Discover Richland: Nature, Trails and Culture

Richland offers different perspectives on nature and culture: forest landscapes, trails alongside bodies of water and museums each add their own character. When planning a stay, visitors can focus on specific features—for example, whether a trail follows a lake, a tour explores history or a museum turns the spotlight on space.

Forest Landscapes and Trails by the Water

Congaree National Park combines an old-growth, undisturbed bottomland hardwood forest with a pine forest on higher ground. Flooding and fire shape this pine forest. As a result, two different types of woodland sit side by side: bottomland forest and higher-elevation pine forest. The Cedar Creek Canoe Trail runs for approximately 15 miles through the Congaree Wilderness, from Bannister’s Bridge to the Congaree River.

Richland County is also home to a wide variety of natural landscapes, including areas with cypress knees, mountain laurel, rocky streams, ancient sand dunes and tall pines. At Pinewood Lake Park, visitors can take in the lake and forest together. The park covers 44 acres and includes a 20-acre lake. Its scenic trail is 0.4 miles long and runs along the shore and through mixed hardwood forests; some sections are paved and fairly level.

For a longer loop, try the Sandhills Trail in Sesquicentennial State Park: The approximately two-mile trail is mostly flat and largely paved, and loops around the park lake. The two routes differ considerably in length: the Sandhills Trail is longer than the 0.4-mile trail at Pinewood Lake Park. At Riverfront Park, running and walking trails extend from downtown to the dam. The Riverbanks Botanical Garden adds views of the Saluda River, wooded trails, historic ruins, Waterfall Junction Children’s Garden and a walled garden to its trails and landscapes.

Museums, History and Special Experiences

The Columbia Museum of Art is located at 1515 Main Street in downtown Columbia, with public parking garages nearby. Photography on Boyd Plaza is free and open to everyone. The museum’s Docent Corps offers groups guided tours of the collection and exhibitions. Historic Columbia runs tours of historically significant areas in Columbia and Richland County. Together, these offerings provide different ways to explore: art and exhibitions on the one hand, and the history of specific areas on the other.

The Robert Mills House is one of only five National Historic Landmarks in Columbia. Its museum includes historic rooms and galleries featuring 18th- and 19th-century decorative arts. The planetarium at the South Carolina State Museum focuses on something different: its 55-foot digital dome hosts presentations on the vastness of space. The Boeing Observatory at the same museum features a historic telescope, an outdoor viewing terrace and an adjacent classroom.

EdVenture Columbia offers immersive, hands-on interactive activities for visitors of all ages. The program centers on problem-solving challenges and opportunities for imaginative discovery. Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, by contrast, offers themed glimpses into the animal world: It is home to more than 3,000 animals from over 400 species, with experiences including coral reefs, the African plains and the Australian Outback. The two destinations appeal to different interests—interactive discovery and glimpses into diverse habitats.

For a self-guided introduction to African American history, Richland County offers “Enrich: African American History Tour,” a mobile tour of landmarks and notable places throughout the county. App availability and technical features may change; check before your visit. As a dated example of local events, the Richland County Ag + Art Tour was held for the 14th time in 2025, showcasing local farms, art studios and community markets. The tour format described uses suggested routes and a passport-style check-in at each stop.

Discover more destinations: Hopkins, Columbia, Eastover, Blythewood, Elgin, Woodfield, Colleton County, Greenville.

For the main travel overview: South Carolina.