Swamp Rabbit Trail

2019 Hiking Week 19

Many of you may have already heard about the Swamp Rabbit Trail in the Greenville area. The trail is said to be 22 miles long, with other side trails and extensions either completed or planned. The Swamp Rabbit was one of the first "rails-to-trails" I had been on but I now like to use it as much as possible. Currently, the trail runs from the south end of Greenville all the way to Travelers Rest. There is another small section of the trail south of I-85 around Lake Conestee.

I like the Swamp Rabbit Trail because it is mostly flat and you can bike, walk, or run quite a few miles. I have used it in the past when training for half marathons. It's so helpful that they have mile markers along the way. Also, there are usually other people on the trail, even in the middle of winter. It can get pretty busy during the warmer months with families and groups out biking and walking. I recommend getting an early start if you want to avoid the crowds. Years a half marathon takes place on the trail.
go, we even participated in a 5k run on the trail. There are a few races that utilize the trail as their race course. Even a

Whistle Stop Cafe- along the trail in Travelers Rest
Along the trail there are sights and fun places to stop - playgrounds, parks, waterfalls, and memorials. In Travelers Rest, there are some restaurants and breweries near the trail that make good stopping points if you are biking from Greenville and turning around in Travelers Rest. Just outside of Travelers Rest, the trail runs through the Furman University campus. You can take a side trip to do a loop around their lake and see the clock tower. Closer into Greenville, there is a great place to stop at the Swamp Rabbit Cafe. The cafe is one of my favorite places in Greenville to eat, especially for breakfast. They can get busy but it's a good place to stop for a bathroom break or something to eat or drink. They also have bike rentals at this location. Nearby is a spur of the trail that connects to Hampton Station, which has food, a brewery, and other shops. It's a nice place to hang out with games and lots of outdoor seating.




In downtown Greenville, the trail runs along the Reedy River, right through the heart of Greenville.Cancer Survivors Park, which just opened in 2018 and has some pretty places to stop. From there, you head into Cleveland Park which has all kinds of places to stop, as well as playgrounds and the Greenville Zoo is part of the park. From the park, you follow along the Reedy River and join up with Cleveland Street. This section isn't as popular but there are some nice wooded areas along the river.
has a nice walking bridge and benches to view the falls, as well as swings and picnic benches. They also have outdoor events throughout the year. Once you go under the bridge after the park, you go by the
Reedy River Falls Park
There are tons of restaurants and places to stop and rest. The





Cancer Survivors Park

To bike the Swamp Rabbit Trail, there are a few rental companies in the Greenville and Travelers Rest area. Some will even deliver them to you on the trail. Check the Swamp Rabbit Trail website for places. There are lots of parking areas along the trail as well. You can check out the Swamp Rabbit Trail map for all the info you need about the trail.

I highly recommend checking out this trail. It's a fun, easy trail that is a must-do when visiting Greenville. Hope you enjoy!

Greenville area recommendations
Great Blue Heron along the trail.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Going Greek

Battle of Rivers Bridge State Historic Site

Charleston Area State Parks