Greenville: Nature, Trails and Culture

A trip to Greenville can take many different forms. In Greenville County, Paris Mountain State Park and Caesars Head State Park are two of the three state parks; other highlights range from river landscapes to art, regional history and baseball. When choosing a hotel, it helps to decide first whether you’d rather spend your time outdoors, visit exhibitions or combine both.

Lakes, Trails and River Landscapes

Self-service kayak rentals are available at Lake Placid in Paris Mountain State Park. Availability may vary by season, so check before your visit to see whether rentals are available for your travel dates.

At Caesars Head State Park, the Raven Cliff Falls Trail is a four-mile loop leading to a viewpoint overlooking the 420-foot Raven Cliff Falls. Four miles refers to the entire loop; the destination is a viewpoint. At Jones Gap State Park, fishing is available for brook, rainbow and brown trout in the Middle Saluda, Matthews Creek and Julian Creek. The highlights are different: the Raven Cliff Falls Trail focuses on the loop distance and viewpoint, while Jones Gap is known for its fish species and named waterways.

In southern Greenville County, the Reedy River widens to more than 200 feet at Cedar Falls Park and cascades over rocks and boulders. Unlike the Raven Cliff Falls Trail, whose destination is a viewpoint, here the river itself shapes the nature experience. The wide river and water cascading over rocks and boulders offer a different perspective on the landscape.

The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail system offers another way to get active. Since opening in 2009, it has grown into a 32-mile trail network that continues to expand and runs through Fountain Inn, Greenville and Travelers Rest. Across Greenville County, it provides opportunities for community mobility. The figures describe different things: a four-mile loop on the one hand, and a growing, 32-mile trail network on the other.

Art, History and Baseball

Campbell’s Covered Bridge is the only surviving covered bridge in the state of South Carolina. This distinction makes the bridge a notable historic landmark. While a museum conveys art or regional history, here the focus is on a specific structure.

The Greenville County Museum of Art houses the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by American artist Andrew Wyeth. The Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County tells the story of South Carolina’s Upcountry across two floors of permanent and changing exhibition galleries. The two institutions have different focuses: one centers on a single artist and an art form, while the other explores the history of a region through permanent and changing displays.

The Greenville Zoo offers rotating free educational programs at select exhibits. Since program details may change, it’s worth checking the latest information before your visit.

The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum is located in the house Joe and Katie built in 1940. On the eight-acre park grounds behind Brandon Mill, a baseball field is the main feature; Shoeless Joe played on this field in the Textile League. This offers two distinct historical connections: the history of the house’s construction and Jackson’s play on the field in the Textile League.

Discover More Places

Discover more destinations: Mauldin, Simpsonville, Fountain Inn, Taylors, Welcome, Greer, Travelers Rest, Judson, Greenville, Batesville

For the higher-level travel overview: South Carolina.