As Asheville locals, we love biking the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, South Carolina. See our favorite attractions, charming towns, local restaurants and shops, and even breweries along the pathway for a fun biking (or walking) experience. All photos and experiences are our own.
We drive from Asheville to enjoy this terrific trail, a day trip which ranges from about 1 hour (Travelers Rest) to 1 hour and 20 minutes (Downtown Greenville) by car for us. If you do not live nearby, grab my Greenville, SC weekend itinerary filled with fun things to do and where to stay.
Swamp Rabbit Trail Quick Stats
Similar to Western North Carolina’s Thermal Belt Rail Trail, Greenville boasts the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail (SRT), perfect for all-age walkers, hikers, bikers, and skaters. This well-labeled, largely safe, and fun rails-to-trails system is filled with sculptures, pavilions, bridges, a zoo, and public parks. We prefer bicycling on the trail.
They are always adding new portions to this trail.
If you prefer guided tours, be sure to check out this electric bike tour of the SRT. And, see where else we love to bike around Asheville – road and mountain bike trails.
SRT Attractions & Points Of Interest
These are just a few notable Upstate attractions, memorials, and stops along the trail across Greenville County.
Greenville Zoo
While the SRT doesn’t go through the actual zoo enclosures, it runs parallel. If you have time and are biking with young children, we highly recommend spending an hour seeing the well-cared-for animals. The giraffe family is extremely popular. See orangutans, snakes, turtles, monkeys, owls, and more. Purchase tickets online or at the gates. This is a great area to park.
Greenville Zoo | 150 Cleveland Park Dr, Greenville, SC 29601
Cleveland Park & F-86 Sabre
The pilot half of Uncorked Asheville (Tom) loves airplanes. Find an F-86 Sabre in Cleveland Park, a memorial to Greenville native, Major Rudolf Anderson Jr., the only American casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Anderson was shot down over Cuba in 1962 in his spy plane. The plane on display is said to be similar to the ones he flew during his time in Korea.
Along with this memorial, Cleveland Park is home to 122 acres of trails, workout stations, picnic areas, playgrounds, and tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts. On the way to Falls Park on the Reedy from Cleveland Park, pass Cancer Survivors Park, which has sculptures, walkways, and a pavilion.
Cleveland Park | 150 Cleveland Park Dr, Greenville, SC 29601
Falls Park on the Reedy/Downtown Greenville
Stroll pathways to gorgeous wildflowers and gardens, around cascading waterfalls and the Reedy River, past the Grand Bohemian Lodge (we’ve stayed here), and through numerous seating areas and vantage points. The 20-acre park is close to restaurants and hotels, has public restrooms, and is filled with couples on romantic dates, runners, dog walkers, and families.
The iconic Liberty Bridge is a 345-foot-long and 12-foot-wide curved bridge supported by a single suspension cable. The Swamp Rabbit bike path curves into the park around the stage area and up to a concrete pathway along the water through food, artist studios, and hotels.
Falls Park on the Reedy | 601 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601
Swamp Rabbit Station At Berea/Mural
The Swamp Rabbit bike trail has numerous places to stop to fill water bottles, tune up bikes with emergency tools, and double-check maps. One of the most iconic stops includes Swamp Rabbit Station at Berea, which you can’t miss with its green train car and colorful mural. A project by Adam Schrimmer of Blank Canvas Mural Company, the mural reads “We rise by lifting others” and is an ode to Berea’s history.
Just past the mural, there is also a small and heartbreaking memorial to local teacher, Carli Brewer Soukup, a hit-and-run victim who was crossing the trail at Sulphur Springs Road.
Furman University Campus
Along the trail, pass a gorgeous private liberal arts college, Furman University. This is another access point to the trail from the campus with a public, 1.5-mile scenic pathway along Furman Lake.
Most notably, spy the gorgeous Florentine bell tower, which has a history dating back to 1854 when Furman was originally an all-male campus. The tower you see today is a replica.
Downtown Travelers Rest
Travelers Rest has a busy but walkable downtown and Main Street filled with local businesses, including restaurants, cafes, an outdoor adventure store, and shops. Think ice cream, pizza, and the Swamp Rabbit Brewery and Taproom, with indoor and outdoor seating and plenty of rabbit decor.
We enjoy a margarita flight from Farmhouse Tacos, and book shopping at As the Page Turns. Not to mention the quirky and fun Whistle Stop at The American Cafe, which has Hawaiian ice and pub grub. A hidden gem, we love pho at TruBroth (no website; 36 A S Main St.).
City of Travelers Rest | 125 Trailblazer Drive, Travelers Rest, SC 29690
Where To Eat & Drink Along The Swamp Rabbit Trail
As foodies, we appreciate a bike trail with stops for food and drinks, both hydrating and, well… boozy.
Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery
Ask anyone where to stop along Greenville’s Swamp Rabbit Trail, and they will most likely say Swamp Rabbit Cafe. It’s a must. Along with a gourmet grocery store filled with flowers, local food and produce, gourmet items, and wine, head to the free-standing cafe stand for lunch or dinner, including vegan, veggie, and GF options like sandwiches and bowls. They have bike racks and a children’s play area.
Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery | 205 Cedar Lane Rd, Greenville, SC 29611
Pangaea Brewing Company
Pangaea Brewing Company is a great brewery stop with indoor and outdoor seating (gluten-reduced beer too!). If it’s your first time, grab a flight, selecting from IPAs, Goses, Hefeweizens, Helles, Wheat Ales, and more. Pangaea has non-alcoholic kombucha and hard seltzers.
Pangaea Brewing Company | 115 Welborn St Suite A, Greenville, SC 29601
Southernside Brewing Co.
Southernside Brewing sits across the small bridge from Pangaea and The Commons. They boast indoor seating, a comfy outdoor patio, and games. Grab a local brew, cocktails, and pub grub like wings, dips, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, and salads. Their kids’ menu features items like chicken tenders, grilled cheese, and hot dogs.
Southernside Brewing Co. | 25 Delano Dr. Unit D, Greenville, SC 29601
Swamp Rabbit Trail Parking
There are plenty of places to park to access the trail, both free as well as pay lots and garages. For Swamp Rabbit Trail parking, we recommend:
- Cleveland Park/Greenville Zoo (150 Cleveland Park Dr, Greenville)
- Falls Park (601 S. Main St, Greenville)
- Unity Park (320 S Hudson St, Greenville)
- Gateway Park (115 Henderson Dr, Travelers Rest)
For cyclists, Cleveland Park and the Greenville Zoo are my go-tos. Enjoy easy access to picnic areas, playgrounds, restrooms, and the zoo. Parking is free, with plenty of people around for safety. There’s less car traffic than parking in Traveler’s Rest’s Gateway Park, another solid option for day-trippers.
Where To Rent Bikes
While we have mountain bikes (road bikes are great for this trail), two popular spots for Swamp Rabbit Trail bike rentals include:
- Reedy Rides (50 S Richardson St, Greenville) – 7-speed comfort cruisers with accessories for adults and families
- Greenville BCycle (Stations across Greenville)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 28-mile, multi-use greenway trail running through Greenville, SC’s parks and attractions. The trail is perfect for road and mountain bikers, skaters, walkers, and hikers.
The Swamp Rabbit Trail is both pet and family-friendly. Dogs must be well-behaved and remain leashed. For families, find gentle inclines/declines, multiple parks, shaded spaces, picnic areas at parks, restroom stops, and benches for breaks.