Clemson, South Carolina is a beautiful place. You're blessed with views of the Blue Ridge mountains and just mere minutes away from multiple lakes, such as Lake Hartwell and Lake Keowee. Also, you're surrounded by walking trails, forests, and gorgeous waterfalls. Many people venture out to Table Rock and nearby large state parks to hike.
If you're looking for ways to enjoy the weather and aren't sure where to hike, I've compiled some of the best hikes around Clemson. They're all less than an hour away from downtown Clemson and are hidden gems around the area.
For more information, I've included the links to the trails on AllTrails for each trail, which provides extensive information about each trail. Simply click on the name of the trail to learn more. I highly recommend downloading the free app as well. Happy hiking!
1. Issaqueena Lake Trail
Level: Moderate
Features: Lake, forest
Located near Central, this trail is just under 5 miles long in a loop. You get great views of the lake and the experimental forest.
2. Waldrop Stone Falls
Level: Easy
Features: Waterfall, lake views, and forest
This is one of my favorite hiking spots near Clemson. It's just a few minutes away from Clemson's campus near Daniel High School and features a beautiful waterfall. This trail is also in a loop and is just 1 mile in total.
3. Fants Grove Lake Trail
Level: Moderate
Features: Lake, forest, wild flowers
This trail is located in Pendleton and is a 7.8 mile loop trail. There are great views of the lake while being surrounded by wild flowers and forest life.
4. Wildcat Falls and Six Mile Creek Loop Trail
Level: Moderate
Features: Waterfall, forest
Located near Central in the Clemson Experimental Forest, this trail is just under 4 miles long. This one is also notable for being a great place to run and mountain bike.
5. Rock Quarry Trail
Level: Moderate
Features: Beach, lake, wild flowers, forest
This trail is an in and out trail that is less than a mile each way. It is recommended to visit between March and November for peak experience. There are plenty of at the end of the trail, so you can spend all day hanging out on one of the secluded beaches.
6. Raven Rock Loop Trail
Level: Moderate
Features: Lake, beach, forest, waterfall
Near Pickens, this trail is a 4.2 mile loop and offers great views of Lake Jocassee. It's recommended to go between April and October. This trail also features many bridges and creeks with many rocks and boulders.
7. Yellow Branch Falls Trail
Level: Easy
Features: Waterfall, wild flowers, forest
Located in Oconee State Park, this trail is a 3.5 mile in and out trail. It is accessible year-round and is great for dogs and people of all skill levels.
8. Issaqueena Falls Trail
Level: Easy
Features: Waterfall, forest
Found in Walhalla, this trail is 0.3 miles in and out. It's great for beginners just getting into hiking.
9. Lee Falls Trail
Level: Moderate
Features: Waterfall, forest
Also apart of the Oconee State Park, this trail is 2.9 miles and is an in and out trail. It's rocky and requires many creek crossings, but the views at the end are worth it.
10. Todd Creek Falls
Level: Easy
Features: Waterfall
This trail isn't well-known and isn't on AllTrails, but this is one of my favorites near Clemson. It's located off of Brookbend Rd and is around 1 mile in and out. The views make up for the lack of formality with this trail.
