Get Outside

Outdoor Recreation, Wellness & Sustainability at Clarkson

At Clarkson, getting outside is part of the experience. Our 640-acre campus in Potsdam, New York, sits in the St. Lawrence River Valley, along the Raquette River and just beyond the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Here, the outdoors aren't something you have to save for a long weekend. They're right outside your door.

Walk, run or bike Clarkson's wooded trails. Paddle the Raquette River from our campus canoe launch. Head into the Adirondacks for hiking, camping, climbing and skiing. Grow something in the campus garden, explore the Clarkson Woods or simply find a quiet outdoor spot to study, recharge and spend time with friends. When winter arrives, the possibilities don't stop. Snowshoeing, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding and ice climbing make the North Country a four-season playground.

Getting outside at Clarkson is about more than recreation. Our natural surroundings create opportunities to connect with people, support your physical and mental well-being, learn about sustainability and experience the environment in new ways. Through student organizations, Nature Rx, sustainability projects, outdoor events and everyday adventures, there are plenty of ways to make the outdoors your own.

Whether you're chasing an Adirondack summit or just looking for a better place to take a study break, there's always a reason to get outside.

A group of Clarkson students wearing backpacks are walking on a wooded trail

Find Your Outdoor Crew

Find your crew and get out there. Explore clubs, outdoor activities, hands-on projects and other ways to experience the outdoors with fellow Golden Knights.

A canoe sits on a bank near the Raquette River near Clarkson University

Explore the Outdoors

Start on campus, explore the North Country or make a day of it in the Adirondacks. See where Clarkson students hike, paddle, ski, explore and recharge.

Two Clarkson students dig a hole with shovels for a tree to be planted outdoors

Make a Sustainable Impact

Give back to the places you explore. Discover Clarkson initiatives that support a healthier, more sustainable campus, community and world.

Mental Health x the Outdoors

Sometimes the best reset is right outside your door. Spending time in nature can support your physical and mental well-being. Clarkson's NatureRx program helps students discover ways to connect their own wellness with the natural world around them.

Take a walk. Find a quiet spot. Leave your phone behind for a little while. Your next study break might be closer than you think.

Learn More about our Nature Rx Program

Follow Us on Socials!

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Annual & Upcoming Events

Our outdoor and sustainability groups host a variety of annual events. Here's some highlights of what you can expect to attend and get involved in. For a full listing of our upcoming events, visit our calendar.

Each spring, the Clarkson community comes together for Arbor Day with Tree Campus USA to plant trees, care for our campus and celebrate the green spaces that make Clarkson home.Tree Campus USA

Our annual Earth Week provides our community with events, activities and opportunities to connect, get outside and make a positive impact on our planet.

Each fall, Clarkson joins Global Climate Week with events and activities that bring our community together to learn, connect and take action for a more sustainable future.