Lake Jocassee

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.