Created by the impounding of the Savannah River in 1959, Hartwell Lake has 56,000 acres of water and a shoreline of almost 1,000 miles. The lake draws millions of visitors annually who boat, fish and swim in the clear water. Boats of all types, including powerboats, sailboats, personal watercraft, canoes and kayaks, are allowed on the lake. Recreation areas have sandy beaches, and the lake provides habitat for bass, catfish, crappie and bream. Anglers must have a license from Georgia or South Carolina. Islands, some with ruins and others known as party spots, dot the lake.
Twin Lakes Campground on Lake Hartwell is about five miles from Clemson, South Carolina. Most of the campground’s 102 sites are on the waterfront; the remaining sites are a short walk from the lake. All of the sites have electrical and water hook-ups, and leashed pets are welcome throughout most of the campground. The largest site is a 48 foot back-in, but other slightly smaller sites are designed as pull-throughs. Tent campers are welcome at all of the sites. A boat launch provides access to the lake and the campground has a swimming beach. Hiking and biking trails wind through the woods and along the lakeshore. Twin Lakes Campground is open year-round, but a limited number of sites are open in the winter.
The Army Corps of Engineers recommends campers make reservations during the spring and summer because of the popularity of the campground. Reservations can be made for Twin Lakes online, at the campground gatehouse or by calling 877-444-6777. Up to 10 campers and three vehicles are allowed at each site, and campers may stay up to 14 days in a 30-day period. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in Corps of Engineers campgrounds, and pets are prohibited on the beach, in playgrounds and in the bathhouses. Campground gates are locked between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
The visitor’s center in Hartwell, Georgia, has an information desk, brochures and maps. A trail leads from the visitor center to the dam. A corresponding trail on the other side of the dam begins at the South Carolina Overlook on Highway 29. The Corps of Engineers maintains a dozen recreation areas with picnic areas, beaches, playgrounds and boat launches on the South Carolina side of the lake, and another 10 in Georgia. Five private marinas provide fuel and boating supplies, and state parks and municipal recreation areas around the lake have campgrounds, boat launches and hiking trails.
