South Carolina Botanical Gardens-Clemson (Blog Hike #246)

Trails: (various)

Hike Location: South Carolina Botanical Garden

Geographic Location: south side of Clemson, SC (34.66831, -82.82645)

Length: 2 miles

Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Dates Hiked: July 2008, February 2012, February 2014, and April 2021

Overview: A combination nature hike and garden stroll through a wide variety of plant communities.

Garden Information: https://www.clemson.edu/scbg/index.html
Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=96440

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: In northwest South Carolina, take I-85 to US 76 (exit 19).  Exit and go west on US 76.  Take US 76 10 miles to Perimeter Road and turn left on Perimeter Rd.  The garden entrance is 0.6 miles ahead on the left.  Turn left to enter the garden.  Follow signs for the Visitor Center, and park in the large blacktop lot behind the Visitor Center.  The trail begins on the south (left) side of the lot.

The hike: Established only in 1992, the South Carolina Botanical Garden ranks as one of the newest botanical gardens in the southeast, but its history as a center of nature study goes back much further than that.  In the 19^th century part of this land sat adjacent to the Fort Hill estate of John C. Calhoun, the South Carolina politician and statesman of the early to mid 1800’s.  In 1958, the preserve began with a small collection of camellias, the remnants of which still remain on the garden’s grounds today.  Additional tracts of land were added over time to arrive at the 295 acres that comprise the garden today.

            Located immediately south of Clemson University’s campus, the garden contains 5 miles of trails ranging from well-manicured brick walkways to raw, dirt nature trails.  The trail system is extensive and allows access to all areas of interest in the garden.  The 2 mile hike described here offers a grand tour of the grounds and passes every major point of interest.

            Before you begin the hike, stop in the Visitor Center, located uphill from the parking lot, to pick up a trail map and browse the nature exhibits.  Also, the Carriage House Café offers snacks and public restrooms.  When you are ready to begin, walk to the south end of the parking lot where the trail starts.  A series of square metal posts mark the trail here.

Posts at trailhead

            The trail never enters the woods but turns abruptly left and parallels the parking lot.  At 200 feet, the trail crosses the main garden road and continues east along the edge of a grassy meadow with a small stream to the right.  400 feet later, the trail dips into the woods and crosses this stream.  There is no bridge, but during normal water levels a single hop will get you across.

            Across the creek, the trail climbs the opposite side of the ravine and intersects the garden road again.  This section of the garden road is gated, so traffic is minimal.  The trail does not cross the road but proceeds parallel to the road for about 400 feet to intersect another unmarked trail which enters the woods downhill to the left.  Turn left here.  All of the trails are unmarked, and since the garden seems unable to control the proliferation of wild unofficial trails in this part of the garden, the trail system in this area is a bit of a maze.  Fortunately, the garden is small enough and possesses enough landmarks that getting seriously lost is difficult.

Hiking along the creek

            The trail drops to cross the creek for a second time, again without the aid of a bridge.  After climbing the opposite side of the ravine, turn right at another unmarked intersection to continue your general eastward path.  This trail clings to the hillside for a short distance before dropping back to creek level.  Where the trail curves left, take a soft right to begin the garden’s nature trail.  An unusual chair made of stones marks this intersection, but it is easy to miss; if you reach the amphitheater, you have gone about 200 feet too far.

            The nature trail soon reaches the meditation garden, which sits complete with a small gazebo.  A stone dam creates a pond and small waterfall in the creek.  The garden presents a scenic setting, but on the damp sticky July morning that I hiked this trail, mosquitoes abounded.  Angle right to cross the creek on a wooden bridge and then climb the opposite side of the ravine yet again.  The trail now enters an arboretum type setting as it leaves the dense woods; the garden road again appears uphill and to the right.

            0.9 miles into the hike, the trail curves left back into the deep woods, crosses the creek for a final time, and intersects another trail at a T-intersection.  Turn right, climb moderately to leave the ravine, and arrive at one of the main garden parking lots.  A blaze of pink crepe myrtles greet you in season, and a set of greenhouses can be seen to the right.  A sign tells of the Children’s Garden scheduled to be constructed here in the near future.

Pioneer/Duck Pond

            The next bit of trail takes you around Pioneer Pond, sometimes also called Duck Pond.  The latter name was appropriate on my visit, as I stood and watched three white ducks navigating their way across the pond.  Begin with the brick trail that leaves the other side of the parking lot, stop at an overlook to view the pond, and then angle right to continue along the brick path.  The bricks soon end, and the path turns back to dirt.  Ignore the side trail that exits left and continue straight as the trail enters a mature pine forest.  At the next intersection, turn left, cross the feeder stream for the pond on a stone bridge, and then angle right as the trail stays several feet above the pond.

Earthen Bridge

            After passing a large tree with a burnt-out hole in its trunk, take a side trip to Earthen Bridge, located near the headwaters of the pond.  True to its name, the footbridge is made of hardened clay with some stones inserted for stability and support.  The bridge with the pond as a backdrop makes for a great and unique photograph. 

Camellia Trail

            Turn around at the bridge and continue around the pond as you enter the large camellia collection that marked the beginning of this garden.   Interpretive plaques help you identify the various kinds of camellias.  Just before reaching the garden road, turn right and head up into the formal garden, this part of which contains the Xenscape Garden, conifer collection, and colorful flower display area.  This area makes a great diversion from the normal hiking scenery.

Cross the garden road and plunge deeper into the formal gardens on another brick path.  As Heritage Pond comes into view downhill to the left, turn right to enter the unusual Caboose Garden.  This garden, erected by the Clemson University class of 1939, features a real red caboose surrounded by various flowers, benches, and brick walkways.  Just past the Caboose Garden lies the Life Garden, erected by Clemson’s class of 1942 et. al. with its interesting collection of flowers and sculptures.

Caboose Garden

            From the Life Garden, take the second left exit and proceed steeply downhill to arrive at stone Montgomery Amphitheater.  Angle right, and in another 200 feet you will close a loop at the unusual stone chair you visited before.  Angle right and retrace your steps to the next intersection.  Where your former route exits left to cross the creek, stay right and climb gradually into Kelly Meadow, a wide open area characterized by tall grass on either side of the trail.

            The trail crosses the dam that creates the small and accurately named Meadow Pond.  At the next intersection, angle to the left, and soon arrive at a cluster of small trees and other plants marked on the map as the Butterfly Garden.  Interestingly, while I saw some butterflies back in the formal gardens, they were conspicuously absent here.  Past the Butterfly Garden, the trail descends to reach the main garden road near the Visitor Center parking lot.  Cross the road and return to the parking lot to complete the hike.