Amazing park has many trails and you don't see anyone often so you can enjoy the privacyread more

Found this place by complete accident and so thrilled I did. I am an Empath so I need a place I can…read morego that is out in nature, quiet and away from everything. This is a small piece of the river most people don't know about or just don't visit and I love that because it isn't over crowded. I almost cried when I noticed them adding a parking lot. There are beautiful tables by the river so you can sit and have a meal. There are big rocks you can sit on by the edge of the river. It is truly peaceful here. Writing this review makes me want to go there right now. But there are little nooks and crannies you can get to to be right near the water. Have I mentioned the bridge? Breathtakingly beautiful! I've walked it from end to end. There are big beautiful trees that hang over the bridge, beautiful flowers in the spring, blackberries and honey suckle grow wild and free. I've gone at all different times of the day but sunset is my favorite. I love going here when there is a full moon! The view is incredible. This is my place of peace. Others who come here, they come for the peace and quiet too. They aren't noisy or playing loud music. The river is the only sound I need

A woodsy oasis in an urbanesque environment. I walked the Firebreak and the Spiderwoman trails,…read moreboth about 4 miles. Very popular with mountain bikers, mostly with good cycling etiquette. Saw a million squirrels and five bird species.

This is a great spot for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. Great trails with lots of tree…read morecover to keep you cool. Some nice views of the river and you can dial up as much challenge as you desire.

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.

Beautiful nature scenery. Nice walking trails. Plenty of parking…read more Plenty of bathroom facilities. A nice place to visit. FYI... get the State Park Annual Pass.

This is a great family outing…read more The lights are always well done. About half way through, you can stop for a hay ride ans race your kids down the hill on the slide. Kids can write letters to Santa and buy hot chocolate and snacks. It was a nice warm 48 degrees when we went there. Get out have some fun and make a few memories.

If you love Christmas lights, this is one of the best spots to be. The trail is 4miles long, and we…read morewere able to stroll through for the annual Sleigh Bell Trot. The light displays don't really change year after year, so if you've been last year, there aren't any new surprises this year. Still a fun night out! Safe and clean!

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.

It's such a beautiful park the paths are sidewalks so I could get thru with my wheelchair, the…read morecarvings are beautiful and the rest of the art on the walk is beautiful, it's the perfect park!

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.

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.

I'm so excited that I finally got to check out the new Finlay Park! I had heard nothing but good…read morethings about it from those who attended the grand re-opening, so my expectations were set pretty high... well, I can say that it certainly did not disappoint! First and foremost, I must say that it was simply awesome to see the signature water sculpture flowing and spinning again. That alone went a long way in restoring the signature feel of the park. Furthermore, I absolutely loved the landscaping below the fountain, which consisted of a small stream running through some perfectly manicured rocks and bushes. In addition to the landscaping, I absolutely loved the modern artwork that was incorporated into the park. There was a beautiful yet funky mural that was created by a Columbia-raised artist, and the park also had some really cool 21st-century sculptures, most of which directly represented the state of South Carolina and the city of Columbia. The park also had a really cool calisthenic workout station, which looked perfect for a complete bodyweight workout session, as well as pickleball courts that anybody can play on. Moreover, although I do not have children myself, the park looked like the perfect place for kids to run around for hours and hours. From what I could see, there was a huge climbing platform, two (2) enormous slides, multiple sets of different types of swings, and, what appeared to be a hill that the kids could slide down using burlap sacks. 10-year-old me would have marveled at the quality of this playground! Finally, there was a huge platform stage to hold concerts on, and a nice, well-manicured plain of grass for attendees to watch and enjoy on. All-in-all, I can't say enough good things about the re-opening of Finlay Park, and I'll be excited to come back for days and years to come!

We took a guided canoe tour with Andy in Congaree National Park. Andy was very friendly and kept…read moreeveryone's spirits high. It was a beautiful day for a tour and the best way to see the park. The paddle was leisurely and Andy had a lot of good information about the park's history and ecology. He takes care of all the setup so you don't have to drag a canoe at any point. The cost was a good value for the experience. I would recommend it to anyone looking to visit.

The guides are very knowledgeable and experienced. Cedar creek is beautiful and unspoiled. Amazing…read moretrip canoeing down and back. Thanks Christine and Levi for a great adventure.

Our girls annual weekend had such a good time with Dustin. He was knowledgeable and patient, and…read morethe fact that the weather and the water were perfect, only added to our pleasure. We enjoyed the animal signings, including three different types of snakes! We learned a lot about the area. Highly recommend this tour with Dustin.

The guides were the best, think Al and Michael if I recall (sorry if I got the names wrong). They…read morewere so polite and helpful. Very professional and courteous. They made you feel safe too. I really appreciated them taking the time to instruct us. Well done!