Lakes

For those who love boating, skiing, swimming, or relaxing on the shore you won't find a better place than Lakes Keowee and Jocassee.

Keowee - it's largest run is 22 miles long, making its way from Seneca to the Blueridge mountains. Keowee is full of campgrounds and parks. Here are some of our favorites

High Falls (County Park) 671 High Falls Rd Seneca SC 29678 803/882-8234 143 Sites

South Cove (County Park) 1031 S. Cove Rd Seneca SC 29678 803/882-5250 88 Sites

Jocassee - definitely South Carolinas most spectacular lake. Jocassee is a true mountain lake full of waterfalls and rock faces, as well as the coldest, deepest, and clearest

Devils Fork State Park - 3 mi. N. of S.C. 11 on county road 25 at Lake Jocassee, N. of Salem Roughing it was never like this. This park offers 20 upscale mountain villas, lakeside tent and RV camping areas, a boat ramp, swimming area, picnic shelters and a park store. On Lake Jocassee, the state's coldest, deepest, most pristine mountain waters. (Daily. 944-2639)

Hartwell - South Carolinas longest lake running from Hartwell Ga. to Seneca SC. Great Lake for fishing due to the underwater obstructions.

Lake Hartwell State Park Off I-85 at Fair Play Camping, boat-launching, picnic facilities and a store center this 680-acre park on Lake Hartwell at the southern terminus of S.C. 11, the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway. (Daily. 972-3352)

Interested in lake property connect Lakeshore Realty

Mountain Attractions

The Blueridge mountains is part of the Appalachian mountains. The Blueridge mountains mark the beginning of the Appalachians and is full of waterfalls, rivers, wildlife and parks. Below is a listing of a few of our favorites.

Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River Born high in the Carolina mountains and dropping an average of 49.3 feet per mile in its race past the stately woods of Sumter National Forest, for 40 miles this tumultuous (and sometimes disarmingly placid) mountain river separates South Carolina from Georgia. Once familiar only to local folk, the Chattooga became a sort of national quest after its starring role in the movie of James Dickey's novel, "Deliverance." Rafting, canoeing and kayaking the Chattooga are major adventures in the Upcountry. (For guided raft tours contact Wildwater Ltd., Box 100, Long Creek, S.C. 29658, phone (800)451-9972 or (803) 647-9587, or Nantahala Outdoor Center, 851-A Chattooga Ridge Rd., Mountain Rest, S.C. 29664, phone (800)232-7238 or (803) 647-9014. For other information contact the National Forest Service, 1835 Assembly St., Columbia, S.C. 29201, phone 765-5222)

Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (S.C. 11) Following an ancient Cherokee path, often right at the foot of high mountains, this beautiful but still utilitarian two-lane road leaves I-85 at Gaffney, makes a 130-mile arc through peach orchards and villages, past Cowpens Battlefield, over I-26, past several state and county parks, over Lake Keowee at a scenic spot and on past Salem, Walhalla, Seneca and Westminster to rejoin I-85 at the Georgia line. It's a beautiful drive, especially in the fall and spring.

Foothills Trail Several points, some by boat, access this 85-mile woodland hiking trail, which winds over the ridges of the North Carolina-South Carolina line from Table Rock to Oconee State Park. "Foothills" is a modest misnomer; this is rugged, steep, mountain country. A true wilderness experience. Primitive campsites are located along the trail. (Before setting out, write The Foothills Trail Conference, P.O. Box 3041, Greenville, S.C. 29602 for a map and more information.)

Keowee-Toxaway State Park S.C. 11 at Lake Keowee Just south of the site of this lakeside park, white explorers found the capital of the Lower Cherokee nation. The town and its river were both called Keowee. The Toxaway River flowed a few miles north and much of its bed, along with the town of Keowee, are under the lake waters now. An interpretive center and boardwalk with artifacts and historical exhibits commemorate the Cherokees, to whom this land belonged. Picnicking, camping, hiking and one large lakefront cabin. (Daily. 868-2605)

Oconee State Park S.C. 107, near Mountain Rest This is one of the early parks, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Some of their work remains, in the stonework, rental cabins, bathhouse and lakes. The old overshot waterwheel that supplied early power also survives. Camping, including sites for the handicapped, swimming, fishing, boat and canoe rentals, hiking, rental cabins, a park store and interpretive center are features. (Daily. 638-5353)

Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls Off S.C. 28, 5 mi. N. of Walhalla No steam locomotive ever roared through this 1,600-foot black hole in the mountain; the builders, hoping to link the Port of Charleston and the cities of the Midwest, went broke in the 1850s, before the track was laid. But the terror of the dark unknown remains in the Upcountry's most deliciously-scary place. Bring a good flashlight and picnic lunch. A nature trail leads to Issaqueena Falls, a beautiful 200-foot cascade. Legend has it that the Indian maiden, Issaqueena, rode to the nearby fort to warn of a pending Indian attack and then escaped from pursuing Indians by pretending to leap over the falls, but actually hiding underneath them. (Daily, daylight hours)

Sumter National Forest Western Oconee County The Native American Cherokees came through this area in their conquest of the Piedmont tribes. These high plateaus and mountains were their last strongholds in South Carolina before they moved out in 1792 after signing a treaty. The area has many scenic state parks, hiking trails, campsites and recreation areas. For more information write the National Forest Service, 1835 Assembly St., Columbia, S.C. 29201 or phone 765-5222.

Table Rock State Park S.C. 11 between S.C. 8 and U.S. 178, N. of Pickens Probably the Upcountry's best-known landmark, the rounded dome of Table Rock Mountain shelters one of the state's oldest and most popular parks. Camping, boating, fishing, swimming, carpet golf, nature trails and summit hikes, summer dances, a restaurant, nature programs and rental cabins have drawn record numbers of visitors. (Daily. 878-9813)

Walhalla National Fish Hatchery S.C. 107 N. of Oconee State Park Rainbow, brown and brook trout born and raised here go to cold streams in several Appalachian states. A National Forest picnic area is adjoining. (Daily. Free. 638-2866)

Please Contact Us If you have any Questions
©Copyright 2000, Strickland Marine, All rights reserved