• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SC Picture Project

The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

  • FIND A LANDMARK
    • BY CITY
    • BY COUNTY
    • BY CATEGORY
    • BYGONE LANDMARKS
  • ADD IMAGES
  • VOLUNTEER
  • SPONSORS
  • DONATE

Lake Jocassee

SC PICTURE PROJECT 6 Comments

SC Picture Project / Oconee County / Lake Jocassee

Serene Lake Jocassee (pronounced “joe-KASS-ee”) was created from the Whitewater, Thompson, and Toxaway rivers by Duke Power Company in 1967. It is located in Oconee and Pickens counties. Along with Lake Keowee, it provides electricity and recreation for much of the Upstate.

Lake Jocassee SC

Dave Allen of Hendersonville, NC © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

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.

Lake Jocassee in Oconee County

Mark VanDyke of Herndon, VA, 2012 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

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

Lake Jocassee During Fall

Johnny Corn of Greenville, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

As for how Lake Jocassee got its name, SC Picture Project 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.”


Lake Jocassee

Madison Pierce of Salem, 2011 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Waterfalls of Lake Jocassee


Several waterfalls line the boundaries of Lake Jocassee, creating an unmatched vision of mountain splendor. Below Wrights Creek Falls has two sections, one higher and one lower, flowing into the lake. The lower level of Wrights Creek Falls has space for adventurers to actually walk behind the falls when the water level is high. Below are three of the lake’s most popular waterfalls, though several unnamed falls can be found throughout the shoreline.

Wrights Creek Falls Jocassee

Steven Faucette of Williamston, 2009 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Mill Creek Falls, seen below, is a story-book cascade flowing over a rockface. While there is no room for walking behind the falls, boaters can get close enough to feel the water splashing onto the lake.

Mill Creek Falls

Steven Faucette of Williamston, 2011 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Finally, Laurel Fork Falls, below, is the crown jewel of the Lake Jocassee waterfalls. The cascade falls 80 feet in to the lake in three sections.

Lower Laurel Creek Falls, Lake Jocassee

Mark Oleg of Atlanta, GA, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

A small pool for swimming is created from the cascade below the middle section.

Upper Laurel Fork Falls, Lake Jocassee

Mark Oleg of Atlanta, GA, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The upper section can be accessed by a portion of the Foothills Trail.

Upper Laurel Fork Falls, Lake Jocassee

Mark Oleg of Atlanta, GA, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

More Pictures of Lake Jocassee


Lake Jocassee Under the Stars

Mark Oleg of Atlanta, GA, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Lake Jocassee Vista at Sunset

Jordan Williamson of Midway, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Lower Laurel Fork Falls Top Portion

Mark Oleg of Atlanta, GA, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Lake Jocassee, South Carolina

Jeff Hammond of Greenville, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Wright's Creek Falls

Alan Taylor of Spartanburg, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Wright's Creek Falls

Alan Taylor of Spartanburg, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Reflections on Lake Jocassee


Dave Allen, who took the stunning photo at the top of this page, describes the scene he found at Lake Jocassee: “A spectacular sunset over Lake Jocassee in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Upstate South Carolina. The foothills of the Southern Appalachians have so many amazing scenic landscapes, and this is one of my personal favorites. The overlook at Jumping Off Rock has an incredible view of the mountains of Western NC and Upstate SC from the top of a cliff that is 850 feet above the backside of Lake Jocassee.”

Kevin Matkoski of Columbia, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Kevin Matkoski, who contributed the photo above, 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.”

Plan Your Trip: Lake Jocassee

Where is Lake Jocassee located?
Address: Lake Jocassee Dam Road, Sunset, SC 29685
GPS Coordinates: 34.961491,-82.923477
Website: http://www.duke-energy.com/lakes/facts-and-maps/lake-jocassee.asp
What else should I see?
Oconee Bells 2.5 miles
McKinney Chapel 2.8 miles
Keowee-Toxaway State Park 4.8 miles
Jumping Off Rock 5.1 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Lakes
    Lake Jocassee Map

    Please Help Us Stay Online

    We’d like thank everyone who generously supports the South Carolina Picture Project. You provide us with the inspiration and financial support we need to keep doing what we do. Every reader’s contribution, larger or small, is valuable. If you have enjoyed this website or found it helpful, please pitch in. Each donation helps – and it only takes a minute. Thank you!

    Support the SC Picture Project!

    $ 50.00
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Credit Card Info
    This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

    Donation Total: $50.00

    You may also like

    You may also like

    Sunset over Lake KeoweeLake Keowee Mountain RestMountain Rest Default ThumbnailMill Creek Falls Default ThumbnailSouth Cove County Park Broken Brdige Fishing PierOld Tugaloo River Bridge

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tommie Rosenfeld says

      June 18, 2018 at 1:01 PM

      That is the appropriate weblog for anybody who needs to find out about this topic. You realize a lot its almost exhausting to argue with you (not that I truly would need…HaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!

      Reply
    2. Randy says

      June 27, 2017 at 7:14 AM

      I would like to use the picture of Lake Jocassee taken by Dave Allen. The picture says don’t use without written consent. I would like an image that is at least 1.5M MB.

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        June 27, 2017 at 11:03 PM

        Hello Randy, you would need to speak to Dave Allen directly. Here is the link to his email contact form: http://www.daveallenphotography.com/contact.php. Thank you!

        Reply
    3. Bob Spalding says

      October 6, 2013 at 8:56 PM

      A lot of people don’t know that a small part of Jocassee is in NC. As you enter a cove in the upper end of the lake, you will see a welcome sign to North Carolina.

      Reply
    4. Bob Spalding says

      September 2, 2013 at 12:20 PM

      The top photo is Jumping Off Rock in Pickens County, and I believe the bottom photo is also from Pickens County. It looks like the Powdercade Road, the location where all the dynamite was stored when building Jocassee.

      Reply
    5. Dan Evatt says

      July 24, 2012 at 6:17 PM

      On Thursday July 19, 2012 I went fishing on this beautiful lake with my soon to be son-in-law from Ohio. This was his bachelor party and we caught 20 trout and bass with our guide’s help and skills. The smallest fish was 2.5 lbs, and largest was 4lbs (and great eating also!).

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    FIND A LANDMARK

    Why This Site Matters

    Help Keep This Site Online

    We depend on the support of today’s readers to document South Carolina’s landmarks for future readers. Please help us continue this important work by making a donation below.

    $ 50.00
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Credit Card Info
    This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

    Donation Total: $50.00

    Recent Posts

    • H.L. Hunley
    • Strand Theater
    • Camden Depot
    • Charleston City Marina
    • Secession Hill

    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

    Footer

    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

    CONTACT US

    We’d love to hear from you! Send us a quick email at share@scpictureproject.org.

    If you are looking for permission to use a photo, please reach out directly to the photographer listed in the image’s credit.

    JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

    The South Carolina Picture Project has two Facebook groups. One is dedicated to SC Historic Landmarks and Iconic Landscapes, and the other is dedicated to SC Nature and Wildlife.

    South Carolina Picture Project © 2022 · All Rights Reserved