# 8 - A Walk in the Woods-
-at Saluda Shoals Park-
Rated: Easy to Moderate
6.5 miles of non-paved trails
With miles and miles of dirt trails, Saluda Shoals
Park is a real treat in Lexington County. The trails
here offer a lot of variety -- from bottomland looking
wetlands, to trails that parallel the sweeping curves
of the Lower Saluda River, to challenging hills that-
-promise to be a real workout. This is considered to-
-be the SC Midland's premier, natural, environmentally-
-sensitive riverfront park.
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***There are 21 named trails at Saluda Shoals Park. 18 of these are non-paved. It's best to get a trail
map at the entrance and/or download the map from above.
Trails Recommendation: Some of our favorite hikes are the Beaver Trail (0.30 mile), Rawl's Creek Trail
(0.21 mile), Eagle Trail (0.71 mile) and Bluebird Trail (1.19 miles). If you're looking for a challenge, try
the Big Clay Hill Trail (0.92 mile) and Lil' Bumpy Trail (0.28 mile).
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, depending on distance.
Distance: Saluda Shoals Park has 6.5 miles of non-paved / natural surface trails.
Time: Plan on spending a minimum of 1.5 hours to explore different trails, but take as much time
as you want.
Trail Surface: The non-paved trails are a mixture of natural surfaces with wood foot bridges and steps.
Crowds: Saluda Shoals can be popular year round, especially on pretty weekends.
Address & Park Information:
West Entrance (most popular) - 5605 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212.
East Entrance - 6071 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29212.
https://www.icrc.net/park/saluda-shoals-park. 803-772-1228. The park opens at 7:00 a.m. daily. Closing times
vary by season. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Daily Admission: Car or minivan $5.00, 12+ passenger van $7.00, bus $11.00. Annual park passes are sold.
(Rates as of Spring 2024.)
Restrooms: Yes. There are 6 restroom areas in the park.
Precautions: Foot bridges can be slippery when wet, even with morning dew. You'll be walking through a wetland forest; biting insects can be formidable in warmer months. Bring insect repellent. Some of the trails are moderately steep, can have roots, and uneven footing.
Weather on the Trail: Click HERE
