Swamp Rabbit Trail Adventure: Exploring the North End!
The Swamp Rabbit Trail opened in 2009 and has become a staple attraction to the city of Greenville. The 20+ mile track was once a train line for the Greenville & Northern Railway, which ran from the north of Greenville by Travelers Rest to the South of Greenville near Conestee. There is no doubt that this wonderful trail has attracted outdoor enthusiasts from all over the area and transformed the city of Greenville as well as its surrounding communities! Come join me as I take you on a short 12 mile ride along northern part of the trail through Travelers Rest and Furman! Don’t forget your helmet and water, oh yeah and breakfast!
Crrreeepppeees! That is what you will be saying when you eat at Tandem Creperie and Coffeehouse in Travelers Rest. Every morning adventure on the Swamp Rabbit Trail needs to include breakfast. Tandem is right on the trail plus on the way to my usual suggested parking area up north. If you want an out of this world crepe plus coffee, basically a light breakfast to get you going, Tandem is the way to go!
Some people say it is crazy to start at the end but I don’t like missing anything on my adventures! The trail in the north currently stops at Tate Road but BEWARE there is no public parking. Your best drop spot in the far north is at Grandview Way. If you want to see the end of the trail and give yourself a nice little warm-up to get the juices flowing you can head up north from there for a quick glance, it is only a mile away. There is not much up there, but I doubt you will complain when you’re engulfed in greenery listening to the wonderful sounds of a summer morning along the way!
At the Grandview Way parking zone you are only about a mile from Travelers Rest and before you get into the downtown area there is an awesome mountain biker’s fun park! Gateway Community Park is often overlooked, but a must stop for mountain bike lovers or those who want to improve their mountain bike skills! BEWARE you must have a sufficient bicycle and wear the necessary protective gear, especially a helmet! This by far is one of my favorite spots along the trail in the north end!
As most locals know, Travelers Rest is a quaint cool town with an overall great vibe! It’s easy to see why people are drawn to this community. There are many fine establishments, attractions and parking areas for the trail in TR but my goal is to get to Furman and work off that breakfast! Once you are at the end of town you have a nice 2 mile track through the woods which allows you to get away from civilization for a couple minutes and be one with nature! You’ll know your about to get to that section when you see the prominent brick wall to TR. Furman here we come!
Furman University is a beautiful school that makes you feel like you are at a prestigious country club! There is a 1.5 Lake Loop trail that provides you a taste of what the campus has to offer, which is a lot! You can easily spend a whole day at this place and be very satisfied exploring its grounds. No trip to Furman is complete without taking time to appreciate its famous Bell Tower!
After completing the Lake Loop and enjoying Furman, it is time to head back to TR. By now you have worked up a good sweat and your belly is ready to eat again. Nothing is better than filling your stomach with some delicious Pizza from Sidewall! The 2 mile track back to TR is worth the wait and it is great way to reward yourself for all your exercise!
Last but certainly not least, you have earned your RIGHT to enjoy a cold brewed beverage. Hey you burned off the calories right, so why not! Head over to the Swamp Rabbit Brewery & Taproom to enjoy some of their award winning beer. You will thank me later! Just remember to take it easy though you still have a mile to bike back to Grandview Way!
Please take a look at the Swamp Rabbit Trail’s interactive map. This link will guide you to multiple public places to park along the trail as well as showcase various amenities and points of interest along the way! Get out, enjoy and be safe! Please continue to check me out, the Upstate Outdoor Adventurer provides fulfilling experiences related to the outdoors in the Greenville and Upstate surrounding area. It’s all about the good vibes!!
Check out the below soundtrack to my journey and what I was jamming to on the trail!!!
Midnight City – M83
Shooting Stars – Bag Raiders
Houdini – Foster The People
Tongue Tied – Grouplove
Take you higher – Goodwill & Hook n Sling
Follow the Upstate Outdoor Adventurer at:
Instagram – #upstateoutdooradventurer
Facebook Page – @upstateoutdooradventurer
Twitter – @OutdoorUpstate
Pinterest – UpstateOutdoorAdventurer
Website – upstateoutdooradventurer.com