West Columbia/Cayce Riverwalk, SC

Have you been to any of the River Walks in Columbia, SC? We are lucky to have access to four scenic walks: The West Columbia Riverwalk, the Columbia Riverfront and Historic Canal, the Saluda Riverwalk and the Cayce Riverwalk. They are all easy, beautiful, with paved sections and scenic boardwalks. I met some friends at the West Columbia Riverwalk on June 6 2024 and took my camera along. There are plenty of photo opportunities. I am attached to this park in particular because I took my son and his then fiancée’s engagement photos in it. The walk is quite lovely, parallel to the Congaree River amid old trees and spectacular riverfront houses.

The park has at least three entrances with bathrooms. I usually park by the open-air amphitheater (109 Alexander Rd). There are bathrooms there as well as an additional parking lot across the street. I am always captivated by the amazing view of the iconic Gervais Street bridge from this park. It is my first stop when I have guests visiting Columbia for the first time. It is picturesque in any season. From this entrance, you can walk to the left under the Gervais bridge for about 0.4 miles to reach one end of the park just past the Jarvis Klapman Blvd. bridge in West Columbia. You can then turn around and pass the amphitheater to walk to the other end toward Cayce. The trail is called the three River Greenway. It meanders past the riverfront houses leading you under the Blossom Street bridge then onto a nice boardwalk, past a covered picnic shelter. This is where it connects with the Cayce Riverwalk. You will walk past two railroad bridges and the Granby Lock, before reaching the end of the Three River Greenway at Kelley Jones Park in Cayce. There is a small playground and restrooms in this neighborhood park. We went back from here. My phone clocked about 6 miles roundtrip. Note that one could potentially walk through the neighborhood and reconnect with the Cayce Riverwalk from this point.

I highly recommend visiting especially if it is new to you. I drive downtown often to enjoy a scenic walk.

Reference web site West Columbia Riverwalk Map, Cayce Riverwalk, Cayce Riverwalk map, The River Alliance, West Columbia Riverwalk