Find the top rated running trails in Blythewood, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I live in the area, and frequently walk all of these trails. They are excellent. They're not all connected currently. Due to construction, some sections are closed. The West Columbia section is closed for the next six months. Part of the Riverfront Park is closed too. Your best bet if you're looking for distance is Candi Lane or the Timmerman Trail located at Dominion Energy. You can get around 11.5 miles round trip from the Timmerman Trail to Blossom Steet and back. Candi Lane is 6.8ish miles round trip. The Timmerman Trail is mostly shaded as is Candi Lane. The Riverfront Park, not so much.
Awesome Greenway , very well maintained and very clean. Definitely worth checking out and seeing.
The flat and scenic trail has all the makings of a beautiful escape - river crossings, swamp bridges, railroad crossings and bridges and small town charm. Started in peak and at about mile 7.5 there was a large impassable tree across trail prohibiting full biking to prosperity. The trail is not "crushed stone" (would be great if it was) rather it is more like fist size rocks making it a pretty bumpy and painful ride in the saddle.
We’d hoped to ride our bikes the promised 19.8 miles, so we’re disappointed to find that closures and construction reduced our ride to 3.5 miles each direction. We parked as far North as the trail goes, at Capital City Passage Trailhead. It’s pretty and would be cool, but unfortunately wasn’t worth our effort to get our bikes there.
Not for someone who's not used to trails with no markers! My walk started off great and I started from Waxhaw, 7900 Prescott Glen Pkwy- beautiful walk but after walking a few miles there was a threat of rain so I turned around and obviously took a wrong path because nothing is marked! I walked out to a street hoping to find direction but it was pouring rain. I stopped to ask directions from a couple on their porch with young children and they said I was about 3 miles from where I parked and offered me a ride. These larger parks need trail markers because this was an experience I could have done without!
This trail is well maintained and mostly flat. The parking lot on the Swan Lake end was under construction so I had to park near the Swan Lake-Iris Gardens Visitors Center and cross the road to get to the trail. The people inside the center were really nice and told me how to get to the trail head. I like that they have buttons and walk signs at a few of the intersections. Be mindful that the only restrooms are at the trail heads (unless you want to try going off trail into a local business along the way).
We parked at Kelley Jones park and the trail is closed. There was a police officer stationed there on a golf cart. We asked him if there was another way to ride this section of the trail. He told us the railroad is doing construction (not communicated to the city per this police officer) and the trail is closed from 7:30am-4pm Mon-Fri for 2 weeks. He told us about another segment a few miles away at the Newman boat ramp. We went there and rode the 4 mile loop. It’s a better walking trail than bike trail but still pretty.
It’s not perfect , but it is to me. I always start in the south at the Timmerman trail head near I-77 . You go north & follow to the connection at the boat ramp, then follow the signs for the on street connection to the next portion moving north . I look forward to the river decks reopening and doing the whole trail again! The trail does get busy near the West Columbia Main Street area, but that’s most trails. Stay south if you are looking for fewer folks on the trail.
I did the whole trail & back, during the week after lunch at Wises bbq. I only encountered one dog walking couple & disturbed 2 basking black snakes . I did hit a a hole someone may have intentionally dug at the end in Pomaria. I thought I popped my front tire & had to do some acrobatics, but unscathed luckily. I did fill in the hole . I saw a review that said “there isn’t much scenery!” I found myself screaming “ this is beautiful sc back woods nature” I throughly enjoyed it ! Definitely different than most trails & little rougher,but great !
It is not connected to the other side of the river. Live and learn, I will start further down the trail on the west side of the river next time.
This was a good run. The trail is mostly flat. It's measured out and it's accurate. I really enjoyed this route and plan to revisit.
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