Are you looking for a place to ride bikes as a family in Greenville, SC? Maybe you’re looking for scenic bike trails? We’ve got some great places to ride near Greenville!
Greenville, SC has quickly grown into a bicyclist haven since the creation of the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail. With that, more natural and paved biking trails have emerged. Below, you will find a list of some of the best bike trails Greenville and the surrounding area have to offer. Don’t have your own bike? Don’t worry! You will also find places to rent bikes if you don’t have your own.
Biking can involve the whole family – whether the kids are old enough to ride on their own or ride in a trailer or on a bike seat. Here’s our list of family-friendly bike trails in and near Greenville, SC.
Looking for a park to explore? South of Greenville, in Piedmont, SC you’ll find Lakeside Park. When you think of Lakeside Park, you may only think of it as the home of the 7th Inning Splash Park. But, there is so much more to do at Lakeside Park. You’ll find playgrounds, swings, ball fields, and even mountain biking at Lakeside. It is a great place to go year-round.
Behind the waterpark, you will find a small playground with several covered picnic areas. While the playground isn’t new, it is in good shape. The play area features climbing equipment and a set of swings. The swing set has swings for children young and old.
Lakeside Park also has walking trails that are fun to explore. They take you off the beaten path. Your family will love taking walks in these shady areas. The walking trails total almost 6 miles, that includes mountain biking trails.
Four baseball fields, a football field, and basketball courts can also be found in the park. The football field would be great for playing football, tag, or maybe flying kites. The basketball courts would be a great place to play a game of horse or practice making shots.
7th Inning Splash Park
The 7th Inning Splash Park features a splash pad, funnel slide, water slide, and lap pool. While it is smaller than Discovery Island, it does have areas for children of various ages to explore. For more information about this water park, check out our review of 7th Inning Splash Park.
7th Inning Splash Park in Greenville, SC is a excellent way to cool off on a hot summer day! Find out why we love this waterpark.
Parking and Picnics at Lakeside Park
A picnic shelter and bathrooms are also right behind the water park. The shelter features a grill, fireplace, and 16 picnic tables. You can even reserve the large shelter.
The playground shares a small parking lot with the picnic shelter. When the water park is open, water park visitors may fill the spaces in this parking lot. Keep that in mind when visiting, and wear your sunscreen!
The circular area around the baseball field is filled with parking spaces. If the other parking areas are filled, you are sure to find parking in this circular area. Most of the parks 789 paved parking places are part of this circular area.
Lakeside Park Quick Review
Favorites:
Shady Walking Trails
Swings
Playground with Covered Picnic Areas
Drawbacks:
Smaller playground
Parking near playground can be crowded when the water park is open
Are you ready to explore Lakeside Park?
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Have you visited Tyger River Park in Spartanburg County? This giant park is home to ball fields, a huge playground, a splash pad, and more. Read on to hear everything parents need to know about Tyger River Park.
You definitely want to make the time to check out Tyger River Park operated by Spartanburg County Parks. It is located at 179 Dillard Road in Duncan, South Carolina. Don’t let appearances deceive you- there is more to this park than perfectly kept baseball fields. It’s a playground experience for all ages, especially with the brand-new renovation of 2023.
When you first enter the gates to Tyger River Park, you won’t be able to see the playground areas from the road that encircles the enclosure. Look for the tall tower in the center of the grounds. The brand-new playgrounds and giant sandbox are located on either side of it. Follow the signs to the Clubhouse and park there. From the parking lot, it’s a short walk to the play areas. You can get a sense of the park’s scale and use this handy park map to help plan your day.
Play Equipment for All Ages at Tyger River Park
There is truly play equipment for all ages.
The first playground is geared for younger children, toddlers to preschool age. There are slides, swings, play horses, and even a cute little house to stoke the imagination. This playground is within sight of the giant sandbox, too. Kids can bring their own sand toys or just play around in Duncan’s version of “the beach.”
The location is perfect for smaller children to independently play between the sandbox and the playground, and benches are provided for adult supervision if you are lucky enough to get a chance to sit down. The new playground includes shaded benches for parents as well.
The second playground is much bigger and caters to children ages 5-12. The many slides available are taller and faster than the smaller playground and climbing features are more challenging. There are also swings in this area.
The new playground has five benches with shade and is covered in astroturf.
Splash Pad at Tyger River Park
The splash pad is open 9 am to 8 pm between Memorial Day to Labor Day but they are opening early in 2024 on May 1st! Located just past the playground area (opposite the direction of the Clubhouse), kids can easily go from the playground to the splash pad to cool off and back to the playground. Double bonus: the splash pad is fenced in.
Clean bathrooms
The bathrooms for the public are located on the side of the Clubhouse building. They were clean and well-stocked with soap and both paper towels and air dryers. As parents, you can never underestimate the awesomeness of a park restroom that doesn’t make you cringe
A Couple of Considerations for Tyger River Park
Bring sunscreen and water
The new playground has benches with shade and the shade screen above the sandbox does provide some relief but the playgrounds have no shade. Especially in the hot days of summer, it’s important to bring sunscreen and water. On warmer days, it is definitely best to plan on arriving early in the morning or in the late afternoon/early evening or spend hotter parts of the day at the splash pad.
Supervision may be challenging for children of different ages.
Tyger River is a big park and the playgrounds are on opposite sides of the tower, which can make it hard to watch kids of different age groups. So plan on negotiating how much time you will spend on which playground or bring a second adult for help with supervision.
Our Review
With proper planning, Tyger River Park is a must-do for a positive play experience for all ages. And we just love the new play equipment! With so much to do, the kids will be occupied for hours, so don’t forget to pack snacks and water or bring along a lunch to eat at the nearby picnic tables.
LushAcres Farm, about an hour from Greenville, SC, is a pretty fascinating place that has animals, a playground, and lots of fun seasonal activities.
LushAcres Farm is set on more than 300 acres and has been in existence since around 1875. They have a really fascinating history and have combined over a century of farming with agritourism and taking care of children who need it most.
Jumping pad at LushAcres
About LushAcres Farm
LushAcres Farm in Clinton, South Carolina, is an extension of Thornwell, a large non-profit connected to the farm that takes care of foster children, vets and aids foster families, and has two schools on campus. Their mission is to directly prevent child abuse and neglect and make sure every child knows they are loved.
Thornwell began its mission in 1875 when they started housing orphans after the Civil War. During the Great Depression, LushAcres fed its residents and others nearby with the harvests from their crops. And now they support the children in foster care through events at the farm, their farm market, their strawberry patch, and their seasonal activities.
The Farming Side of LushAcres
The farm grows many types of vegetables and fruits like tomatoes, corn, strawberries, pumpkins, and peppers. They have u-pick strawberries in the spring, which are deliciously sweet and juicy due to the soil the plants are grown in.
Strawberries at LushAcres
The farm also has a beef share and raises the cattle from start to finish of the entire process. The cattle are all grass-fed and you can contact the farm to arrange to purchase a beef share.
They raise their own chickens and have a host of other barnyard animals for the public to see like adorable, fluffy alpacas, goats, and even Highland cows.
Be sure to stop by the farm market for fresh produce, meat raised on the farm, and goodies from local vendors like soap, candles, honey, and pickled vegetables.
U-Pick Strawberries
The strawberry fields at LushAcres are gorgeous and the berries look oh-so-good and juicy. The soil is exceptionally rich here so the berries turn out to be sweet and juicy.
The farm is currently open (as of April 12, 2024) for u-pick strawberries. They are $18/gallon. Always check their Facebook page or Instagram or call before you go as the weather can affect their u-pick field.
Also, they do have wheelchair-accessible strawberry picking available. There aren’t many berries yet but the plants are at an accessible height and wheelchairs are able to use the path to get there.
Accessible strawberries at LushAcres
Agritourism at LushAcres
A big part of the LushAcres Farm experience today is their agritourism. The farm hosts a Spring Festival (May 4, 2024 from 10 am – 5 pm), a Fall Festival every Saturday in October, and a Corn Maze After Dark experience near Halloween. They also have u-pick strawberries in the spring and offer field trips for schools.
The farm has a big playground with the biggest and best corn pit I’ve ever seen, a gaga ball area, a big slide and wall climbing spot, tires to run on, basketball hoops, a jumping pillow, and swings made of tires. There’s also a large picnic area.
For those who want a little extra fun, gem mining is available as well. My kids and I had a blast on the playground and I made some snow (corn?) angels in the corn pit. The playground is open whenever the farm market is open so this is a great spot to pick up local food and berries while the kids play!
LushAcres Corn Pit
The barnyard is open as well where you can see chickens, cows, goats, and two ginormous pigs.
Fun fact: they have a therapy cow where foster children who need a little extra confidence when learning to read can go read to. The therapy cow is non-judgemental and loves to hear stories while the kids gain confidence. Win-win.
Visiting LushAcres Farm
You can visit LushAcres when the Farm Market is open, which is Tuesday – Friday from 9 am – 5 pm and Saturdays from 9 am – 1 pm.
LushAcres playground
You can also check them out during special events like the Spring Festival on Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 10 am – 5 pm. Admission is $12/person and kids ages 2 and under are free. They will have local vendors, food trucks, and the playground and strawberry patch will be open.
Proceeds from events and the farm market go right back into supporting the children at Thornwell and their foster care mission. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster family, visit Thornwell’s website.
Hours: Sunday-Monday Closed Tuesday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm Saturday 9 am to 1 pm
Ready to get outside and play? These playgrounds in Spartanburg, SC are perfect for playtime! You’ve read about the wonderful playgrounds that Spartanburg and the surrounding area have, but after a long winter of planning indoor activities, here is a reminder of some of the best playgrounds in Spartanburg you can revisit, or check out for the first time.
Are you looking for places to go fishing in Greenville, SC and around the Upstate? Fishing is a super fun activity to do with the kids, and we have a list of great fishing spots for families. So, grab your fishing pole, tackle, and line because we are sharing a list of great places for fishing in Greenville, SC, and the Upstate.
There is something quite magical about the moment when a small child wrestles a tiny fishing rod with a wriggling bream at the end. Their smile can be seen from outer space. No matter if the poor tiny thing will be tossed back or become dinner, everyone remembers their first fish. Read on for some great fishing lakes under an hour’s drive from Greenville where you can take your kids for their next worm-and-hook adventure.
Looking for a campground that doesn’t require reservations months ahead? The Burrells Ford area is a great home base for a weekend of adventure, and KAG contributor Liene has all the details. You’ll find waterfalls, hiking, and an excellent campground at Burrells Ford Campground!
Burrells Ford Campground: A convenient location and interesting background
Despite being in a remote corner of the state, Burrells Ford remains a crossroads: historical and natural. The old wagon road (and later logging road) that forded the Chattooga was replaced with gravel Forest Service Road 708 (FS 708 or Burrells Ford Road) in 1968, allowing access to the section of the state bordering Georgia and North Carolina. Here the Foothills Trail intersects with the Chattooga Trail and East Fork Trail. Ellicott Rock Wilderness overlaps the Wild & Scenic Chattooga River corridor.
Spur trails to Burrells Ford and Spoonauger Falls depart from multiple trailheads. And three National Forests – the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Nantahala, and Andrew Pickens ranger district of Sumter National Forest – converge to form one giant natural area.
But the region remains wild. Isolated, winding mountain roads require 1 ½ hours driving time to reach the campground from Greenville, including the last 3 miles on gravel Burrells Ford Road. At one point those wishing to camp at the Burrells Ford campground could drive right to their campsite, but all that changed when the Chattooga River received the “Wild & Scenic” designation in 1974.
Now parking is in a lot just off the gravel road, and requires a ½ mile hike down the old road bed to reach the campground.
How to Find the Campground and Nearby Trails
The confluence of trails can provide some confusion, and the mileages can be hard to pin down. There are two parking areas: one for the campground, and a second closer to the Chattooga on the edge of Ellicott Rock Wilderness. The Chattooga Trail (blazed green) stays along the river through the campground and emerges at this second parking area, while the Foothills Trail (blazed white) curves away from the river south of the campground and emerges adjacent to the campground parking area.
There are several connector trails from the Foothills Trail to the Chattooga Trail, as well as additional spur trails to the waterfalls. Add in to that East Fork Trail leading to the only other road in this corner of the state (Fish Hatchery Road), and a not-very-accurate map posted at the trailheads, and you have an idea of why you need to come prepared with a good map if you’re planning on doing any hiking.
We used National Geographic’s Sumter National Forest map on our Chattooga Trail hike, but later I utilized a Forest Service map to make a more detailed version of the campground area, as seen here.
Map of Burrells Ford campground area, as adapted from USFS map.
About The Burrells Ford Campground
Close enough to Greenville that you would still have daylight to set up camp after a Friday evening arrival, or you could pitch camp Saturday and then spend the day exploring. Just make sure to park at the first parking area (for the campground), and then follow the road down to where you’ll have your pick of tent sites.
You’ve got bear-proof trash receptacles near the restrooms (in reality pit toilets, but luxurious compared to the alternative), and picnic tables, lantern posts, fire rings & bear poles in each campground. Some of the sites are right along the Chattooga, while others are scattered through the woods.
Remember to pack appropriately, as your return trip will be all uphill. The walk in possibly deters a portion of the car campers, and the campsites cannot be reserved ahead of time; plan accordingly.
Ellicott Rock
Things to do Near Burrells Ford Campground
Hiking
From the campground take a hike to Ellicott Rock Wilderness following the Chattooga Trail; Ellicott Rock is about 4 miles north (one way), but scenic Spoonauger Falls is less than a mile. Or, head south on the Chattooga/Foothills Trail, destination Oconee State Park (16.4 miles), Ridley Fields (11.8 miles), the Bartram Trail junction (8.1 miles) or Cherry Hill campground (about 10 miles). Of course, you could just go ahead and hike the rest of the Foothills Trail – 59.8 miles to Table Rock State Park!
Chattooga River
Fishing
Burrells Ford is the gateway to some of the most premium trout water in the Southeast. The SC DNR stocks the river with rainbow, brown, and native brook trout grown nearby at the Fish Hatchery. The river is easily accessed from Chattooga Trail & most of the campsites, and even in October the boys were happy to get their feet wet.
Spoonauger Falls
Waterfalls
The high point of a stop at Burrells Ford is the proximity to two of the most picturesque waterfalls in South Carolina, King Creek Falls and Spoonauger Falls. King Creek Falls is just west of the campground, and is a 70-foot, tiered waterfall that is less than a mile, roundtrip (about 1.4 there and back if you’re starting at the campground parking area). Spoonauger Falls is a 50-foot beauty, a short hike up a series of switchbacks from the Chattooga Trail.
King Creek Falls
This post was originally published on the blog Femme au Foyer.
Find more amazing things to do outdoors!
10+ Family Friendly Bike Trails: Greenville, SC
Mom Review: Lakeside Park in Piedmont, SC
Tyger River Park Has One of the Biggest Playgrounds Around: Spartanburg, SC
The SC7 Expedition is once again exploring the state from the mountains to the sea, this year in April and May 2024! The name South Carolina 7 represents seven natural wonders in our state, including National Geographic-recognized ecological areas and historical sites such as the Jocassee Gorges, Sassafras Mountain, and the Chattooga River.
Kidding Around covered this epic month-long event in 2021; you can find everything about that year’s route in our article South Carolina’s Top 30 Beautiful Natural Spots! This year the team is following a similar path across the state, with a few new locations – including several in the Upstate.
Waterfalls, wilderness areas, wildflowers and epic views… No, we’re not talking about a national park somewhere out west, but our very own Foothills Trail! Backpacker magazine rated it as “one of the best long trails (fifty-plus miles) in the country,” and it traverses the Jocassee Gorges, which National Geographic named one of “50 of the World’s Last Great Places—Destinations of a Lifetime”… this isn’t just any walk in the park! Well-suited for a through-hike for families looking for a challenge, yet accessible even for the shortest day-trip ramble, the Foothills Trail is rapidly gaining notoriety as one of the premier trails in the southeast.
Are you planning to celebrate the berry season with one of the many berry festivals near Greenville, SC? South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia have several berry festivals is spring and summer worth a visit to. What better item to celebrate with a festival than juicy, sweet berries?
Strawberries, Blueberries, and Blackberries are celebrated nationwide; luckily, we have a handful of festivals that are accessible to the Upstate! If you’re a huge fan of these vitamin-packed gems, you can plan your summer vacation to include part of a festival a little further from home!
