5 Columbia area trails to explore on Saturday’s National Trails Day

What better way to celebrate National Trails Day than to hike or bike one of the trails in the Columbia area?

The American Hiking Society encourages everyone to get out on Saturday, June 4, and enjoy “America’s magnificent trail system,” which includes South Carolina’s Palmetto Trail.

National Trails Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in June in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. More than 2,000 events nationwide will celebrate trails of all sizes and shapes.

“National Trails Day is a fun way to celebrate the great outdoors,” said Natalie Britt, executive director of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, in a news release.

The Palmetto Trail, one of only 16 cross-state trails, is a series of 26 passages totaling 350 trail miles that stretch from Oconee County to Awendaw. Eventually, the Palmetto Trail will offer users access to 500 continuous, maintained trail miles from mountains to sea for hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, camping and horseback riding.

If you want to celebrate National Trails Day by walking or biking closer to home, here are five parks with trails worthy of celebrating.

1. Sesquicentennial State Park

A favorite of the four trails at Sesquicentennial State Park is the fairly easy 1.9-mile hiking trail that circles the lake. The loop starts at the sand parking lot near the boat house. A number of boardwalks cross wet areas, which are home for a variety of birds. From the bridge over Jackson Creek, you will see a waterfall and a connection to the Jackson Creek Nature Trail. In the spring and early summer, you’ll see wildflowers and enjoy the cinnamon scent of sweet pepperbush.

Another popular option is the Sesqui Mountain Bike Trail. The 6.1-mile trail starts riders on a sandy roadbed. The single-track loop winds and rolls through a pine forest with a fast and sandy bottom.

9564 Two Notch Rd. www.southcarolinaparks.com/sesqui/sq-trails.aspx

2. Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park not only has nine trails ranging from .3 to 11.7 miles, but it also has fireflies for the next several days if you visit at night. A popular option at Congaree is the Boardwalk Loop Trail, a 2.4-mile trek that begins on a bluff at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center with an elevated section that leads into the old-growth bottomland hardwood forest. The boardwalk has benches along the way and is wheelchair- and stroller-accessible.

“It’s a scenic, shaded walk with huge trees,” says Dawn Dawson House, spokesperson for South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism. “Definitely don’t forget the insect repellent!”

100 National Park Road, Hopkins, www.nps.gov/cong/planyourvisit/Trail-Information.htm

3. Poinsett State Park in Manchester State Forest

Certain trails at Poinsett State Park connect to the Palmetto Trail, which goes through Manchester State Forest and Mill Creek County Park.

Hiking trails that can be accessed from the park include Coquina Trail, Laurel Group Trail, Hill Top Trail and Scout Trail, as well as the Santee and Wateree passages of the Palmetto Trail.

To celebrate National Trails Day, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation will host camping Friday and Saturday nights at Poinsett State Park. PCF has reserved primitive camp areas and will provide lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.

Hiking will be offered for different levels of skill. There will be a nature hike and a family hike for beginners, and an intermediate hike is planned for those with more experience. There also will be two mountain bike rides – one following a short course and the other a long course – and a mountain bike obstacle course.

Evening activities will include a community campfire and a night hike.

Event descriptions, schedules and registration forms can be found at www.palmettoconservation.org. Registration is required for all activities, as space in each activity is limited to 25 participants. Each participant, including children, must register individually.

Manchester State Forest, 6740 Headquarters Road, Wedgefield, www.state.sc.us/forest/refman.htm and Poinsett State Park, 6660 Poinsett Park Road, Wedgefield, southcarolinaparks.com/poinsett/poinsett-things.aspx.

4. Harbison State Forest

Harbison State Forest has 18 miles of trails designed for walking, jogging, hiking and bicycling that range from moderately easy to difficult. Spider Woman II Trail is a popular option because part of it hugs the Broad River.

5500 Broad River Road, www.state.sc.us/forest/refhartg.htm#guide

5. Riverfront Park

Columbia’s Riverfront Park has a 2.5-mile jogging/walking trail that runs along the linear park and offers views of the Congaree River. The 167-acre park separates the historic Columbia Canal and the Congaree River, just west of Huger Street in downtown Columbia.

312 Laurel Street, www.columbiasc.net/parks-recreation/facilities/regional-parks

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 6:53 PM.