Columbia is South Carolina’s capital and second-largest city. It’s located in the central part of the state at the convergence of the Saluda, Broad, and Congaree rivers. Columbia rests on the traditional lands of the Mississippian culture, and was a key city in the U.S. Civil War. Today, “Cola” or the “Soda City” is best known as the home of the University of South Carolina and for its large Army and National Guard bases. There are great places for running in Columbia is a great place to run, with greenways along the rivers, beautiful neighborhoods, and lots of surrounding forest land.
The most popular place to run near the center of Columbia is the Three Rivers Greenway, starting from Riverfront Park. Local forests and recreation areas like Harbison State Forest, Saluda Shoals, Lake Murray Public Park, and Sesquicentennial State Park also have a multitude of trails. For those who prefer pavement, or routes nearer to the city, we’ve also pointed out the best residential neighborhoods for running in Columbia. For a longer off-road trail, the Peak Prosperity multi-use trail, a section of the Palmetto Trail, starts in Alston (25 miles northwest of Coluimbia).
The neon COMET busses are an unmistakable staple in Columbia’s public transportation system. They’ll take you to the start of nearly any route for $2. The Soda Cap Connector Bus, which links some of the main tourist areas, is free. Same goes for the “E-Rover” downtown courtesy shuttle. The bike share and ride share scene is also laudable, so you’ll only need to bring or rent a car as a last resort.
