Let’s talk about visiting labyrinths in South Carolina. I have selected 10 of the best (there are over 70) that are accessible to the public from around the state, focusing on large population areas. If you want a full list of labyrinths in the state check out the Worldwide Labyrinth Finder. I did not do a good job acquiring photos - if you have one to submit - contact me.
Before we get to my recommendations for South Carolina I want to tell you about some statistics about labyrinths in the USA from some research I did. If you are interested in knowing things like what the largest labyrinth is in the US, where the Northernmost, Southernmost labyrinths are in the US, and similar questions, it is worth a read: Questions about US Labyrinths Answered. All of these South Carolina answers and statistics were part of that research. We start with a chart summarizing the data from South Carolina:
Here is how South Carolina compares to the USA. It ranks middle of the pack for most labyrinth data, although the labyrinths in SC tend to be smaller, ranking 40th in terms of average size.
South Carolina Labyrinth Questions Answered:
What is the largest labyrinth in South Carolina ? The largest labyrinth in South Carolina is the Mepkin Abbey Labyrinth located in Moncks Corner, SC. This 7 circuit Chartres style labyrinth has a diameter of 175 feet. It is recommended labyrinth #9 below !
What city has the most labyrinths in South Carolina ? The city with the most labyrinths in South Carolina is Columbia with 12. Greenville is next with 8 labyrinths. Columbia ranks 6th in the US for per capita labyrinths for cities with 100K population:
Why visit a Labyrinth ?
Labyrinths are ancient and mysterious symbols that have been used for centuries for meditation, contemplation, and spiritual renewal. They are also a lot of fun to explore! If you're looking for a unique and challenging experience, walk a labyrinth with intention - it often leads to self-discovery. Personally, I like to walk labyrinths between dawn and sunrise or at sunset until dusk, but any time of day works. You may not realize it, but there is probably a labyrinth near where you live. Today we explore…
10 Labyrinths to Visit in South Carolina
1. Providence Church Labyrinth
A 6 circuit medieval style labyrinth made from gravel and stone located on the east side of the building (as you can see in the satellite image above). Find more information about the labyrinth on the church website, which I quote from there “This labyrinth was dedicated on May 14, 2023, in honor of member Dr. Charles Taylor on his 100th birthday.”
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Address:
294 Seven Farms Drive
Charleston, South Carolina 29492
2. Maxcy Gregg Park - Richard Bloch Cancer Survivors Garden Labyrinth
Located in the Richard Bloch Cancer Survivors Garden, this 11 circuit Chartres style labyrinth is made from inlaid stone and concrete. It is open from dawn to dusk. Check out this trip advisor post with a great photo.
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Address:
1806 Blossom Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
3. Lenoir-Rhyne University - Trinity Prayer Labyrinth
A medieval Chartres style 11 circuit labyrinth is made from bricks/pavers that is easy to locate on Google Maps with it’s own entry. They suggest using the parking near the library.
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Address:
4201 N. Main Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29203
4. Christus Victor Lutheran Church Labyrinth
A classical 7 circuit circular labyrinth made from rocks whose center is a cross. The labyrinth is located on the NE section of the parking lot. Learn about the labyrinth on the dedicated page of the church website.
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Address:
400 Harbison Blvd
Columbia, South Carolina 29212
5. First Baptist Church of Greenville Labyrinth
This medieval Santa Rosa style 7 circuit labyrinth made from bricks/pavers is located on the west side of the church. Learn more about the labyrinth on the church grounds webpage.
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Address:
847 Cleveland Street
Greenville, South Carolina 29601
6. Sheperd Integrative Dermatology Labyrinth
This is the first labyrinth I have recommended at a Dermatology office. A ChakraVyuha style 7 circuit labyrinth can be learned about on the business website.
Location: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Address:
912 Old Georgetown Road
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29464
7. The Oratory: Center for Spirituality Labyrinth
A 7 circuit concentric labyrinth with a stone pathway and concrete outline was built in 2012. It is located at the Rock Hill Oratory and open during daylight hours. This is the best photo I could find showing it.
Location: Rock Hill, South Carolina
Address:
434 Charlotte Avenue
Rock Hill, South Carolina 29730
8. Hopelands Gardens Labyrinth
Labyrinth at 0:22
This octagonal 11 circuit labyrinth is an Amiens replica made from bricks/pavers is open from 10AM til sundown. As you can see above you can combine this visit with a trip to the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame.
Location: Aiken, South Carolina
Address:
135 Dupree Pl.
Aiken, South Carolina 29801
9. Mepkin Abbey Labyrinth
A very large* 7 circuit labyrinth with wide grass pathways lined with perennials. Located on the right side of Mepkin Abbey Road as you enter the facility. I enjoyed this article on their website describing a labyrinth walk during a retreat. Learn more about the abbey and plan a visit on the website. *I did some high tech measuring (using Google Maps) and this appears to be about 150 feet in diameter.
Location: Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Address:
1098 Mepkin Abbey Road
Moncks Corner, South Carolina 29461
10. Central United Methodist Church Spartanburg Labyrinth
A 7 circuit medieval style labyrinth located in the garden east of the the church (called the Central Park on Google Maps). It is next to a parking deck and the labyrinth is surrounded on one side by a brick wall and on the other by 3 layers of bricks seating on the side of a slope.
Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Address:
233 N Church St.
Spartanburg, South Carolina 29306
5 TIPS FOR VISITING A LABYRINTH
Set an intention for your walk so you can walk with purpose. It could be prayer, reflection, meditation, contemplation, or openness.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking.
Bring water with you, especially if you are visiting on a hot day.
Take your time and enjoy the experience. There is no need to rush through a labyrinth.
Be respectful of other visitors. This includes not making noise and being respectful if walking with other people.
5 BOOKS TO READ ABOUT LABYRINTH WALKING
I wrote a blog post reviewing the following 5 books, each that deals with walking labyrinths. You can check them out yourself at the Amazon links below or read this blog post: 5 Books about the Spiritual Aspect of Labyrinths to learn a little about what each book teaches.
Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool by Dr. Lauren Artress 201 pages. AMZN
Labyrinth : Your Path to Self-Discovery by Tony Christie 312 pages. AMZN
Exploring the Labyrinth: A Guide For Healing and Spiritual Growth by Melissa Gayle West 209 pages AMZN
Walking the Labyrinth: A Place to Pray and Seek God by Travis Scholl 240 pages AMZN
Labyrinths from the Outside In: Walking to Spiritual Insight by Rev Dr Donna Schaper and Rev Dr Carole Ann Camp 187 pages AMZN
If you are interested in more spiritual labyrinth aspects I suggest the following websites:
Lauren Artress website - For coaching, workshops and classes.
Veriditas - The nonprofit labyrinth group founded by Lauren Artress
Worldwide Labyrinth Finder - Find a labyrinth to walk near you, or while on vacation
I am a maze artist but I have never made any mazes from South Carolina. If you have suggestions - drop me a note. Otherwise here are some mazes of famous locations:
Templo de Sangre de Cristo Maze
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Maze
