At 7,500 acres, Lake Jocassee is perfect for boating, skiing, fishing, and swimming. There is very little development on its 75 miles of shoreline, and most of the surrounding land is also untouched by man.

The lake is known for the beautiful waterfalls that flow into it, but keep in mind that like many of our South Carolina waterfalls, they are best viewed after a good rain!

As for how Lake Jocassee got its name, SCIWAY contributor Madison Pierce of nearby Salem shares this: “The Jocassee Valley was once home to the Cherokee Indians. The lake was named for an Indian princess who was said to have walked across its waters to reunite with the ghost of her lost love. The name Jocassee has an appropriate meaning: The Place of the Lost One.”

Kevin Matkoski of Columbia writes, “After I moved to SC, I was looking for a place to go camping (via my kayak). Lake Jocassee came highly recommended because of its waterfalls dropping into the lake, and I thought it would be perfect. Needless to say, this was my first introduction to drought in the Southeast. I didn’t find the infamous waterfalls scenes I had imagined, but even in drought conditions the lake’s beauty dominated the landscape.”

]]> http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/oconee-county/lake-jocassee.html/feed/ 1 http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/pickens-county/lake-oolenoy.html http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/pickens-county/lake-oolenoy.html#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:22:31 +0000 SCIWAY http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/?p=13773 Lake Oolenoy is one of two lakes located within Table Rock State Park in Pickens County. This beautiful lake spans 67 acres and delights visitors with mountains views, hiking trails, and great fishing.

The exposed rock that you see in the background is Table Rock. The Cherokee Indians believe their god used this rock as his table for great feasts.

Pinnacle Lake is the other lake at the state park. It is smaller than Lake Oolenoy, but still has fantastic views and is a popular place for boaters.

SCIWAY thanks frequent contributor David Vanover of Boiling Springs, who took this photograph in October 2011.

Lake Murray was created in 1930 when the Saluda Dam was built. It was named in honor of chief engineer William Murray and is owned by SCE&G. The lake provides electricity to the majority of South Carolina’s Midlands region. The largest part of Lake Murray is in Lexington County, but portions of it also stretch into Saluda, Newberry, and Richland counties.

Get more information about Lake Murray’s July 4th event.

Lake Warren State Park is a great place to spend the day and has something for everyone. Within the park, there are also two nature trails, a two-acre fishing pond, a playground, and picnic shelters. Jon boat rentals are available as well, so everyone is able to enjoy a day on the water!

SCIWAY thanks Lisa Mixson of Grays for submitting this picture of Lake Warren that she took in the summer of 2007.

Barnwell is located in southwestern South Carolina, and is about 35 miles southeast of Aiken on US 278. The city was incorporated in 1829, and the heart of the city is the courthouse, where you can find the famous Barnwell sundial clock!

SCIWAY thanks Melissa Roberts for these great photos she took in December 2010.

The lake spans over 18,500 acres predominately in Oconee County, but it also extends into Pickens County. Lake Keowee is a valuable source of energy in northwestern South Carolina, and its quiet beauty is unparalleled.

SCIWAY thanks Gene Borman for submitting this picture he took from his Lake Keowee home on a snowy day in March 2010.

The campground has three shower facilities and 70 camping sites available, many with water and electrical hookups. A boat ramp, a playground, and hiking trails make this a fun and relaxing place to camp in South Carolina.

See a map of the Modoc campground.

SCIWAY thanks Robin Seabury of Goose Creek for submitting this picture she took in August 2010. Robin says that “we were camping at Modoc State Park for the first time and practically had the entire area by ourselves. What a peaceful, beautiful place in South Carolina.”

Table Rock Park also has many camping areas, meeting facilities, and an historic lodge – most which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. These structures are listed in the National Historic Register.

Many thanks to Willie Harper of Mauldin, who took this picture in November 2007.

Willie writes: “While hiking in search of waterfalls to take photos of, I could not resist the beautiful reflection of the fall colors in the relatively calm lake at the foot of the mountain.”

The lake was created by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the early 1950s as a result of the Strom Thurmond Dam (pictured above) constructed at the confluence of the Little and Savannah Rivers. Originally built for the purposes of flood risk management, hydroelectric power, and navigation, authorized uses of the lake now include water supply, fish and wildlife management, and recreation. At 71,100 acres, it is the second largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River. It’s also among the 10 most visited Corp lakes in the nation!

Originally named Clarks Hill Lake (after the SC town of the same name and Revolutionary War hero Elijah Clarke), the dam and reservoir were renamed in 1988 to honor former governor and long-time South Carolina senator, Strom Thurmond.

Naturally, Georgia residents were quite upset that the shared lake had been renamed for an SC governor, so the next year they petitioned to have the lake renamed “Clarks Hill” once again. The bill wasn’t passed, but in 1989 Georgia passed a law making Clarks Hill Lake the official state name for the lake. Even today, many South Carolinians use the original name when referring to the lake.

The Tugaloo River is a popular recreation area in the Upstate where people enjoy water-skiing, boating, sailing, and fishing. A short river that borders the Georgia-South Carolina state line, it is fed by the Tallulah River and the Chattooga River and ends as an arm of Lake Hartwell. After it flows out of Hartwell Dam, it is then called the Savannah River.

Special thanks to Shannon Young who took this picture October 2009.

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