Saluda Shoals Park is 400 acres on the Saluda River in the Irmo/Lexington area and it is the most complete outdoor recreation park in the Columbia metro. It has everything: paved walking and biking trails along the river, kayak and tube launch access, a splash pad for kids, disc golf, picnic shelters, and an environmental education center.
The paved riverwalk trail is about 3.5 miles and runs along the Saluda River with views of the shoals and the dam. It is flat, wide, and works for strollers, wheelchairs, bikes, and joggers.
The park is the primary access point for Saluda River paddling and tubing in the Lexington/Irmo area. The launch area puts you on the river above the shoals, and the float downstream is one of the best urban paddle experiences in the state. The river is cold (dam-released from Lake Murray), clean, and beautiful.