Want to burn off Thanksgiving calories? Try these hiking trails near Columbia
There’s plenty of places around Columbia if you’re looking to work off the turkey, mashed potatoes, collard greens and pumpkin pie you consumed Thursday, and if you’re trying to avoid the mall crowds.
The Columbia-area has several hiking nearby hiking opportunities to burn those calories.
Here are some trails and paths to check out:
▪ Saluda Riverwalk: The 7.3-mile path is family-friendly, with picnic tables for those leftover turkey sandwiches from Thursday’s dinner. 398 Candi Lane
▪ Columbia Canal Path: It’s a 5.2-mile paved path that is kid friendly, according to alltrails.com. It follows the levy between the canal and the river. 312 Laurel St.
▪ Fort Jackson passage: The 16-mile route borders Fort Jackson and is parallel to Leesburg Road. However, the trail is far enough away from that you can enjoy the beauty and wildlife of this wooded area.
▪ Southeast Park: It has a 6-mile trail with dirt, paved and boardwalk surfaces. It goes through woods and around a pond. The South Carolina Trails said there’s a chance to see white egrets. 951 Hazelwood Road
▪ Congaree National Park: It has 25 miles worth of hiking trails and 2.4 miles of boardwalk paths. The boardwalk trail has access to Weston Lake and other trails go through the floodplain. 100 National Park Road in Hopkins
Sesquicentennial State Park
The park at 9564 Two Notch Road has several paths:
▪ Sesqui Mountain Bike trail is an moderately difficult trail according to the SCtrails.net. The 6-mile loop trail has a sand and dirt surface
▪ Jackson Creek Nature Trail is a half-mile long trail with a mix of sand, paved and boardwalk surfaces
▪ Loop Trail is a 3.5-mile path, and is good for joggers, hikers and bicyclists
▪ Sandhills Hiking trail is a 2-mile loop has a mix of paved, boardwalk and sand surfaces and is stroller friendly
Paths near the Sandhill Research and Education Center
The Sandhill Research and Education Center, at 900 Clemson Road, also has a few paths, but is outside of town.
▪ Hardwood wetland trail has a path that is 1.2 miles long. Near the trail is the Conservation Station, with kiosks about soil, geology, forestry, wildlife, air quality and water. The water kiosk includes a dock to view the lake habitat and wildlife.
▪ Lake Loop is 2 miles long. It goes through a forest of pines and hardwood trees, and has several spots to look at the scenic views.
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 12:46 PM.
