Clemson

2020 Hiking Post 5

As a Gamecock fan, it can be hard to admit it but there are some nice spots for outdoor activities in Clemson. Since the school and town are located in the foothills of the mountains and there are many lakes in the area, trails and water activities are everywhere.
Trail Map

Just outside of the town of Clemson, is the Clemson Experimental Forest.  It is over 17,000 acres
with miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking. It also borders part of Lake Hartwell. Many of the trails are mixed use but I had heard about a trail to a waterfall that was for hiking only. The Waldrop Stone Waterfall Trail is a short trail of about a mile that takes you along a creek to a couple of waterfalls. It has some challenging parts, where you have a steep descent to the waterfall (which means you have to hike back up that hill on the return), but they have built some steps and railings to help in sections. It’s also nice there are quite a few benches that you can stop and enjoy the nature around you.

Upper falls
We hiked the loop and saw quite a few other people along the trail, but it was a nice, sunny Saturday so I understand everyone wanting to be outside. Parking is mostly alongside the road, but there are sections that are marked “no parking”. I also heard about a dam and pond that is further down the creek, but I didn’t see a trail to it. With all of the rain and flooding recently, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the trail needs to be cleaned up. Also, when we looped around back to the car, on the section alongside the road, whatever steps they had to cross the creek were gone. We were able to make it across but you might get a little wet.

While you’re exploring Clemson, I recommend checking out the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. They’re close to the heart of the campus and a great, free park to check out. They have tried to recreate all of the biomes that can be found in South Carolina and give you a feel for how the state may have looked before Europeans settled here.

Piedmont Prairie area
There is a duck pond, a children's garden, a camellia garden, and other areas connected by a network of trails. Some are dirt trails while others are paved. It's a great place to check out any time of year. There is always something blooming.

Duck Pond


If you're looking for a unique place to grab a bite to eat, I enjoyed going to the Pot Belly Deli recently. It has an old school deli vibe to it and has been in Clemson since 1994. Clemson memorabilia line the walls. Or you could check out the historic town of Pendleton, just a few miles down the road. It was established in 1790 and has a nice town square.
Photo credit to Carole Walters for the pictures of the Botanical Gardens.
Location: Clemson, SC, USA

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