A Perfect Day Exploring The Best Park in Greenville SC

One of the best attractions in Greenville is Falls Park on the Reedy. Even after living here for a little while, walking/running through the park is still one of my favorite passtimes. There’s something about listeining to the waterfall that I love. Anytime I have visitors, I make sure to show them this waterfall as it seems to be a fan favorite.

Falls Park is located in downtown Greenville’s historic west-end district and flows in the center of downtown Greenville.

The park offers incredible views with amazing stonework, walking trails, waterfalls, picnic areas, and a well-kept garden. The walking trails lead straight on the Swamp Rabbit Trail or in the opposite direction to the Greenville Zoo.

The Pedricks Garden technically serves as the “main entrance” but you can access the falls from more than one place.  There isn’t really a starting point of the park which is nice so you can explore at your own pace and see what you want!

All You Need to Know About Falls Park, Greenville

Parking: There is some street parking available but can be hard to find. There is free parking located at the West End Market Lot off University Street. Lastly, there are many parking garages with the first hour being free if you can’t find parking anywhere else! Parking garages also may just be the easiest option as you know there will be spots, this also helps you walk through Main Street and see more of Greenville.

Time to spend: 1-2 hours is the perfect amount of time to walk on the trails and take in the amazing views of the waterfall. If you come to Greenville for dinner or only have a few extra minutes to spare, walk across the Liberty Bridge. A huge suspension bridge that floats right over the waterfall.

Accessibility: Dogs are welcome and the trails are a great place for families. Strollers and wheelchairs may be more difficult as some of the road turns to stone and there are steep hills and steps. The river has a lot of bacteria in it and it’s highly advised that you don’t swim in it! From just looking at the water, it does look pretty dirty.

Events and Activities: You can check out the park’s official website or local event listings and find different events happening. There is a small stage where they do fun activities for kids.

Restaurants Near Falls Park on the Reedy

Pomegranate on Main: One of the best Mediterranean restaurants I’ve tried and all of the dishes are gluten-free. The atmosphere is great. Vegetarian friendly. Great place for a date night!

Carmellas: We asked a local FB Group where to go when visiting the park and Carmellas was a must-visit from multiple people. They have the best dessert drinks in all of Greenville in my opinion. This is where I take people for an after dinner activity. They also have food (but i’ve never had it before) and they have coffee if you need a pick-me-up during the day. The desserts are unreal, if you love cake you need to get one- it’s a whole mini cake to yourself!

Passerelle French Bistro: Overlooks the river right before you walk across the Liberty Bridge. I would recommend sitting outside to get the great views of the waterfall. Known for having great crepes and french pastries.

Spill the Beans: As you may have read from the Clemson Main Street Blog, Spill the Beans is one of my favorite ice cream places…ever. The STB in Clemson has a much different vibe than the one in Greenville but the ice cream is the same! This is a great place to grab a coffee and do work. The Spill the Beans in Clemson is mainly an ice cream shop while the one in Greenville is mostly a coffee shop that serves the same ice cream.

Guide to the Best Park in Upstate South Carolina

There is a beautiful hotel that overlooks the falls called the Grand Bohemian Lodge Hotel. When we take guests to the Falls I make sure to take them inside this hotel…it’s not just any hotel but probably one of the prettiest ones i’ve seen. The inside of it makes you feel like you are in the mountains and there is usually always someone playing the paino. There is also jewlrey and art for sale (super expensive but fun to look at).

If walking isn’t your thing, there are also bikes for rent that are so much fun! The area has a few steep hills so keep that in mind. If you rent bikes make your way over to the swamp rabbit trail, it’s much flatter and there are also breweries/resturants that way.

If you are visiting or thinking about visiting, you definately don’t want to miss seeing Falls Park, it has so much to offer and is so fun for the whole family!