Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park, Columbia: Photos, Reviews & Location

Old pump houses shed light on the canal works amid natural hiking & biking trails & picnic tables.

At a glance

#8 of 44 Tourist attractions in Columbia #8 of 44 Parks in Columbia

LocalGuideWorld score: 4.70

2.7 km from the center of Columbia

Rating breakdown

5 ★80%
4 ★16%
3 ★3%
2 ★1%
1 ★1%

312 Laurel St, Columbia, SC 29201, United States

parksandrec.columbiasc.gov

+1 803-545-3100

Photos of Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park (72)

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Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park, Columbia – photo 1

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Quick facts

What is the rating of Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park?: Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park is rated 4.7 out of 5 based on 5,189 reviews.
How does Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park rank in Columbia?: Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park is #8 of 44 Tourist attractions in Columbia by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
Where is Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park located?: 312 Laurel St, Columbia, SC 29201, United States — 2.7 km from the center of Columbia.
How can I contact Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park?: Phone: +1 803-545-3100 · Website: parksandrec.columbiasc.gov

Reviews (9)

Helmut Pilz 2023 Dec 09

Very nice walking trail along the river

Steven Abbott 2023 Nov 10

This was a really nice place to walk by myself. I took a lot of nice photos and enjoyed the beautiful fall weather. The bridges, canal, trees with Spanish moss, and river were so beautiful.

John Soul 2023 Nov 06

I didn't have time to walk far but this was a beautiful well built Riverwalk. I will have to come back soon.

Beth McK 2023 Sep 12

This is a great easy walking or biking trail. You can walk for miles. It is busy on Saturdays, but Sundays in the evening are great for biking. There is a grassy area with places to set up hammocks or sit by the river.

Matthew Wardrip 2023 Aug 26

Really nice place to go for a walk by the old canal. 2.5 mile walk one way with a lot of places to stop and rest if needed.

Diamond C 2023 Jul 29

Relaxing & beautiful, relatively flat (1small hill), paved place to run. They have a lot of places to sit (benches, picnic tables) along the trail & trails off the trail so if you needed to sit, you can. I didn't see any restrooms along the trail before I hit 2.5 miles but I did see a sign close to the beginning of the trail that said use porta potties at the beginning of the trail... so if you have to use the restroom before 2.5 you may be screwed but maybe they are fixing it.

They have signs posted about the wildlife so be mindful of that.

I enjoyed my run out here. Did 2.5 down until I got to the huge dam then turned around. Im sure I could've kept going but not sure how much more. It was perfect for my workout though.

I went around 0830, there were quite a few people out but everyone stayed to themselves. There were people with strollers, runners, walkers, people on bikes and scooters. Every one was respectful. Did see one person (out of maybe 30 people during my 50 mins) with their dog not on a leash though. Not too bad but I hate that lol

I wouldn't recommend doing this path at night, I'm not sure how the lighting is but it's too many ditches, tree and debris next to the path and bridges you have to go under for me. There are also paths from the woods people were coming out of, so yeah.

It was very clean, didn't see any trash along the path, easy to find parking and the trail.

I would recommend this trail for running, biking, walking, etc.

lilwetduckie 2023 Jun 27

I go out to run with my dog. It is a great place to get miles in. There isn't much shade so I'd be sure to sunscreen up. It is well maintained. You can stop and overlook the river. It's got great views. The canal side has some fun critters (we saw an alligator this last time). I've spotted deer, frogs and turtles.

My son and I just ran a 5k out there.

Kareem Ferguson 1 2023 Apr 15

Excellent place for families and people who enjoy the outdoors. Very nice walking trail. Handicap accessible in some areas. Might be challenging to get close to the canal near the turtles. Great views. The telescope vision Midway through the canal walk I think was our favorite section of the trail. Pedestrian traffic, I would say was moderate.

James McCallum 2023 Mar 14

A great, scenic path along the river in downtown Columbia. Both history buffs and nature lovers will enjoy this path. Dripping with Spanish moss, water fowl, and more turtles than you can imagine, it's a great spot for both a casual trek or serious exercise. Perfect for biking, walking, jogging, or just ambling. Underutilized.