With its close proximity to Clemson and a beautiful lake view, the Clemson Dikes has won the best outdoor spot for 2024.
The path is a favorite among runners and dog walkers, while the slopes are enjoyed by those looking to get their steps in to burn some calories and feel the fresh air.
And when it snows, grab your table or your laundry basket and enjoy the steep sides where you can sled and enjoy the view.
On the northern and middle Dikes, this path is strictly pedestrian-only, while on the southernmost Dike by the Madren Center, a road runs along the top to the water treatment plant — perfect for sunset bike rides.
The best time to visit the Dikes is during sunset, with boats and purple mountains framing the pink and orange colors from the horizon. Whether you’re enjoying the rippling water and the calls of the passing trains alone, with a significant other or with some significant friends, an evening on the Dikes is an iconic Clemson experience.
Built along Lake Hartwell in the early 1960s, the Dikes were originally constructed to protect Memorial Stadium, with Frank Howard Field sitting below lake level, in addition to the preservation of the Calhoun Bottoms, a historic field and important agricultural experiment location.
These structures, stretching for one and a third miles along the lake shore, tower above the old Seneca River bed tower and 50 feet above the athletic fields and facilities below. On the top, a wide, flat path connects the vast earthen slopes, with water crashing against the rocks on one side and campus stretching out to Tillman on the top of the hill.
