Three Rivers Greenway (http://www.riveralliance.org/Directions.htm) is made up of a number of sites with paved trails that are in and around downtown Columbia.  Named three rivers as the Saluda and Broad meet in the city to form the Congaree.  Riverfront Park is the closest to the hotel.  Each trail follows a segment of river. 

Riverfront Park and Columbia Canal http://www.scgreatoutdoors.com/park-riverfront.html  Includes some history on the canal and waterworks. 

Cayce River Walk http://www.scgreatoutdoors.com/park-cayceriverwalk.html

West Columbia River Walk http://www.scgreatoutdoors.com/park-westcolumbiariverwalk.html

Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve http://www.dnr.sc.gov/managed/heritage/congcreek/description.html is 627 acres, 2.5 miles of trails through 70 year old bottomland hardwood with a series of creek crossings. Located 15 minutes south of downtown Columbia.

Sesquicentennial State Park http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/469.aspx  is 1,419 acres featuring a 30-acre lake and various hiking trails.  This park also features a 2-acre dog park.  Admission fee required. Park hours 8am to 6pm. Park is located 15 miles east of Columbia. 

Harbison State Forest http://www.state.sc.us/forest/refharb.htm

Is bounded along its northeastern edge by the Broad River and encompasses 2,177 acres of forestland. Over sixteen miles of roads and trails weave through the pine and hardwood forest, crossing wandering streams and descending through hardwood glades to the Broad River.  A popular mountain biking spot but some trails are for non-bikers. Fee for parking required. About 20 minutes west of downtown Columbia.   

Congaree National Park http://www.nps.gov/cong

Is the largest remnant of old-growth floodplain forest remaining on the continent.  Trails include a 2.4 mile boardwalk and over 20 miles of back country trails.  A trail map is available on-line and some will be available at the registration table.  If the entrance gate is locked use the after hours parking lot and travel to board walk via the paved road or bluff trail.  Located in Gadsden; 30 minutes southeast of downtown Columbia. 

Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve http://www.dnr.sc.gov/managed/heritage/peachtree/description.html  is 460 acres, with established trails through sandstone outcrops, longleaf pine and a swamp tupelo evergreen shrub bog.   Located west of Gaston; 30 minutes from downtown Columbia.

Saluda Shoals Regional Park http://www.icrc.net/saludashoals/ is 350 acres along the Saluda River with paved and unpaved trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.  Daily admission fee required.  Located 30 minutes west of downtown Columbia. 

Manchester State Forest   http://www.state.sc.us/forest/refman.htm  is approximately 25,000 acres of mixed pine and hardwood species interspersed with swamps and bays.  Numerous trails http://www.state.sc.us/forest/manchester.htm transect the forest.  Red-cockaded Woodpeckers can be found here, look for the white bands on cavity trees.  Forest is located 45 minutes east of downtown Columbia.

Poinsett State Park http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/662.aspx   is located adjacent to Manchester State Forest.  Numerous trails transect the park.  Park is located 42 miles from Columbia. 

Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve http://www.dnr.sc.gov/managed/heritage/congbluffs/description.html is 201 acres, with trails in younger pine stands and loop along edge of Congaree River, with an overlook on the bluff looking east over Congaree National Park.  Preserve is located 45 minutes south east of downtown Columbia. 

Santee National Wildlife Refuge http://www.fws.gov/Refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=42570 

Is 15,095 acres comprised of 10,622 of wetlands and open water and remaining in mixed hardwoods, pine plantations, croplands, and old fields.  The refuge is broken into four refuge units. The Bluff Unit is closest to the visitor center with portions adjacent to Lake Marion and has a 1 mile nature trail.  Cuddo Unit has a 7.5 mile bike and foot only trail.    Dingle Pond is a Carolina bay with a 1-mile foot trail. Visitor center is open 8am to 4pm.  Refuge is located 5 miles off I-95 in Summerton about 1.5 hours from downtown Columbia.

Four Holes Swamp http://sc.audubon.org/Centers_FBF.html is a 45,000-acre matrix of black water sloughs and lakes, shallow bottomland hardwoods, and deep Bald cypress and Tupelo Gum flats--a major tributary of the Edisto River. SC Audubon has a 1.75 mile boardwalk that goes into this swamp.  The Audubon visitor center is open 9am - 5pm, Tuesday - Sunday (closed Mondays and some holidays).  Admission fee required. Some maps will be available at the registration desk. Located 2 hours south of Columbia outside of the town of Harleyville.

Other links:

Carolina Bird Club includes checklists and a list of where to bird http://www.carolinabirdclub.org/index.html 

Columbia South Carolina visitor information http://www.columbiacvb.com/  Copies of the Vista restaurant guide will be available at the registration table. 

SC DNR http://www.dnr.sc.gov/managed/index.html  heritage preserves and wildlife management areas Note turkey season opens March 15, some areas are closed during draw hunts to other activities see http://www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/turkeyseason.html

SC Forestry Commission state forest properties http://www.state.sc.us/forest/recreat.htm

SC State Parks http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/

SC State Trails Program http://www.sctrails.net/trails/

The Nature Conservancy preserves in South Carolina http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/southcarolina/preserves/

US FWS Refuges in South Carolina http://www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/SouthCarolina.html