Green Crescent Trail
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    Green
    Crescent
    Trails

    The Green Crescent Trail is a growing network of pedestrian and biking trails that improve the quality of life in the greater Clemson, Central, Pendleton area of South Carolina by connecting the place we love.

    Learn more
  • The Green Crescent Pedestrian Bridge

    On Friday November 10th, 2017 the Green Crescent Bridge was officially opened. The pedestrian bridge runs parallel to Berkeley Drive, spans Hwy 123, and is the first segment of the Green Crescent Trail in Clemson.

  • Better walking & biking connections ...

  • will make a safer, healthier, & more vibrant community for everyone!


    See the GCT maps
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GCT Mission

To make the Clemson-Central-Pendleton area a better place to live, work, learn, & play by connecting the places we love with a safe & easily-accessible network of trails and public/alternative transportation options.

Vision

The Clemson-Central-Pendleton area will be recognized as a national model for connectivity and alternative transportation through its system of trails, greenways, sidewalks, complete streets, and public transportation.

Strategy

The Friends of the Green Crescent, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, focuses on three primary activities:

  1. Political Advocacy
  2. Public Relations and Communication
  3. Resource Development (Volunteering, Fundraising, Sponsorship, and Grants)

News & Notes

Articles

15 Miles by 2030: A New Chapter for the Green Crescent Trail

The Green Crescent Trail has a new goal:

15 miles of connected walking and biking routes by 2030.

Not scattered sidewalks.
Not isolated greenways.

A safe, usable network that links:

  • Neighborhoods to schools
  • Parks to downtowns
  • Campuses to surrounding communities

The goal is simple: make it safer and easier to move around our community on foot or by bike.

Introducing the 15×30 Campaign

Green Crescent Trail - 15x30 Campaign Map

Green Crescent Trail: Open & Usable Today (green) | Planned Connections (orange)

The Green Crescent Trail isn’t one long path built from end to end, like our neighbor the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

It’s a network.

That network includes:

  • Greenways and sidepaths
  • Safer street crossings
  • Improved on-street connections
  • Natural surface paths (in some areas)
  • Clear signage and wayfinding

Some segments are already complete. Others are under construction. Some are feasible in the near term. A few will require creativity, partnership, and opportunity.

The goal is to complete and connect enough of these pieces to create a functional 15-mile network by 2030.

Where We Are Today

Fortunately, the foundation is already here.

Thanks to our city, state, and university partners, 9.8 miles of trail are already open and usable across our communities. 

Families use them. Students rely on them. Neighbors experience them every day.

But many of these miles don’t yet connect. Some segments lack clear trailheads or signage, making the system harder to navigate.

The 15×30 campaign is about finishing those connections and building the missing pieces that make the whole system work. 

Why Connection Matters

When trails connect, communities thrive.

A connected network means:

  • Safer routes for kids and families
  • Better access to daily physical activity
  • Stronger connections between towns and campuses
  • More visibility and foot traffic for local businesses
  • A higher quality of life for residents and students

That’s why this campaign focuses on the overall network. It’s those connections that unlock the most benefit for the community.

What It Will Take

Reaching 15 miles by 2030 will require coordinated effort across our area. 

Cities.
Counties.
State agencies.
Schools and institutions.
Private partners.
And continued grassroots support from people like you.

Infrastructure projects take time. Funding must be secured. Plans must align. 

But the momentum is real, and the groundwork has already been laid.

We believe this goal is both ambitious and achievable.

What Comes Next

In the weeks ahead, we’ll share more about:

  • How the 15×30 network will work
  • The essential partnerships needed to make progress
  • What local landmarks we’re trying to connect
  • The standards that guide design and safety
  • How you’ll begin to see visible progress

This campaign isn’t about one project. It’s about building a system that serves the greater Clemson-Central-Pendleton area for decades.

The Next 5 Years Will Shape the Next 50

The Green Crescent Trail has always been a community-driven effort.

So, to help us move the 15×30 forward, please:

  • Share this article with a friend by text, email, or on social media
  • Leave a comment or contact us your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions
  • Consider donating your time or money to help us move this project forward

With shared commitment, we can complete a trail network that reflects our values and leaves a lasting legacy.

Let’s connect the places we love and build the future of our communities together!

February 16, 2026/0 Comments/by Chad Carson
http://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gct-logo-c-256x300.png 0 0 Chad Carson http://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gct-logo-c-256x300.png Chad Carson2026-02-16 22:19:222026-02-16 22:34:1215 Miles by 2030: A New Chapter for the Green Crescent Trail
Articles

A Simple Question That Led to the Green Crescent Trail

In 2014, I attended a community meeting about the City of Clemson’s comprehensive plan. Like most people in the room, I talked about how much I loved living here. The sense of community.The natural beauty.The energy that comes from being…
January 30, 2026
http://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gct-logo-c-256x300.png 0 0 Chad Carson http://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gct-logo-c-256x300.png Chad Carson2026-01-30 09:52:032026-01-30 09:53:49A Simple Question That Led to the Green Crescent Trail
News

A Look Ahead (and a Big Year on the Horizon)

Hey Green Crescent Trail friends, Last weekend, our board gathered for a working retreat. No speeches. No press releases. Just a room full of people asking hard questions about where the Green Crescent Trail goes next. A few takeaways I wanted…
January 12, 2026
http://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gct-logo-c-256x300.png 0 0 Chad Carson http://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gct-logo-c-256x300.png Chad Carson2026-01-12 16:01:432026-01-12 16:01:43A Look Ahead (and a Big Year on the Horizon)
Articles

Why Central Has a 585-Foot ‘Random’ Trail

If you’ve driven in Central near Bolick Field recently, you may have noticed a short but unusually wide sidewalk next to Mugshot Coffee — about 585 feet long, 10 feet wide, and not connected to much of anything. It looks a little random,…
November 19, 2025
https://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/map-screenshot-bollick-curve-zoomed-in.png 606 822 Chad Carson http://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gct-logo-c-256x300.png Chad Carson2025-11-19 09:15:092025-11-19 15:59:52Why Central Has a 585-Foot ‘Random’ Trail
Articles

How Trails Turn Empty Buildings Into Local Landmarks

One hot morning this past summer, I was walking the Doodle Trail in Easley with my parents.I’ve walked the Doodle Trail many times — it’s an easy, peaceful path with just a few joggers or cyclists passing by. But this particular morning…
November 5, 2025
http://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gct-logo-c-256x300.png 0 0 Chad Carson http://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gct-logo-c-256x300.png Chad Carson2025-11-05 08:37:012025-11-05 08:37:01How Trails Turn Empty Buildings Into Local Landmarks
News

A New Creekside Trail Connection Could Link Nettles Park to the Heart of Clemson

Easements nearly complete for the next major section of the Green Crescent Trail If you’ve ever visited Nettles Park, you know it’s one of the area’s most popular destinations - home to sports fields, pickleball and tennis courts,…
October 13, 2025
https://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Map_18mile_creek_v2.jpg 2280 1950 Chad Carson http://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gct-logo-c-256x300.png Chad Carson2025-10-13 19:49:022025-10-14 12:22:18A New Creekside Trail Connection Could Link Nettles Park to the Heart of Clemson
Articles, Support

How Can You Support the Green Crescent Trail?

The Green Crescent Trail is more than just a path — it’s a growing movement to connect our communities, promote healthy living, and create safe, green transportation corridors through Clemson, Central, and Pendleton. Want to be part…
October 6, 2025
https://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GCT-using-trail-scaled.jpg 1920 2560 Chad Carson http://www.greencrescenttrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gct-logo-c-256x300.png Chad Carson2025-10-06 11:44:392025-10-06 11:51:31How Can You Support the Green Crescent Trail?
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