Twin Lakes Recreation Area is a 152-acre recreation area on Hartwell Lake which sits along the Tugaloo, Seneca, and Savannah Rivers and is situated just outside the City of Clemenson, South Carolina. Clemenson is a handy location for visitors to Twin Lakes Recreation Area to access shops for supplies, fuel stations, restaurants, and other services and amenities, and the Clemson University is situated here.
Hartwell Lake is formed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Hartwell Project, which was developed to provide hydropower, flood control, and navigation in the area. Subsequently, recreational areas, wildlife management areas, and water quality initiatives around the man-made lake were developed and are maintained by the Corps of Engineers. The 962 miles of shoreline on the lake are the location of multiple COE campgrounds and day-use areas with swim beaches, picnic areas, and boat ramps, on densely vegetated and forested terrain.
The Twin Lakes Recreation area occupies 152 acres and is covered by dense pine and hardwood forest. The recreation area sits on sloping ground with the steepest terrain on the northside. The recreation area has an overnight campground, boat launch, and a separate day-use area. The campground is open year-round, with the peak period being between April and November. RV rentals in the South Carolina region can be obtained at
RV Rentals South Carolina.
Twin Lakes is located on the east shore of Hartwell Lake, just 5 miles south of Clemenson, South Carolina.
Interstate 85 runs just south of the region, between Atlanta, Georgia, and Greenville, South Carolina. From Interstate 85, take exit 14 onto Highway 187. Continue past Clemson Research Center and turn left onto Fants Grove Road. Continue north to Twin Lakes Road/State Road S-39-150 and turn left to head west towards the recreation area. The recreation area is well signed. Entrances to the park and campground are situated on the right side of Twin Lakes Road. Winnebago Trail is the first access road and takes you to the campground areas. Shelter Road is the second access road and heads over to the day-use area.
There is a paved parking area at the day-use area and paved access roads to the campground and recreation areas, so muddy and dusty conditions are not an issue. The park is heavily treed and sightlines may be limited going around corners. The access roads are large enough to accommodate RVs and tow vehicles, but reducing speed where trees impair visibility around corners is advised.
South Carolina has mild winters and heavy snowfall and icy conditions are not usually an issue, however, occasional freezing rain and sleet can make road conditions slippery. Reduce speed and ensure you have adequate tires on your RV or tow vehicle when traveling during inclement winter weather.
The Twin Lakes Campground has 102 individual campsites. The campground is open all year round, however, from December 1 to March 31, only sites 25 - 58 are available. All sites have water and electric hookups, and one site also has a sewer hookup.
There is a gatehouse that is open from 8 AM to 10 PM during the peak season, from April 1 to November 30, and from 2 PM to 6 PM in the offseason.
Amenities at the campground include showers, flush toilets, 2 RV dump stations, a swim beach, boat ramp, courtesy dock, on-site park attendant, 5 playgrounds, parking for boat trailers, fishing pier, and a picnic shelter.
The day-use area has a gatehouse, 27 individual picnic sites, two picnic shelters with water and electric services, boat ramp, courtesy dock, two comfort stations, a playground, two designated swim beaches, and parking areas.
The campground is densely forested and all campsites are shady with picnic tables, fire pits and grills, lantern posts, and paved pads. There are 79 waterfront sites and 25 pull-through sites.
There is a swimming beach at the Twin Beach Campground, and two swim beaches at the day-use area. Comfort stations at the day-use area can be used for changing for swimming activities. Although there are venomous snakes around Lake Hartwell, there have been no documented sightings of Water Moccasins at the lake.
Swimming areas are roped off but do not have lifeguards on duty. Ensure you stay in an area appropriate to your swimming ability and keep children within arms reach.
Twin Lakes has a two-lane boat ramp and parking for boat trailers. There is also a dock for boating activities. Twin Lakes recreation area is located on the 56000 acre Lake Hartwell, which has an average depth of 45 feet. It's ideal for watersports, motor boating, kayaking, and canoeing, as well as wind-powered watercraft. Make sure you follow the rules and regulations for boating, and have personal flotation devices on board for all passengers to ensure safe boating activities.
A short 45-minute drive north from Twin Lakes is an 1825 grist mill and historical site. Explore the historic site which has a great wooded hiking trail and a traditional barn with a farming exhibit. There are two log cabins, one dating back to 1791! The other cabin is a 1925 structure and you can check out the blacksmith shop, cotton gin, and moonshine still. A folklife festival and concert series are held annually from the large outdoor stage located here.
Hartwell Lake is located in both the State of Georgia and South Carolina. A fishing license for either state can be used anywhere on Lake Hartwell, and the same fishing rules and regulations apply on both sides of the state line. Fishing at Lake Hartwell can be conducted from the shoreline, from a boat on the lake surface or from fishing piers, of which there is one at the Twin Lakes Campground.
Hartwell Lake is known for its legendary bass fishing, with white, striped, largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass available in the lake. Other species in the lake include catfish, crappie, bluegill, sunfish, walleye, rainbow trout, and perch. During the offseason, less recreational traffic on the lake creates a more peaceful environment for fishing activities.
There are numerous great hiking trails on both the Georgia and South Carolina side of Lake Hartwell. On the South Carolina side, near Twin Lakes, the Foothills Trail is an advanced trail with beginner-friendly sections. Not for the faint of heart, the entire trail is 76 miles long and takes 5 -10 days to complete, but has several waterfalls and incredible views that make the effort well worth it. The Beach Bluff Trail is rated easy and is a 1.2-mile loop trail that is located in Hartwell State Park. The Issaqueena Dam Trails are moderate hiking trails that include the 4.7-mile Collarbone Loop Trail. Fall is an ideal time to take a hike in the area when deciduous trees put on a brilliant display of fall colors.
Just over an hour's drive north in North Carolina, visitors to the Twin Lakes area can visit the Sapphire Valley Ski Area and Moonshine Mountain Snow Tubing Park. Sapphire Valley has downhill skiing with lifts and ski rentals. Moonshine Mountain Snow Tubing Park is a family-friendly location with man-made snow and tube rentals. The tubing park has over 500 feet of runs and lifts so you don't have to trek uphill after riding down!
