Lakes

Oconee County SC is blessed with four wonderful lakes!

Lake Jocassee
Lake Keowee
Lake Hartwell
Lake Tugalo

Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee are known for their pristine waters, endless mountain views, and lots of room for all forms of water activity. With over 300 miles of shoreline on Lake Keowee and 90 miles on the more secluded Lake Jocassee, even the most beautiful days allow for plenty of room to enjoy the water.

At the southern end of Oconee County, Lake Hartwell is one of the Southeast’s largest and most popular public recreation lakes, and often referred to as “the Great Lake of the South.”

Lake Tugalo is fed by the Chattooga (NC/SC) and Tallulah (GA) Rivers. Backed up by the Tugalo Dam, the lake is a peaceful spot and a great place for fishermen. If you raft or kayak down Section IV of the Chattooga River, this is the lake where you end up.

Travel Tip: ARRIVE EARLY!

Especially if you are coming to enjoy a day on Lake Jocassee or Lake Keowee. Parking at lake public access points is limited.

Devils Fork State Park–the only public access for Lake Jocassee–is a very popular destination. Depending on the season, the parking lot gets full early in the day. If you’re not there by 9:30am, you will likely be turned away.

Parking lots at Lake Keowee boat ramps also fill up early in the day. And roads near Lake Keowee have been experiencing heavy traffic. We strongly discourage parking in private neighborhoods along the lake.

Lake Hartwell

Fair Play, SC
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Lake Hartwell is a reservoir bordering Georgia and South Carolina and is created by Hartwell Dam. One of the southeast’s largest and most popular recreation lakes, LAKE HARTWELL comprises nearly 56,000 acres of water with a shoreline of 962 miles. Highway I-85 bisects Hartwell Lake and makes the area easily accessible to visitors.

Lake Jocassee

Salem, SC
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Very popular destination in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Four mountain streams and several waterfalls feed into the lake, making it cooler than others and a great South Carolina trout fishing spot. The unusually clear water is a haven for boat tours, scuba divers and swimmers. Public access to this 7,500-acre lake is limited to Devils Fork State Park, the #1 visited state park in SC! Park has many amenities and fills up during peak times. Check for reservations before visiting.

Lake Keowee

Seneca, SC
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ARRIVE EARLY! Parking at boat ramps is limited and fills up fast. With 18,500 acres of water and a 300-mile shoreline, the Lake Keowee area is popular for fishing, waterskiing, swimming, camping and picnicking. LOWER LAKE KEOWEE public access: • South Cove County Park • Cane Creek Access • High Falls County Park • Stamp Creek Access Area • Keowee Marina • Warpath Access Area UPPER LAKE KEOWEE public access: • Mile Creek Park • Crow Creek Access Area • Keowee Towne Landing • Fall Creek Access

Lake Tugalo

Long Creek, SC
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This little known 575-acre lake in the mountainous region of Oconee County is fed by the Chattooga and Tallulah Rivers. Backed up by the Tugalo dam, the lake is a peaceful spot to paddle and a great place for fishermen. Motorboat access to the lake is restricted to motors below 20 hp, ensuring a peaceful outing. Several small waterfalls tumble into this scenic lake, which is surrounded by the forest covered foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.