It was a beautiful day. Very nice walk. We pushed a stroller without problem. Loved seeing the…read moreturtles and even got to see a snake and egret. Just bummed that a large part was closed so wasn't able to get all my steps in.

Beautiful park. We were able to take a nice afternoon walk. There are some nice spots to take…read morepictures.

The good- beautiful lake, lots of sites and amenities. The…read morebad- most items in tackle shop unpriced, busted up roadways, small sites, mostly unkept and broken. The ugly- mold in bathrooms, shower curtains ready to walk away on their own on the 80 loop. (Like, loose your campground host they're terrible) Not the best campground in SC, but you can have a good time here on the right site.

I stayed in camper cabin 3 the weekend of October 4th, 2025. The main reason we stayed in a camper…read morecabin was because it's a pet friendly cabin. The cabin itself is tiny. One full bed and one set of bunk beds. One small dorm-type refrigerator and a small microwave. One thing I learned quick was to not run the microwave while the refrigerator is also plugged in as the breaker will trip. So I unplugged the refrigerator whenever I needed to use the microwave. The refrigerator will hold several bottles of water, ham, cheese, mayo, etc. I also brought some soup and a soup mug to use in the microwave. Also to note, it's about a 30-45 second walk to the bath house, at least from cabin 3. The bed wasn't horribly uncomfortable. I had my pillows and sleeping bag from home and was quite comfortable. The little Gree mini-split unit kept the cabin at a great temperature. Now for the not-so-good things. First, a metal roof surrounded by trees, some of which were dropping acorns. Large acorns hitting a metal roof from high up make a very loud BANG when they hit the roof. Quite the scare in the middle of the night. That's my only complaint. There was a nice little front porch and a picnic table with fire pit close by. I must say it was a great weekend away from the hustle and bustle of life. I'm still giving this review 5 stars. The state park employees work very hard to make sure you have a great experience. And you have to want to be a state park employee. It's not just a job you get. You have to have a passion for it.

Impressed with the intentional use of space!…read more We made a day trip to Columbia, SC and needed to stretch our legs and burn some energy. Finlay Park offers a GREAT playground with slides, rope ladders, climbing limbs, splash pad, and turf slide. Plenty of room to relax or log a few steps. There is a beautiful water fountain, grotto and pond where they offer sailboat rentals . There is also 2 miles of sidewalk and pathways for walking or taking advantage of the roller skate rentals they offer. Not to mention pickleball courts, ping pong, soccer goals, and fitness court. A round of applause to the City of Columbia for this amazing recreational and public space.

This went from an unsafe blight on our city to a polished jewel. Our experience was beyond…read moreexpectation, tons of art and sculptures to gaze upon while visiting Finlay Park. Park rangers diligently worked cleaning the paths this morning. Several families were here soaking in the fun. Great park to for walking or to play on the pickle ball courts. Nice Sunday morning outing today !!!

Pine Island State Park is beautiful, but we aren't sure if you could call it a state park. It's…read moremore like a city park or a recreational area. There are no actual hiking trails at Pine Island, but rather a sidewalk that goes along part of Lake Murray. They have multiple picnic tables (large enough areas to hold a birthday party or other event), benches, a miniature beach with kayaks, a playground, and a new and clean restroom. They do charge you a fee of about $6 or $3.50 depending on the age of the visitor(s). Pine Island has many amenities that most South Carolina state parks do not have, but once again does not feel like a state park. It would be nice if they construct an actual hiking trail.

Beautiful addition to SC state parks. Just know that it is a very small park and there aren't…read moretrails like other state parks. There is one paved walking path, but there are full grassy areas to walk around in the open sun, so it can get hot for a stroll. Plenty of covered picnic spots or swings to take in the beauty of Lake Murray.

One of my favorite parks in Columbia! I love the paved sidewalk around the park that can be…read moreutilized as a walking path to get some exercising via walking or jogging. There's a gazebo with one table which is nice. There are also two or three more picnic tables throughout the park. The smaller children's playground is a nice size, and then there's a playground for the older kids, both of which is a basic slide or two and a couple things to climb. There's also a zip line for the kids which is really cool. The swings are on another side of the area park. It's either baby swing or your normal big kid/adult swing. There's open field space. And then, another reason this park is so great is the splash pad for the kids. I will say the water pressure is not hitting on much this summer. I'm wondering what's up with that. However, we are grateful for the little sprinkle that we are receiving when the water shoots out. Even still, this is a nice and sometimes shaded park. Just be prepared for the splash pad. Also, it's street parking.

Really nice park in the downtown area. Equipment for kids of all ages. The park has a splash pad…read moreduring the summer. It has a really nice green space and a zip line. #hiddengem

The park has a nice swimming area, with picnic shelters and grills. (You must bring your own…read morebriquettes etc). The water is clean and refreshing and lovely for swimming. Even though it was the weekend it was not too crowded. Parking is a bit tricky. Unless you have a reservation, you have to let them scan a QR code to your phone, and provide an email address so they can send a link to a payment portal. All of this pretty cumbersome, and the time it takes means that cars get backed up at the entrance. Add extra time for confusion if older people are trying to figure this out! Best to prepare by either having a digital native ready to take charge, or pay in advance. After all this is sorted, parking is easy and you can relax and have fun.

I spent a wonderful afternoon here. Parking does cost, however there is plenty of seating, grills,…read moreand swim areas. I especially loved the beautiful view of the lake! This is a great place for families, dates, or self care. The only downside was no dogs allowed.

In Columbia on business and needed to get out and exercise. I am so thankful to have found this…read moretrail on Yelp. It is a safe environment with plenty of people out walking, plus it's dog friendly. Beautiful scenery and homes along the trail and not to mention you're surrounded by water and the sound of the stream will keep you going. I did see a few people out riding bikes as well. I'm a biker myself, but didn't think that the trail was large enough for large groups on bikes. But then again, are most trails ever?? If you're in the area please do plan to check it out and go for a stroll. Parking is limited, but also available down the street.

Being honest, we just kinda stumbled upon the Cayce/West Columbia River Walk. My Gf and I have…read morevisited Columbia a handful of times and we just had not been on this side of town. After getting a quick snack to take along with us, we visited the river walk and then came back the next day to walk it again! This river walk allows you to get multiple great shots of the Congaree River. Considering this is a paved/board walk trail, it really is friendly to all who would take a stroll, from all fitness levels, ages, and wheels (bikes, strollers or wheelchairs), you have a lot to see and do here. Although we only walked maybe a mile of the trail, which sandwiches itself between the river and a nearby neighborhood, it was getting late in the evening and we didn't decide to walk the 8 miles of this walk. Near the start of the trail there is a lovely amphitheater and although there is no music...there is a small band at the top of the amphitheater in the form of an artistic display. This artwork is really cool and you should get a photo with them! Also near the amphitheater are bathrooms and parking. The parking lot directly in front of the trail start is somewhat small, but we always either found a spot or found someone coming out of a spot when we came in. If I lived in Columbia, I'd likely be at the Riverwalk several times a week. As it stands, if you're close to here for any reason and you have an hour, check the west Columbia river walk out!

The security team overseeing the park is very professional and keep the park and parking running…read morevery smoothly. I love to kayak there and feel bad when I have to ask folks fishing from paddle board/kayak launch. A courtesy sign for non-paddlers would help. Thank you Dominion and team that operates the park for boaters, paddlers, walkers, pavilion groups, and sunset watchers!