The past 15 years we have driven past Jocassee Gorges entrance
located in North and South Carolina. Many times we pulled off to view the
seasonal colors at Upper Whitewater Falls, but never traveled into the area.
Adventurous friends asked last week to join them for a
Driving Tour and Sunset Picnic on Jumping-Off-Rock within the gorge available from
Jocassee Lake Tours Company. Concerns about the chilly weather, we bundled up
with jackets and layers of warm clothing.
Jumping-Off-Rock, an iconic viewpoint above Lake Jocassee in
northern Pickens County, can now be accessed all year round. We stopped at several
overlooks along the 9-mile ride to one of the most beautiful views of Lake
Jocassee and the Blue Ridge Mountains with few signs of human development.
National Geographic Magazine identified Jocassee Gorges as
one the top 50 of "The World's Last Great Places." Visitors can grasp
a true sense of the vast extent of undisturbed countryside.
Several non-governmental organization‘s connected the 200,000
acres to protect 60 species of rare plants including Oconee Bells. Designating
Jocassee Gorges as an internationally important bird area, there is a fund
raising campaign underway to build an observation tower on the highest
mountain.
While we only saw wild turkeys the article went on to
explain falcons, bald eagles, black bears, bobcats, and the highest number of
salamanders found anywhere in the world reside in these hills.
As you can see from our photo, Lake Jocassee 9000 acres and
a 385 foot deep reservoir offered a stunning sunset. The lake was named after the
Cherokee Princess Jocassee ("Place Of The Lost One"), who, legend has
it, drowned herself upon learning of her lover's death.
Ironically, Duke Energy flooded the valley in 1974 and constructed
a hydroelectric power station impounding the waters of the Whitewater,
Thompson, Horsepasture and Toxaway Rivers.
If you’re in the area, JocasseeLakeTours.com
has a variety of boating and hiking opportunities on the lake from morning to
sunset. Next time I think we will try the monthly full moon relaxing pontoon
ride to enjoy the pristine wilderness with waterfalls from of the Appalachian Mountain
Rivers that feed the lake. Guided kayak and adventure tours are also available most
of the year. We also found information on the dnr.sc.gov
website as well.
While neighbors spoke of the beauty and wilderness only twenty
minutes away, I wish we had explored this scenic expanse sooner.