Guide to Sumter ‘s Best Outdoor Parks and Trails

Sumter offers a variety of excellent outdoor parks and trails for family fun, hiking, biking, and nature exploration.

Top Parks in Sumter

Swan Lake Iris Gardens: Known for its beautiful swans, geese, and ducks alongside extensive Japanese iris gardens. The tranquil setting includes a lake and is very family-friendly with restrooms and free parking.

Patriot Park: A large green space featuring baseball and soccer fields, a pond, dog-friendly trails, playgrounds with slides and swings, picnic tables, and restrooms. It’s great for sports and family outings.

Palmetto Park: Offers baseball and tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic areas, and restrooms, with amenities catering well to kids and families.

South Sumter Park: Popular local park with recreational spaces and picnic areas.

Memorial Park: Located downtown in a historic district with shade and a paved walking path, ideal for easy strolls.

Popular Trails and Greenways

Prisma Health Shot Pouch Greenway: A scenic and fully paved 3.1-mile multi-use path connecting Dillon Park and Swan Lake Iris Gardens, great for walking, jogging, and cycling in a safe environment with ample parking at trailheads.

Palmetto Trail (Swamp Fox Passage): A challenging trail offering hiking opportunities through diverse natural landscapes, including some mountainous terrain in the region.

Additional trails can be found in Manchester State Forest and nearby nature preserves, featuring horseback riding, hunting, and water activities.

State Parks Nearby

Poinsett State Park: Offers hiking and biking trails, campsites, fishing, and historic sites with a scenic lake.

Woods Bay State Park: Features diverse habitats and is known for its natural beauty and free admission.

Sumter National Forest: Popular for hiking with forest trails, waterfalls, and trout streams.

Sumter’s parks and trails provide a rich mix of recreational, natural, and family-friendly experiences suitable year-round.

SOURCES

[1](https://www.sctrails.net/trails/trails/p/48/l/10)
[2](https://www.sumtersc.gov/tourism/things-do/parks-trails/prisma-health-shot-pouch-greenway)
[3](https://www.sumtersc.gov/tourism/things-do/parks-trails)
[4](https://www.traillink.com/city/sumter-sc-trails/)
[5](https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g54355-d12612193-Reviews-Sumter_National_Forest-Mountain_Rest_South_Carolina.html)