Your Ultimate Guide to Bike Trails in the Upstate

Are you looking for a place to ride bikes as a family? Maybe you’re looking for scenic bike trails? Greenville, SC has quickly grown into a bicyclist haven since the creation of the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail. With that, more natural and paved biking trails have emerged. Below, you will find a list of some of the best bike trails Greenville, SC and the surrounding area have to offer. Don’t have your own bike? Don’t worry! You will also find places to rent bikes if you don’t have your own.

Biking can involve the whole family – whether the kids are old enough to ride on their own or ride in a trailer or on a bike seat. Here’s our list of family-friendly bike trails in and near Greenville, SC. 

Tune-ups, New Bike, and Bike Rentals: Greenville, SC

Don’t have a bike? Looking for bike rentals? Greenville has several places to help you out!

There is no shortage of bike shops in the area that will rent you a bike for a few hours or a whole day. Or is your bike so old that you’re unsure it works correctly or is it safe to ride? Bike shops also offer tune-ups (anywhere from $25-$80+) so you can be sure your ride is safe and efficient.

(some of these places also rent trailers for kids to ride in so just call and check if you need one of those)

Where to Ride a Bike in the Greenville, SC Area

Once you have your bike, strap on your helmet, grab the water bottle, and get moving on some of these local paths.

Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail

Named one of the Top 10 Urban Bike Paths in America, the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail is the first and most obvious choice. This multi-use paved trail runs along the Reedy River and connects everything from the Greenville Zoo to the Children’s Garden to my favorite place in town, the Swamp Rabbit Café, and Grocery.

Gateway Park, Travelers Rest

Gateway Park has both some on and off-road trails but even so, most of the off-road trails are packed dirt. It’s best for mountain bikes and they have easy to difficult trails, which are marked. A pump track is there as well.

115 Henderson Drive, Travelers Rest

Paris Mountain, Greenville

This beautiful park has an abundance of trails but break out the mountain bike for these routes. Paris Mountain also includes an 11-mile single-track intermediate mountain bike trail available with an elevation of just over 1,000 feet, but there are other less laborious trails. This is considered one of the best mountain bike trails in the Greenville area. You get a reward of great views for your efforts biking these trails!  Paris Mountain does not allow biking on hiking trails on Saturdays.

2401 State Park Road, Greenville, SC

Conestee Nature Preserve, Greenville

Nothing is quite like biking through the woods, and Conestee Nature Preserve has bike-specific trails you can enjoy! With over 3 miles of trails to enjoy, you can explore the northern portion of the park while observing some awesome wildlife. Many of the trails are considered mountain bike trails, so keep that in mind with smaller children. There are two routes, and orange trails can be ridden on odd days, with the blue trail being available to ride on even days.

840 Mauldin Road, Greenville, SC

Mary Black Rail Trail, Spartanburg

The Rail Trail is one of the most popular spots to ride in Spartanburg due to its flat and paved 2-mile path that connects several green spaces in Spartanburg. Bikes are available for rental on the trail. There is also the awesome Vic Bailey Subaru Bike Park.

Croft State Park, Spartanburg

If you’re looking to get outside of Greenville a bit, head over to Croft State Park for all levels of biking trails. The Palmetto Trail goes through this park but only certain parts are open to bikers.

450 Croft State Park Rd, Spartanburg, SC

Doodle Trail, Pickens County

The Doodle Trail follows an old rail line. This 8.5-mile trail connects Easley and Pickens.

East Cedar Rock Road (Pickens) to Fleetwood Drive (Easley)

Kid-Friendly Bike Trails: Greenville, SC Paved Paths

Do you need a short path to walk while your little one practices on his or her training wheels? These local parks all have paved paths that are pretty short, around a half-mile or less.
North Main Park
Unity Park
Runway Park
McPherson Park
Holmes Park
Herdklotz Park
Ramona Graham Fitness Trail at Cleveland Park

Our list of parks with paved paths has even more suggestions.

Where does your family like to go for a bike ride?

Spend More Time Outdoors Near Greenville, SC

Your Family Guide to the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail System

YMCA Camp Greenville Family Camps: Come One, Come All