trails & tennis courts.

under a mile away

Shepard Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 182 reviews

Summerville, SC

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Neighborhood park featuring shaded walking paths, play structures & a pond with turtles.

under a mile away

Gahagan Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 2,123 reviews

Summerville, SC

Shaded

Family-friendly park with baseball & football fields, plus a castle-like playground & picnic tables.

1.0 miles away

Sawmill Branch Trail - E. Richardson Ave. Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 183 reviews

Summerville, SC

6 miLoopMixedShaded

Paved pathway for walking and biking, plus a stream and views of ducks.

1.1 miles away

Sawmill Ridges Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 13 reviews

Summerville, SC

Natural surface

2.0 miles away

Wassamassaw Community Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 304 reviews

Summerville, SC

ShadedDog-friendly

Venue offering a playground & picnic areas as well as basketball courts, a walking path & dog park.

2.1 miles away

All running trails in Summerville, 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.