Cleveland Park is another popular Instagram hot spot

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Greer City Park on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017.

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Paris Mountain State Park is near Furman University.
Cedar Falls Park and Historic Site in southern Greenville

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Main Street in downtown Greenville.

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The city of Greenville is considering annexing the

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Furman University

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Oak Grove Lake, a Greenville County Park, is located

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Emily Perkins jogs down the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville. She resolved to compete in 5 sprint triathlons in 2018.

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Legacy Park at Verdae is a great option for runners and joggers with it's paved paths and miles of sidewalks.

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The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail is a fan favorite for runners, and rightfully so.

The 20-mile trail is a safe alternative to running on streets and offers a mostly flat path with cool stops along the way, like the Swamp Rabbit Cafe, Furman University or Cleveland Park. 

But there are other options and, with the spring and summer racing season kicking into gear, it can help to switch up training from time to time. 

Below are a few tested safe options for the casual runner looking to log a few miles. 

1. Lake Conestee Nature Park

601 Fork Shoals Road, Greenville, SC 29605

Situated between Greenville and Mauldin, Lake Conestee Nature Park is a great place for trail and surface runners alike. The park is owned and managed by a private nonprofit. The park features six miles of natural surface trails and six miles of paved trails. It is primarily a sanctuary for wildlife, so runners are asked to stay on marked trails at all time. One of the biggest perks about Lake Conestee Nature Park? Its network of trails makes it possible to run there on a regular basis without any two runs being the same. Find out more at lakeconesteenaturepark.org 

2401 State Park Road, Greenville, SC 29609

This one is no secret, but for runners who haven’t checked it out, Paris Mountain is a great place to dive into trail running. Located just outside of town on State Park Road, Paris Mountain features 15 miles of hiking and biking trails. For runners who don’t want to dodge mountain bikes, Saturday is the day to go. Biking is not allowed on trails on Saturdays in the park. Find out more at southcarolinaparks.com/paris-mountain.

3. Greer City Park

301 E. Poinsett St., Greer, SC 29651

This one is for the road runners – or anyone who doesn’t mind loops in their runs. Located in downtown Greer, Greer City Park’s paved running path loops around a Fountain Plaza and Gardens, behind City Hall and around a pond and gazebo area. Loops around this park are easily customizable with shorter and longer looping routes possible. Runners looking for a longer run can take the sidewalks out of the park and around downtown Greer. Find out more at greercitypark.com.

4. Cedar Falls

201 Cedar Falls Road, Fountain Inn, SC 29644

Located in Fork Shoals near Fountain Inn, Cedar Falls Park is actually a historic site because it was once home to a mill. This park offers a little more than 2 miles of trail that can be turned into a looping run with scenic views of a waterfall. Dogs are welcome. Find out more at greenvillerec.com/parks/cedar-falls.

3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613

It’s hardly a secret that Furman University has a beautiful campus. It’s a great place to run if you like to be distracted by the views. Furman has several miles of trails on campus, but one of the best known is its 1.5-mile lake loop trail that winds around the 40-acre lake. For a bigger challenge, Furman has a 5K course that winds through campus, passing Timmons Arena and the football stadium. A 5K course map is available at furman.edu. 

6. Downtown Greenville

This one’s for the runner who enjoys obstacles. Depending on the time of day, a run through Greenville’s Main Street area can include quite a bit of pedestrian dodging, but it’s possible – just be sure to respect those you’re passing. The distance from the Hyatt Regency at 220 N. Main Street to Fluor Field is just one mile down Main Street. Easily expand a run by taking side streets or creating your own loop. Wherever you go, make sure to follow traffic signals when crossing streets. Morning and early evening are the best times for runners who’d prefer to avoid heavy foot and vehicle traffic.

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Cleveland Park Drive & East Washington, Greenville, SC 29601

Sure, it includes some of the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail, but there’s much more to Cleveland Park. The 122-acre city park features paved trails winding through wooded areas next to the Reedy River and along a flat grassy knoll where there is also free fitness equipment to turn your run into a multi-faceted workout. Parking is free and plentiful, and anyone who wishes to do so can add some length to their run by taking the connector trail to Falls Park in downtown Greenville. Find out more at greenvillesc.gov.

8. Oak Grove Lake

Oak Grove Lake Road, Greenville, SC 29615

Tucked behind the Dove Tree neighborhood to the west of Interstate 85, Oak Grove Lake Park is a county park that includes an 18-acre fishing lake and a .8 mile loop around the water.

The loop is heavily traveled by joggers, walkers and bikers, but the park website warns it is not a designated pedestrian trail, so people should use caution. The loop is relatively flat. It passes single-family homes and a wooded area with a creek bed. The park is open from sunrise to sunset and, due to its residential nature, there are typically other people nearby when the park is open. A run around Oak Grove Lake can easily be extended into nearby neighborhood streets, but use caution because drivers also use those roads. 

9. Legacy Park at Verdae

Rocky Slope Road, Greenville, SC 29607

This is another option with a relatively short running path and the option to lengthen the run using neighborhood sidewalks. Legacy Park is located in the rapidly growing Verdae area. The park features a playground, sand volleyball court and a path that winds over grassy hills and around a small pond with a fountain. Expand your run by taking following the sidewalks around the outer edge of the park through the Verdae neighborhood.

Wait, there’s more things to do

Where to eat, drink and take in the sights. Check out our guide to Greenville.

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