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Print Friendly MapThe 28-mile Prisma Health (formerly Greenville Health System) Swamp Rabbit Trail links the cities of Travelers Rest and Greenville in upstate South Carolina via a former railroad corridor.
Originally conceived as 9-mile rail-trail, it is now a growing network of trails with sections in the community of Conestee, and the cities of Simpsonville and Fountain Inn. The Greenville Health System, a local healthcare provider, generously provided $1 million to help develop and publicize the trail. About 13 miles of the now 28-mile trail are built along a former railroad corridor.
Beginning in the north at Tate Road in Travelers Rest, the trail passes the North Greenville Medical Campus and the Falls Park on the Reedy as it continues through the community's downtown.
Following the Reedy River, the trail heads south through the park-like setting of the Furman University campus and continues into downtown Greenville, ending at Greenville Tech on Cleveland Street. Varying from 8 to 12 feet wide, the trail features a paved surface for bicycles, skaters and walkers, with an additional rubberized surface for runners. Amenities along the trail include lighting, picnic areas, benches, water fountains, restrooms, signage and bicycle racks. Views of the Reedy River are plentiful throughout the trail.
After a short gap of a few miles, the trail picks up again at I-85 and winds through Lake Conestee Nature Park, which offers 400 acres of beautiful forest, wetlands, and wildlife habitat.
A short disconnected section of the Swamp Rabbit Trail runs through downtown Simpsonville. From the intersection of W Trade Street and S Main Street, the trail parallels Main Street as it heads south for just under a mile to the intersection of Plain Street and Main Street.
There is also a short section in the city of Fountain Inn, which lies southeast of the nature park. Although less than a mile long (0.93 mile), it travels by a pond and is quite picturesque. An additional disconnected segment almost a mile long (.87 mile) trail has been completed along Main Street in the town of Simpsonville, providing a short-but-sweet rail-with-trail pathway for local cyclists and pedestrians. Further expansions to connect to these segments and expand the trail within Greenville are in the works.
Parking is available at a number of locations along the trail with several options at the parks along the route, including Gateway Park (115 Henderson Dr.) and Trailblazer Park (235 Wilhelm Winter St.) in Travelers Rest, and Falls Park (601 S. Main St.) and Cleveland Park (150 Cleveland Park Dr.) in Greenville. There are also several places to park in Lake Conestee Nature Park to access the disconnected southern segment of the trail. View the TrailLink map for all options and detailed directions.
The City of Greenville's public transit system offers access to the trail via bus and trolley. Visit the Greenlink website to plan your trip.
One of Greenville’s best points of interest, I ride it often and every time I make new friends. Absolutely beautiful trail and it has so much to offer!! Hopefully the rail bed from Campobello SC through historical Landrum SC and TRYON NC to Saluda NC will come to fruition soon. That would be amazing!! ¿¿
Excellent trail. Best time to ride is during the week.
Very nice trail and easy riding, lots of places to stop and things to see. signage through Greenville could be better, especially around the falls.
Love this area and this trail, there are some construction so pay attention to new signs for directions
…we had plans to ride from Reedy River to Travelers Rest and back. Great parking garage right near the park and trail. Really a great setup for walking the dog and other activities. Tons of restaurants, bars and shops near downtown. That said, I won’t make another attempt at riding this trail again on a Saturday. Way, way too crowded with people for me to feel comfortable riding, and one road crossing on a high speed road that I loathed. Honestly, if you can handle the crowds, you will love it. It’s one of the best things about Greenville and more confident riders can easily build a fun weekend around it.
In our attempt to ride our bikes in all fifty states, we decided on the Swamp Rabbit for our South Carolina achievement. We had optimistic expectations for this highly regarded trail, and we were not let down!
We stayed in a Hampton Inn directly across the trail in Travelers Rest. This was a great location not only for jumping on the trail and pedaling the ten miles to Greenville, but to also take advantage of the charming Main Street of Travelers Rest.
With the thermometer reading forty-two degrees at the outset of our early morning ride in a late March, these two Southern Californians braved the cold to enjoy the beautiful ride through the woods toward Greenville. The trail was fairly flat, smooth, and being taken advantage of by locals out for their early morning walks and jogs.
The highlight for me was reaching downtown Greenville and experiencing the Reedy River and its falls area. Greenville has done a superb job around the falls with exquisite architecture, art installations, and landscaping to enhance the enjoyment of the Reedy Falls area. We continued on for a couple more miles as far as the zoo. It was worth it for more river, art, and beautiful landscape views.
Even though we were in a downtown area, we felt totally safe. Lots of extremely friendly locals, tourists, and families were enjoying the falls, gardens, and trails. This is certainly a destination trail not to be missed. Kudos to Prisma Health for financing and developing this trail and to Greenville and Travelers Rest for maintaining this exceptional trail!
This is a great trail for walkers and casual riders. As a moderately cyclist this was a disappointment. Only half of it is broken up onto random sections in Greenville. A great place to ride with kids or those with similar capabilities. As far as a training trail it’s pretty hard to get excited about it.
Rode end to end on the largest section of the trail from Greenville to past Travelers Rest and back. As others have said, finding the “real” trail out of town is pretty tough. There are way too many unmarked options. We tried two before finally finding a third and following a few cyclists that looked like they were riding for some distance. It’s beautiful in the city, but they really do need good signage. This is also a trail to cruise and enjoy until you get well out of town. Its crowded, even on a Wednesday.
Too crowded with walkers and little kids for a pleasant ride. Groups of walkers block path and do not move to side. Some areas too narrow and with blind corners. Two bike wrecks I know of in 40 minutes due to walkers and little kids running out in front of bikes. Not a good experience.
We rode from Travelers Rest to the swamp rabbit café and grocery. Perfect place to stop and have a wonderful lunch! The path was smooth, mostly level and shady. Even in 80° it was a comfortable ride.
I rode 14 miles of the Swamp Rabbit Trail starting in Traveler's Rest and ending at the trail's end near Greenville Tech. The fundamentals for a great trail experience is here it just needs more investment in signage to bring it to its full potential.
Traveler's Rest is a perfect trail town and provides many options to get something to eat, shop and multiple locations to lock up your bike. You can tell that the town has really embraced the Swamp Rabbit Trail; its a shame that they don't have great signage to direct you to the trail or to find a good parking spot on the trail. Within the first quarter mile I had to use my phone to figure out that the trail continued across the street because there was no signage directing me there and it was not so obvious as the trail is tucked behind the sidewalk.
As you leave Traveler's Rest the signage for the Swamp Rabbit Trail does come into play but it still is confusing to find and stay on the trail through Furman University, the Cancer Survivors Park, and a playground by the local zoo. All of these points provided great scenery and multiple options for food I just wish it was more obvious which paved section was the actual trail.
The Swamp Rabbit Trail website is very detailed and I wish the actual trail had as much thought put into it as the website does. The trail itself is in very good condition which made riding an enjoyable experience. I can tell that the local communities have invested a lot of time and money into this trail; a small investment in better signage will make this trail a five star trail.
This time we started and ended in Travelers Rest. Lots of dining options that are open later than the Swamp Rabbit. Makes it easier to plan an all day ride when you're not limited by the clock. Start of the trail was more crowded with walkers and younger riders. Once we got through the first mile or two, everyone spaced out. My only complaint is that many of the faster riders did not think it important to annouce themselves. This is not unique to the Swamp Rabbit Trail but just seems to be more common this year.
Absolutely loved this trail. I dumped in by the zoo and road up to the college. I had a blast. Will be back to ride again soon.
We rented bikes at Reedy Rides and bikes the Swamp Rabbit Trail! Beautiful scenery !
Very flat and well maintained. Some large sections undergoing some renovations. We stayed at the Embassy Suites Hotel—trail starts right behind hotel. Great weekend trip.
We parked at traveler's rest and roller-skated all the way to Greenville. Lots of small declines and slight hills. Some sections closed for maintenance but there was a detour that was not really well maintained. Nevertheless, there were some cool sights. Old train cars, old buildings, swamps, new houses, Furman University, and etc. Nice trail if biking or walking to see nature.
Back in October 2020 they started repaving the SRT at the Greenville city line and are heading north to Travelers Rest. They are currently about half-way done (5 miles) and are expected to finish by the end of the year. Hallelujah!
Now let’s hope the city of Greenville gets on-board to fix the southern portion of the trail.
Trail is nice and would have enjoyed more except portions of the trail are closed for maintenance. We parked at Travelers Rest with intention of riding to Greenville. Being new to riding though, lesson learned. Rating would be higher, but trail is in need of repair.
Very bumpy, poor maint on travelers rest to berea section. Detours not marked at all. Downtown section signage is non existent and white arrows only add to confusion. Some pamphlets with maps would be a great help...if you’re going to brag on this trail, make it rideable end to end. Also food along the trail is crazy expensive....ham and cheese $11, really..
We really enjoy the Swamp Rabbit. The path is showing signs of wear with cracks and bumps where tree roots are growing. It is in the process of being redone. We've ridden both weekend and weekday and much prefer weekday riding. The path can get pretty crowded and not everyone obeys the rules of the road. Over all, it's a great ride with great places to stop and shop or eat.
This trail is the safest route for cyclists wanting to get from Greenville to Travelers Rest and beyond. Unfortunately the trail surface is so rough and broken throughout much of its length that it makes for an extremely unpleasant riding experience for road bikes.
I recommend a bike with suspension when cycling the Swamp Rabbit, or road bikes avoid the use of this trail.
According to Bike Walk Greenville both the city and county have been made aware of the terrible surface conditions on the Swamp Rabbit trail, but they continue to do nothing to make the situation better.
Rode from travelers rest to furman and had a great time. My daughter loved it. There are a lot of scenery changes and plenty of places to stop along the way. Will definitely ride again!
Super fun ride with a lot scenery changes. Stop at the ST Grocery and Cafe for some local food. Only minor improvements needed are a few pavement issues from roots (need to marked or repaired) and better signage in some areas. It was a great day!
Poorly marked and poorly paved in multiple portions.
Drove from Charlotte and cycled from Cleveland Park to Travelers Rest. Not particularly crowded on a Friday a generally everyone considerate of passing edicate. Pavement is a little bumpy in places but overall an enjoyable 22.7 mile ride.
Great trail for all types of cyclists to ride. It has it all: restaurants along trail, nearby grocery stores, bike shops, water fountains & restrooms.
I come this way twice a year and make it a point on our way back to PA to ride this trail. The scenery and cites are great. There are bike shops along the route which is nice. Recommend this trail to anyone .The people here always nice too.
Average trail going north from Greenville. Greenville south is beautiful, particularly in city.
loved the trail only the Far East end hard to navigate
My wife and I rode our tandem from the parking area off Lakehurst St up to Travelers Rest (TR) on a sunny Thursday morning. Being a weekday, there were no crowds to contend with. The trail is well kept and a pleasure to ride. Yes, the trail is a little hard to follow in the downtown area due to the many intersections with park paths - the signage still needs improvement. A map of the downtown section was helpful for us, since we were new to the trail. There is one place downtown where you will need to ride on Furman College Way (street) because the actual trail goes up steps. It's about 0.2 mile long.
As you head towards TR the trail takes a "jog" at Willard St. There are tight turns on either end of a small bridge over the Reedy River.
There are two other road crossings that require extra caution due to high traffic (and no traffic lights) - West Blue Ridge Dr ( Rt-235) and Watkins Bridge Rd.
There are many places to take a break or grab a bite in TR. The ride from Greenville to TR is a gentle uphill grade. The trail itself goes another 2.2 miles north of Center St. This section is a little hillier.
Overall, a good trail to ride on.
This is in a nice area.
The trail is paved. Mostly level, has a couple small hills.
However, I found it difficult to get a good run going.
The trail is marked but still a little confusing. Some due to construction, some due to arrows on path the took the trail to a sidewalk? Another runner confused at same spot.
I asked a local who did give me advice on what way to go, which helped or I would have been even more confused on which way to go.
This should not deter you if in the area and want to get some miles in.
Today was my first time riding the Swamp Rabbit (used the recumbent trike). I parked near the Zoo off of Lakehurst, lot had a lot of trees for use about all day shade. Used the parks paved trail and the signs to connect with the SR. Agree with other reviews that the signage in town might be a little confusing, the Trail is mixed in with the park's paths, but you'll want to see the sights here anyway - use the map or an app, and the way becomes clear. The connector to the lower part of the Trail will require some map reading or familiarity with G-ville.
Love the places where Greenville Spinners (local bike club) have marked the trail, and the markers for parking, restrooms, etc.
Trail was well kept, very wide in places and everyone using it respected lanes, passing, etc. It was well used by walkers, runners, bikers, saw roller-blades and a Razor scooter, but it never felt crowded. Good sight lines, no blind corners on the main Trail up to Travelers Rest. Grades were easy. Lots of shady trees. Anyone could ride this trail.
There are plenty of places to stop and rest, use the facilities, stock back up.
Like a lot of rail/trails you don't want to let a tire wander off the path. In the downtown park area you will be sharing the paths with everyone and anything - usual "pay attention" applies.
If you want to introduce someone to a rail/trail - this is a great one.
I rode the trail for the first time yesterday. The other reviews are very accurate
Positives
1. the trail has no big hills, so it is very nice.
2. it goes right through downtown Greenville so you get to go right next to the falls.
3. once you get a mile or two north of Greenville it is very scenic and rural, very relaxing.
4. the trail is well maintained. grass along the side is cut nicely.
5. It goes by Furman, i had never visited Furman.
Negatives
1. The signage through downtown Greenville is terrible. Some people were critical of the train through town. I think of it the other way. It is really not a trail through downtown. SOmeone figured a way to get from the the zoo south of town to the trail north of town and i give them credit. YOu can't go fast, there are some tough corners, you have to watch out for pedestrians because some is on a sidewalk. But that's great they could figure it out. But i got lost twice trying to get through. Signs are needed telling you where to go.
2. The path is bumpy. There are a lot of tree root bumps in the trail. It is not terrible yet but will be in a year or two.
3. Someone complained there are a lot of road to cross. There are but they are all ok, except one. There is a 4 lane highway to cross with a small median. No stop light. SOmeone is going to get killed or hurt bad there, the cars are going 55+ and were pretty steady when i crossed. I know it's a big expense but i hope it's on the list of 'wants'.
There were a few businesses along the way. One bar if you wanted a beer just north of Greenville. And a few things in Travelers Rest. There were some other reviews that said there were a lot of businesses on the trail, not so.
I am from Atlanta, it was nice to bring my bike up and use the trail. Thank you to the people of Greenville for having the foresight to building this nice trail.
While not overly difficult and relatively short, Swamp Rabbit is one of my favorites for several reasons: • Places to stop and eat in GVille and Trav Rest • Condition of trail is never an issue since main path is paved entire way • Scenery is both rural and urban, with a ride by/thru Furman University campus a nice bonus • Slope of trail provides some gains and drops in elevation - nothing brutal but I am not a fan of “flat” for long stretches • An Urban experience with plenty of places to shop and eat in downtown Greenville • ONLY DRAWBACK is 3-4 very busy crossings with heavy traffic
We rode the trail from Taft Road south to The end next to the bowling alley on Cleveland. Very nice trail. Lots of great little shops and cafes in Travelers Rest. Hard to get the wife away from the stores and shops. I would rate it five stars except for lots of "root humps" between Travelers Rest and Greenville. They would be rough for road bikes. Also, needs more signage as you come into Greenville. The trail can be confusing unless you look at Google Maps.
In an attempt to depart from electronics, with much protest, I rented bikes for myself and 9 year old grandson. It was a new adventure to us both. We began our journey downtown and made it to the Swamp Rabbit Cafe to stop for a rest and enjoyed popsicles sold there. We then headed towards Traveler’s Rest. It was perfect weather that morning for a ride and I suggest doing that as opposed to an afternoon ride during summer months. The child who was “forced” to do this, ended our trip with his approval who exclaimed it was the “Best Day Ever”.
We did this trail by chance (bad weather in NC forced to reconsider SC). Our group was two families with teenage boys. We had a great time and travelled approx. 25 miles. We started from downtown (rental shop) and headed north and ended at the river walk area (back downtown Greenville). What a great surprise, a waterfall right in downtown. Fantastic! The course is rather urban but this has advantages. There were some food stops, ice cream stops, and even some brew pub stops. I recommend renting a bike at one of the places just north of downtown. There are a couple. The downtown shop also does Segway tours and you can find the shop closed.
I highly recommend this trail and stay for dinner in Greenville.
From the north end, the trail is relatively flat and an easy ride through downtown Greenville and on to Cleveland Park and the zoo. The biggest issue with the trail is signage. The actual trailhead in Traveler's Rest is not really clear, even though you can see the trail and there is a lot of parking along it. Once you get closer and then through downtown, there are a lot of side trails but they are also marked Swamp Rabbit. Use your GPS and downloaded trail map. Once you leave Cleveland Park, you will start to get into some hills. The southern end of this portion of the trail is even worse to find. It starts at the intersection of South Pleasantburg Dr and Cleveland Street. There's a bowling alley on Cleveland St that may let you park there. Ask for permission!
If you want a real challenge, take Cleveland St past Pleasantburg Dr into neighborhoods to Perkinsmill Rd or East Perkinsmill Rd (much hillier choice) . The two roads will meet up just before going under I85, which is where you pick up the southern end of the Swamp Rabbit Trail. This will take you down to Lake Conestee. Watch for turns marked on the streets. Overall ride is about 24 miles from Traveler's Rest to lake Conestee. This last section is about 6 miles and will give you about 600 feet of elevation gain.
rode northern section then around the lake at Furman University and back. about 14 miles round trip. plenty of places to stop and eat great bike and kayak shop in Travellers Rest
I love the trail and looking forward to alot of summer riding.
I have two issues though.
1) the bumps are AWEFUL and make the ride less enjoyable and if going the distance, making it hard to enjoy.
2) we sure could use a bridge or two over the 2 VERY BUSY roads we must cross.
This trail is a great trail for biking but also a busy trail. We rode it on a Friday morning in March and I was surprised to see how many people out! There were moms with strollers, people walking and "serious" bikers (the ones that probably do bike races). But really enjoyed the trail as there is a lot to see (not boring). We started at the zoo and rode the trail north up to Travelers Rest and had lunch up there at the Whistle Stop (GREAT chickens salad) and back. We even stopped on the way coming back and rode around the lake at Furman. We stopped in at the Swamp Rabbit Grocery and had some of their homemade bread! Absolutely fabulous and bought a loaf to take with us! Their cookies are delicious too! A lot of people eating their sandwiches while we were there. I think we would do that next time!
Overall our trip was about 30 miles. When we started at the zoo we found a few spots that we weren't sure which way to go but we just asked people near us which way to Travelers Rest and they pointed us in the right direction. I think they need better signage on the beginning of the trail from the point starting at the zoo. The asphalt does need a little repair in a few places but overall a very enjoyable ride! GREAT day!
I love the Swamp Rabbit Trail and give it a 5 star but it does need to be repaved because it makes for a very bumpy ride.
We rode this trail from Cleveland Park to Travelers Rest and back. This is a great trail with many great places to stop, eat and have a cold beverage. https://www.facebook.com/BikesBeerandGrub/
7/17 we arrived next morning I hit the trail for the next 5 days up to Tate Rd.then back to downtown Greenville, i promised to try Paris Mt. in the future Virginia Creepy bike trail is calling...R.my sprinting bike trail where i live no longer seems accurate
The detour was inconvenient, but that should be fixed soon. The tons of people were fine. Only about half of this is Railtrail.
Two years early my oldest son ( software writer n programmer) after a Greenville visit said Dad you need to visit the cleanest and one of the most beautifull cities downtown I've seen. Now in one ear out the other i let it pass, well a month ago i asked my GF when will our daughter be off, of course with Easter holidays coming up i was given the dates. Pondering what and where to go i checked on links trail and found out Greenville has a bike trail called Greenville Swamp Rabbit bike trail which is a little less of 20 miles.well being a crazy cyclist who puts in 120 a week i booked 5 days in Greenville. Afte a full day of trying to figure out Swamp Rabbit trail (where to start etc etc., I had it down! i get up first second day at 7am figuring who would be out and i take off on yhe trail ( great trail point ) back to who wpuld be out, well jogger on top of jogger...Folks i've cycle the N.C.R trail in gun powder park Md. most yhe way up to Pa. , this Swamp Rabbit Trail is the beat incline decline i loved it, up to Travelers Rest the back to Greenvillebe careful be respect and dont be stupid thinking you can get around someone in time, its a busy trail..No forgive the misspells etc 4 beers later...its that good
My son and I got on the trail at the YMCA and headed to downtown Greenville. We never got there. We got lost and wound up on streets four different times, a thing that never happened to me before. The tail is nice and the valley is pretty but the signage was confusing or non existent in many cases. It was also very hilly. This might be a great trail if you know where you are going but it was very difficult for us.
My wife and I came 200 miles to experience this much talked about trail. We encountered the weekend crowd. Walkers, runners, VERY SLOW walkers with dogs that would not move out of the path. Also many cyclists that didn't know much about trail rules and such.
We actually thought the trail itself was very nice and would be great anytime besides the weekend. There were many cyclists, like ourselves, just out to have a good ride but dodging children and dogs is not my idea of a fun weekend. The trail is much better and less crowded near Traveler's Rest and Furman. We enjoyed the shops in Traveler's Rest and especially the small ice cream shop.
We are considering coming back but.....in the middle of the week after the morning crowd has gone. This would be a great WEDNESDAY trail ride for sure! We have a house up in Virginia (we live in Ga.) on the New River Trail and bike a lot there but we enjoyed the paved ride in Greenville....when we weren't dodging animals, children and slow people! I must say....we will give it another try one day, It IS a very good trail!
Beautiful day! Started out a little chilly but soon warmed up! Had an absolutely wonderful ride barring some Marathon Trainers who were very rude to those of us who enjoy the trail. My daughter and I rode 18.8 miles.
I've been in love with Greenville for years, but just recently got into biking on the weekend. My riding partner and I rented bikes from PedalChic in downtown, and went out and back to Traveler's Rest (26 mile day total, with our detour). We got lost and went the wrong direction in Greenville, which added an extra five miles and some frustration, but overall not a huge setback. Once you're out of downtown in the right direction, getting lost is not a concern, and we had no issues with the one or two road crossings on the route. We ate at Swamp Rabbit Grocery, and then stopped again for a beer in TR before we made our return trip. Trail is relatively flat and easy, and our 70 year old riding partner had no problems completing the ride. Lots of signs on the trail about the TR Farmers Market, I'd love to go back during the summer to visit that on my ride. Wonderful ride, can't wait to get back to Greenville!
I have ridden on this trail several times, but this weekend was the first time I have made it the whole way to Travelers Rest. The trail is convenient and pretty, although there are three places where you have to cross fairly busy roads. I really enjoyed this trail and I look forward to doing it again soon!
A great trail from Greenville to Travelers Rest, that is fun to ride/run solo or with your whole family. There are plenty of spots to rest, eat and sightsee. Also provides excellent access to some of Greenville's beautiful scenery.
Rode this trail Tuesday, September 22, 2015 from Cleveland Park to Traveler's Rest and back. I found it leisurely and quite well-traveled by bikers, walkers, and joggers for a Tuesday. It is definitely a place I would bring small children to introduce them to the joys of biking. This trail is doing a lot to bring life back to a city that -- like so many in the US -- has been decimated by the loss of a manufacturing base (in the case of Greenville, textiles). My next trip there will be to do ALL of the trail accompanied by an overnight stay in downtown Greenville,
I was able to get out for a quick 15 miles between rain drops from Greenville. Great paved trail with good signage. Nice ride though Falls and Cleveland Parks.
Heading south from Travelers Rest there are several somewhat long stretched of trail you can ride without interruption. I did not find the trail to be especially scenic as it basically was urban in nature. There are a number of places where one be well advised to walk their bike due to narrow lanes and sharp angles (90 degrees). The high point to me were the friendly people including the trail policemen (yes the trail has security).
If you're up for a fairly long trail ride, then this one is GREAT. My wife and I started at the cemetery parking lot at Travelers Rest and ended as we arrived just inside the city of Greenville. When we are reviewing trails, the SCENERY is always important. This trail is lacking somewhat compared to other trails we have ridden. All in all though, it is definitely worth visiting Greenville and Travelers Rest and taking a ride on the Swamp Rabbit!
As many have said in earlier reviews, south of downtown is a maze - vary narrow, poorly signed. And it looks like they are finally getting ready to replace the metal grate bridge. North of downtown there are several dangerous intersections - cars crossing going 50mph. Crosswalk signals definitely needed to stop the trail traffic. In downtown, it is very crowded - a bypass trail is needed. But kudos to everyone who is working to extend the trail and make it better. Stop in TR and have a brew and eats.
Had a great day on this trail. The signs could be a little bit better, had to ask several times in Greenville which way to go to stay on the trail. But over all I would recommend this trail to anyone . Stayed at the KOA campground in travelers rest sc. very nice facility.
This is hands down, one of the best trails in upstate SC and western NC. It runs from Travelers Rest to the Greenville zoo. I don't like the Greenville zoo area as well. Very crowded but still enjoyable. Goes right by Furman University and can bike around the lake there. We've stopped in and went to Barnes and Noble with a Starbucks and eaten at the Moe's there. They also have a chick- fil-a and a couple other eateries as well as a full cafeteria. Just a really nice trail. There's easy access to downtown Greenville. My only complaint is that it's not longer than 20 miles. Hope they get that extension to Simpsonville soon. Oh and we routinely drive from Hendersonville NC to bike this trail.
Since I rode it last, Swamp Rabbit has been extended about a mile northward. It's just that much better. Shows what a community can do. Thanks.
Magellan would be challenged finding his way from the Greenville Zoo to the trail. Whoever developed signage should be drug tested. Really, this is a highly amp'dtrail in a great city. Paint on the road would go a long way.
Love this trail...wide..paved...you can make it a short or a long ride. Bike rentals and food stops along the way.
Great Trail...nice and long ! Wide paved trail !
On the 16th and 17th of October, my wife and I spent two days riding the trail at a leisurely pace and enjoying the surroundings, the skaters, runners and other walkers. We stayed at Travelers Rest at the Hampton (being refurbished). This hotel is just across the street from the trail. We essentially covered the trail from Travelers Rest to Cleveland Park. After reading the last three reviews, we felt they were so negative that we considered going to another trail. But, we're glad we came. Falls Park, though crowded for cycling, was very scenic. It was fun to watch the families that sat out on blankets next to the falls and children that were having a good time running around. For those bikers that were bothered by all of the activity, get a life. Either ride slow and under control or walk your bike through the busy areas. Life is not all about mileage and speed. Future plans include rerouting the trail on an additional pedestrian bridge that will take the trail on the outskirts of Falls Park and will hopefully include some additional signs. Lots of cross streets, but it makes for good interaction training between road traffic vehicles and folks on the trail. Other good spots on the trail include the Swamp Rabbit Trail Grocery and Café, Furman University and Campus, shops in both Greenville and Travelers Rest, Cleveland Park, the Zoo and we didn't even get to the southern part of the trail. Enjoy, it's worth it.
I have ridden many trails an at times this is an okay trail but agree with other reviews until you have done it many times it gets kind of confusing where the trail starts an ends. I love the area by Furman University and Travelers Rest but sure wish their was hills on this because most times it is very dangerous on the roads, when I first moved here I heard so much on the internet about what a wonderful bicycling community Greenville is, quite frankly this is very overrated, from the Midwest an trails in Iowa and Missouri are so much nicer and more challenging. I do the trail only because it is all we have.
This trail is nice but on the boring side no challenge what so ever, needs hills an at some points can be dangerous especially at 2 major intersections. This trail really needs upgrades an more challenge to it, when I first moved here I heard so much about how much a bicycle friendly community it was, I disagree big time with this people on the roads are very rude an can be really challenging an scary, The trails in Iowa and Missouri are so much better and a lot more of them. Don't get me wrong nice trail but overrated.
I've ridden many bike trails, and this one is just "fair". Locals rate it highly, because it is the only one around. The workers did a good job, but it has PROBLEMS with SIGNAGE, and the biggest problem is that it is in SEGMENTS:
The southern part near Conestee is partly on the street, and doesn't connect with the main trail.
The segment just north of GCTC is just a sidewalk near busy streets with traffic (it's NOT a "trail".)
The central part in downtown is "USELESS" for bike riding because it is in a very busy pedestrian area, and you have to walk your bike, and sign directions are horrible. I got lost, with other people, and no one could figure out where the trail was.
The segment from downtown to Traveler's Rest is decent, but crosses several streets, and goes by many ugly abandoned warehouses.
The far north segment in Traveler's Rest is mostly sidewalk near busy street traffic, so it is just urban sidewalk riding (NOT a "trail").
My biggest complaint is that the SIGNS to the spur trails say that the spur trail is the MAIN trail--but they are NOT! The city really needs to correct these many sign ERRORS!
I moved to Greenville about a month ago and haved already logged several hundred miles of biking, running, and hiking on the SWR. Mostly, I'm running, but I also commute to the downtown on my bike, from the southern portion of the trail. The trail seems to have great buy-in from the G-ville and greater Greenville communities, which makes it heavily-trafficked. Almost everyone on the trail is pretty courteous, in my experience--even around the tight turns underneath bridges and such. If you're a cyclist, or even perhaps a fast runner, I think you simply have to concede the Falls Park/downtown portion of the trail to wandering, not necessarily attentive people; it's admittedly hard to tell where sidewalks, trails, and causeways begin and end in that area, so don't be surprised if people are going every which way down there, and it's easier for you to slow way down or dismount your bike. The trail really opens up after the Swamp Rabbit Grocery (as you head north)--lush, surprisingly well-shaded, not as trafficked. They recently took out the soft track on the Cleveland Street-to-the-Zoo-area stretch, which is a shame, but you can still get some soft track running in north of Falls Park. Overall, it's a great space, and I'm happy to be a part of community that so values it (in fact, it was the determining factor in where I decided to live in Greenville; no disappointments so far!).
We ride this on a tandem several times a week and absolutely love it. We find other cyclists helpful and friendly, but my gosh, there are some ass@&*$s out there, walkers with idiot ear buds in, who REFUSE to step to the right! We call out to them, ring the bell, and today one couple stopped and blocked the whole lane!!We find walkers and tiny children wobbling all over the path with totally oblivious parents to be the most dangerous. There needs to be a police patrol every day and ticket these troglodytes!
This trail is VERY well used. I rode 90% of it last weekend, and the number of people using it was impressive. Traverses a variety of locale with nice stops along the way. It needs a bit better marking in Greenville as the signs for the offshoots lead one to believe the trail is turning when it is not. But the on-surface painted mile markers help guide one - and are a good safety feature. Speaking of safety, the local governments need to erect better protection at major street intersections. They have preserved some of the old RR crossing signal masts, but only with yellow advisory lights. How about some cross-walk (actually cross-trail) signals that stop traffic?
I tried to go ride and enjoy this trail as all the reviews say it is great. I went on a Saturday afternoon, as I have a job through the week, and it was a complete disappointment. There were so many people there that refused to share the trail, walkers, runners AND other cyclists. Children running wild like animals and the parents not doing one thing about it. The RULES for a multi-use trail needs to be posted at every juncture that has a park sign. Slower traffic (on foot OR bicycles)needs to stay to the right of the trail (depending on your direction of travel)so other traffic can go safely around them. Call it out or ring bell if you are passing. If you stop, don't block the trail. Use a little common sense and have respect for other people using the trail. You are not the only person in the world. (I'm sure the last one wouldn't get printed but it's true). I will try it again at a later date but on this date I was disappointed with it.
I rode this trail to help burn all the calories from a long road trip. Very well maintained trail with some awesome views. At one point you can see a beautiful waterfall. Also, did not visit it, but there is a cafe and store with trail access at one point. Very pretty city also. I entered from the Zoo parking lot at Cleveland Dr and Washington.
Only downside is you have to stop for some major roads as some points, but other than that awesome trail.
Rode this trail yesterday. It's just a very enjoyable experience. I suggest you bring a bike that is set up for a smooth trail rather than single track. Either will work fine but the smooth tires and lighter frames are a little more comfortable.
I thought the other bikers and walkers were very pleasant and the locals were quick to make sure we enjoyed the ride. One city worker in a truck saw us approaching an intersection and let us know all was clear and he was stopping so we could continue through.
Thanks to Travelers Rest and Greenville.
Excellent Trail. Well maintained and directed. I did't get lost. Signs were very good in directing where to go on the trail. Great views Plan to go on this trail again!!
The "P" Legend is available for the website domain manager to add parking point accesses to the map. I have spent some time trying to find such information on the website, but cannot. If you would utilize that feature in making Swamp Rabbit Trail access parking info available to the public, it would facilitate the use of this Greenville attraction.
Always love riding on the swamp rabbit. It is now 17.5 miles long and it seems to be growing every year. It has become the envy of the surrounding towns. I know hendersonville NC-Brevard NC are discussing building a similar trail as well as Easley-Pickens SC. It is no wonder why. There are many shops popping up along the way and plenty of things to see and do. great maps and information on greenvillerec.com http://greenvillerec.com/parks/swamprabbit/
My wife and I, both age 54, rode this trail Friday, August 3, 2012. We are casual bikers but had no problem riding this trail from beginning to end. We parked at the YMCA on Cleveland Street just south of downtown Greenville. The Y has ample parking, is safe and there were many other bikers parking there. The Y has a paved connector from the parking area to the Swamp Rabbit trail, which borders the Y's property. The trail is well maintained and has few ups and downs (important to us since we live in Florida, the land of flatness). The north end of the trail ends with mile marker 23 (the intent is to continue the trail to the SC/NC state line 23 miles to the north) and the south end of the trail ends a bit beyond mile marker 36 (the intent is to continue the trail south to the Atlantic Ocean). Riding through downtown Greenville is especially enjoyable and the entire trail has ample access to bathroom facilities, food and water. There are at least three bike shops that we know of along or near the trial, located at mile markers 24, 31.5 and 33 (the shop is just north of the trail on N. Hudson). We made good use of TTR's bike shop as my wife had a flat tire along the way which they quickly repaired. There are many places along the trail covered by the canapy which added to the experience. Furman University is at mile marker 27 and the grounds are wonderful and a worthwhile detour to ride through. This trail is at the top of our list as one of the more enjoyable ones we have biked and we will be biking it again.
This is a wonderful trail - plenty of opportunities for restrooms and refreshments along the way - one of those where you don't have to pack up a ton of gear to make it an enjoyable time for the family. Start downtown Greenville and have a cup of herbal iced tea from Ocha's - they seal their cups and they'll fit right in your water bottle holder. Ride just a few miles and stop at the Swamp Rabbit Cafe for a delightful coffee, or organic peach, or fruit smoothie. Restrooms available in both places. Keep going about 4 miles and then cut into Furman University's campus. You can circle the lake, use the restroom or even stop in at the school cafeteria. Keep going and end in Traveler's Rest where there are numerous bike patron friendly establishments - most notably Williams Hardware and Cafe who provide free restrooms with running hot and cold water as well as a wonderful lunch menu. There are two bike shops - one near the north end in Trravellers Rest and one near the South end on Hudson Street. Although there are a couple of steep embankments, fences have been erected in the most dangerous sections - it makes for nice views and plenty of wild life. I have seen rabbits, foxes and even deer (on the, newer, southern section near Lake Conestee.). The 20 mile-per-hour speed limit should keep you safe and there are no sharp curves between Greenville and TR. More serious cyclists probably will probably appreciate this as a 10-mile warm up ride for a launch into the foothills of the Appalachians. The roads north of TR lead straight into the senic areas of the foothills and several mountain stretches and the Blue Rdige Parkway. 100 miles in this area is much more challenging than in the Midwest and folks are pretty warm and welcoming along the road (once you get out in the regions where Southerrn hospitality is a well-remembered virtue...) Come give this one a try!
Its a fun ride, but some areas have a drop off of quite a few feet. I know first hand, I let my front wheel run off the asphalt and my bike slipped down the embankment. My head hit the asphalt-knocking me out for a few seconds. My wife called an ambulance, got checked out, no concussion. But please be careful. The paramedicics said they treat people like this all the time that get injured on the trail, especially on the weekends when its crowded. Watch yourself!
We vacationed in Blairsville Ga. and made a day trip to Greensville just for the Swamp Rabbit Trail. It was well worth the 2hr drive. Parked at the north end accross from the hospital and enjoyed the nice, well marked, scenic ride to downtown. We rode about 1 mile more to the Greenville Zoo. Spent about 1 1/2 hours there. Great time! Enjoyed being able to feed many of the animals. On the way back I left the wife and daughter downtown while I rode back to the vehicle. The only complaint... there was not much for them to do while waiting for me in that area. No bookstore, ice-cream shop, toy store, etc.
Once again the only reason we went to Greenville was because of the trail. Build it and they will come! Nice job Greenville!
Am training for The Outer Banks Marathon and use The Swamp Rabbit for all my runs over 2hrs. I park the car in Travelers Rest, point myself southward on the trail, and turn around when it's time. Taking a side trip along the lake on Furman's campus is also a scenic treat. There are a couple of outfitters (at least) that will rent cyclists a ride in Travelers Rest. And a soft serve ice cream shop right on the trail. And a coffee shop. Down Greenville way (especially around Falls Park) there's LOTS of eateries and diversions.
If you are trying to decide whether or not to do this trail, stop pondering and do it. Life is ever fleeting!
So glad we stayed in Greenville to ride this trail. Beautifully maintained. Very congested around the park during Sunday evening, so it isn't for speed racers, but wonderful for a leisurely ride. As you leave town, heading towards Travelers Rest, there is plenty of room for a faster pace with occasional stops for somewhat busy roads. Really pleased to discover the city and their bike trail.
We absolutely love this trail and are so very thankful for it! Way to go, Greenville County! It's such a pleasant ride including both sunny areas and shade and lots of beautiful trees! The topography is rather easy.... a few areas where you need to use first/second gears....otherwise quite smooth. It includes benches along the way so you can stop and relax if you like.
The only real problem with this trail is the rude "bikers". There needs to be some SIGNS along the way to "educate" these bikers about announcing their presence when passing others. Many of them act as if they are above needing to exercise common courtesy. Perhaps if enough people correct them as we have been doing then maybe these "tour-de-France" wannabees will realize that they don't own the trail! In the meantime, signs would certainly help get the point across.
Other than that, it's a GREAT trail for which we can all be thankful! Enjoy!
I drive down from Asheville just to ride this trail....I enjoy it that much! Nice job Greenville!
Based on previous reviews, we made the trip to SC from VA to ride this trail. We're really glad we did. We started our ride in the town of Travelers Rest. There is a nice Hampton Inn in Travelers Rest. The trail starts just across the street from the North Greenville Medical Campus, at 807 N. Main St., Travelers Rest, SC. There is a parking area for the trail beside the cemetery. Pay no attention to the mile markers. This is a 15 mile ride one way, but the markers start at 24 and go up???? I assume the trail will be longer some day. If you need bike supplies, there is a very nice bike/kayak shop shortly after you start the ride. From the bike shop, you cross the street to connect to the trail. There are quite a few road crossings on this trail, but only a few major ones. You also pass quite a few industrial sites which are not very scenic, but they don't deter from the "overall" beauty of this trail. The trail is paved to perfection; a very smooth surface, and a very flat ride.
Once you get to Greenville, you'll be amazed at the beauty of the downtown area. River Place is full of shops, artists and restaurants. We had lunch at "The Lazy Goat" and loved it. Both the view and the food were incredible. There is a beautiful Hampton Inn right in this area too. If we'd known ahead of time, we would have stayed there, because downtown Greenville would be a beautiful place to stay and play. The Reedy River runs right through River Place, and the waterfalls at Falls Park is breathtakingly beautiful. This whole area is one big "park" where locals sit to eat their lunch or feed the ducks. It's beautifully maintained with swings, benches, flowers, etc. Once you reach this destination, you won't want to leave, but, crossing to the other side of the falls the trail continues on for a few miles through Cleveland Park and terminates on Faris St. Cleveland Park is nice too, but if you're pressed for time, just stay in Falls Park and spend the day enjoying the atmosphere. It's wonderful. Enjoy!
June 3, 2010
Rode from Downtown Greenville the length of trail and back. Pleasant, easy ride. Places to venture off trail in Travelers Rest, food, etc. So many places in Downtown Greenville along trail to eat, linger in lovely parks. Great Trail. M. Willems
Thank you, Greenville for finally getting the leg completed from downtown to Furman. Have ridden the entire Trail 4 times now and it is beautiful! My only complaint would be to inform cyclists about letting runners/walkers know that you are approaching them by either shouting which side you are passing on or ringing a bell (if available) and shouting. Also, would like to see more cyclists wearing helmets for protection. Head injuries are bad news.
Thank you, again for all the hard work on making this long-awaited trail a reality. Plan to be out there at least once a week when the weather is good.
We biked all the way from the cemetery in Traverlers Rest, SC to the Greenville, SC section. Approx. 10 plus miles. Swamp Rabbit Trail is connected for about 14 miles non stop if we had gone the whole distance through Reedy River, Falls Park, and Cleveland Park in Greenville. Great job to all the people involved in S.C. The trail is in excellent condition (99% asphalt). only two short sections are still gavel (about 200 yds. each in length). The trail is flat. We live in Asheville, NC and plan to bike the Carolina Swamp Rabbit Trail often.
If I had any criticism, I would let everyone know that we could not find any toilets the whole distance (10 miles). Hopefully there are plans to build toilets or place portable toilets at least at either end of the trail.
As a long time runner I was especially impressed by the four foot wide rubberized asphalt portion of the trail. Way to go Greenville !! Keep up the good work and keep on keepin' on taking care of us runners !!
This trail should not even be reviewed until it is completed ... It's an embarrassment ... Just when you thought Greenville had stepped up ... And it's been this way for 2 years ... The idea was nice but the execution of the plan stinks ... GET IT TOGETHER GREENVILLE !!!
I walked this trail in December of '09 between Cleveland Park and Faris Road and was thoroughly impressed. The two-foot wide, soft, track-like surface is great for runners who are concerned about the pounding harder surfaces does on the knees, while plenty of room remains bikers on the asphalt. I think the location is great, as it follows the Reedy River for most of its journey between downtown and the southern end. Having grown up in Greenville, I had always enjoyed the quality of the downtown, but I thought it lacked quality connections for pedestrians to the surrounding neighborhoods. Now I live in Indianapolis, and I've enjoyed the city's excellent, far-reaching trail system from distant suburbs to downtown. So I'm extremely proud that my hometown of Greenville also sees the value of these trails, and the surface design for joggers actually trumps the surface of Indy's greenway system. I do hope, in the future, that the Swamp Rabbit trail gets so much use that the city/county is compelled to make connecting trails to the east, west, and south, perhaps along creeks since there are few more abandoned rail lines in the area.
Signage appears to be complete now, including signs along the trails in Cleveland and Falls Park. These signs point the way to the beginning of the Carolina Swamp Rabbit Trail. Some signs are on posts, but many, as you get closer to the trail heading North, are applied to the sidewalks.
Also, the trail is now extended to the South, almost all the way to the campus of Greenville Technical College. This trail begins at the far Southern end of Cleveland Park as it encounters Woodland Way. Look for the signs indicating the trail just to the East side of the river where the Woodland Way bridge crosses it. This is also East of the old stables buildings. The trail now proceeds a total of 1.3 miles South from this point. As it comes to East Faris Rd. it proceeds on the sidewalk up the hill (West) to the traffic light at Cleveland St. then crosses Faris and proceeds down hill toward the College. It is not yet complete to the College, and lacks the jogging surface after you reach East Faris Rd. The section from the Park to Faris Rd. includes several side trails that have been surfaced with asphalt to connect the nearby neighborhoods to the trail. This section is almost totally a secluded, riparian area. From Faris Rd. to the College the trail is right beside busy streets.
Asphalt (not Roadzhyme) paving will begin soon at the Travelers Rest end of the trail and will be completed to Furman University before the end of 2008. Landscaping along the trail has been completed near the Furman University campus. Some work on trusses must be completed before paving can continue on into Downtown Greenville.
In Downtown Greenville, signage is starting to go in along the finished portions of the trail.
Also, the Greenville Hospital System and Greenville County Recreation District raised awareness of the trail during the Labor Day Weekend's USPRO Cycling Championships by presenting a scavenger hunt to lead children (and their parents/guardians) to the trail at Linky Stone Park and sponsoring a free bike helmet giveaway for children. Also, Sunrift Adventures of Travelers Rest sponsored guided tours and free bike borrowing for rides on the paved portion of the trail in Downtown Greenville.
At this time, there is no signage leading to the trail head, or identifying the trail head. To find the trail from surface streets, Take River St. South from McBee or Broad Streets, or North from Camperdown Way. Turn onto Reedy View Dr. and you may find parking there (only a few spaces available). Proceed up river on Reedy View about 100 yards. Linky Stone Park will be on the right (great native plant education for young and old) and as you continue past the park and beneath the Academy St. overpass, Carolina Swamp Rabbit Trail begins on your left, between the middle two columns supporting the overpass.
To reach the trail from Reedy River Falls Historic Park, continue up river under Main St. and about 1/8 mile to River St. Cross the street and continue along Reedy View Dr. (slightly to the left) until you reach Link Stone Park. See above.
The trail is complete for about 1.5 miles and a near-level walk. You can still see some of the old rails where the tracks crossed the Reedy on a low trestle. The trail has a riparian view, but is bordered by an industrial and warehouse neighborhood with poor lighting so keep urban safety in mind.
A future trail section that is not yet paved has had the rails removed and the road bed graded through Furman University and is definitely usable as part of any excursion at the University.
This trail starts downtown behind the Peace Center and is the beginning of much larger trail that will connect to Travelers Rest. I think about 12 miles.
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