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    Oconee County South Carolina   

In the northwestern-most corner of South Carolina is Oconee County, known as the "Golden Corner" because of its climate, its spectacularly beautiful lakes and the beauty of its Blue Ridge Mountains. Today, outdoor recreation, adventure travel and family “together time” are hot buttons for tourists, and Oconee County offers the perfect setting for an affordable vacation for active families, outdoor types of all ages, couples and retirees.  Biking, horseback riding, boating, whitewater rafting, paddling, fishing, hiking, camping, golfing and antiquing are plentiful here.

      Oconee County includes lakes Hartwell, Keowee and Jocassee, rushing and lazy rivers, including the federally-designated “Wild and Scenic” Chattooga, endless waterfalls, the Sumter National Forest and the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, all neighboring the mountains of North Carolina and Northeast Georgia, making it within easy access to most of the Southeast.

Thank you for inquiring about Oconee County, South Carolina. I hope this information is helpful in planning your trip to South Carolina. Please feel free to contact us if you have further questions or need additional assistance. You can also find Oconee County visitor information at www.oconeecountry.com and general information at www.oconeesc.com Have a great day!

Whitewater Rafting – Nature’s Roller Coaster

The Chattooga River begins at the base of Whiteside Mountain in North Carolina and flows southwest to form the border between South Carolina and Georgia.  As one of the wildest and most beautiful whitewater rivers in the country, the Chattooga was the first river in the Southeast to be designated "Wild & Scenic" by Congress and was used as a location for the movie Deliverance. 

As a free flowing river, water levels on the Chattooga vary with the amount of rainfall each season.  The highest water levels and most exciting trips are usually in the Spring and early Summer.  By late Summer and Fall the water level is usually lower and trips are more relaxed and slower paced.  Typically, the minimum age is eight years for safety’s sake on the Class I and II rides, up to 13 years of age on Class IV trips.

Contact Information:

Nantahala Outdoor Center
www.noc.com
Nantahala Outdoor Center
851 A Chattooga Ridge Rd
Mountain Rest, South Carolina 29664
1-800-232-7238

Wildwater Ltd. Rafting
www.wildwaterrafting.com
Off US 76, 1251 Academy Rd.
Long Creek, South Carolina 29658
864-647-9587; 1-800-451-9972

Waterfalls of Oconee County

There’s nothing more magical, relaxing and restoring than a waterfall, and Oconee County offers an amazing collection, each more breathtaking than the next.  The mystical natural waterfalls of South Carolina's Upcountry shimmer down smooth granite walls, flow over rugged rock ledges and drop hundreds of feet from scenic mountain cliffs.  Twenty-five have been named and marked on maps, along with the level of hiking difficulty.  At last count, there are an additional 40, unnamed falls, some of which are virtually inaccessible to anyone but the most experienced climbers.

For a listing of all the named waterfalls in Oconee County, go to http://www.sctrails.net/Trails/ALLTRAILS/waterfalls/Waterfalls.html

The site contains waterfall listings and photos and lists how to get to each fall and the level of difficulty of the hike.

Hiking in Oconee County

There are more than 50 hiking trails in Oconee County, most leading to, around or near streams, lakes and waterfalls. There’s hiking for every level of experience and ability, from couch potatoes to extreme adventurers.

For a list of all hiking trails in Oconee County, visit
§  www.sctrails.net/Trails/ALLTRAILS/Hiking/Upcountry/UPCOUNTRY.html
§  www.theblueridgehighlander.com/hiking_trails/south_carolina/oconee.html
Both sites give details about the area trails, their length, hiking ease or difficulty, with maps and reasons to visit.

For information on the Bartram Trail, visit
§  www.bartramtrail.org

For information on the Foothills Trail, visit
§  www.foothillstrail.org

Stumphouse Tunnel

Off SC Hwy 28 in Stumphouse Tunnel Park
Walhalla, SC 29691
www.carolinanow.com/recsites/stumphouse.htm

A short, easy walking trail leads to Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel, the remains of an 1850s attempt to link the port of Charleston to the cities of the Midwest by rail. The Civil War brought the construction to an end.  

Bring a flashlight and a rain-proof jacket with a hood, as it’s dark inside.  The temperature is always 50 degrees, and it’s always “raining” from water leaking through the crevices.  Outhouse restrooms are available, as well as a picnic area.

 Stumphouse Tunnel Park is maintained by the City of Walhalla.  The park features two hiking trails:  Issaqueena Falls Trail- a 0.1 mile, easy trail to the falls, and Blue Ridge Railroad Historical Trail - a seven- mile, moderately strenuous trail which mostly follows the old Blue Ridge Railroad right-of-way.

The park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, and closed Christmas Day and during inclement weather. 

For more information on Oconee’s history and heritage, visit the

Oconee Heritage Center at www.oconeeheritagecenter.org.

Lakes and Fishing

The Walhalla State Fish Hatchery released its first trout in 1937 and is still going strong today.  About 500,000 brown, brook and rainbow trout are produced here and then stocked in the streams of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the upcountry. 

A visit to the hatchery provides visitors with an opportunity to learn and have fun while discovering the life cycle of trout.  Visitors are welcome to tour the hatchery and to fish in the nearby East Fork, which runs through the hatchery grounds.  The hatchery is adjacent to the Chattooga Picnic area, operated by the U.S. Forest Service and is on the boundary of Ellicott Rock Wilderness.  A trail, along the side of East Fork, leads to the Chattooga River then on to Ellicott’s Rock or downstream to Burrell’s Ford Campground. 

The hatchery is open daily, except holidays and when inclement weather makes visits dangerous, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

The Walhalla State Fish Hatchery
198 Fish Hatchery Road
Mountain Rest, SC 29664
(864) 638-2866
www.dnr.sc.gov

Lakes

Lake Hartwell – Hartwell is one of the Southeast’s largest and most popular public recreation sites. It has 56,000 acres of water and many recreation opportunities.  There are numerous natural sand beaches along the 962-mile shoreline in addition to campgrounds, recreation areas and boat access ramps.  Hartwell borders Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers.  

Lake Keowee – Lake Keowee covers Keowee Town, site of the capitol of the Lower Cherokee Nation.  Keowee, meaning “place of the mulberries,” was visited by Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto when he came through the area in 1540.  With 18,500 acres of water and a 300-mile shoreline, the Lake Keowee area is a popular place for fishing, waterskiing, swimming, camping and picnicking. 

Lake Jocassee – This lake has 7,500 acres of deep water and 75 miles of shoreline.  The lake is named Jocassee, “place of the lost one,” after a Cherokee Legend.  Jocassee, an Indian maiden, was said to have drowned herself in grief over the murder of her lover.  The popular recreation area is surrounded by mountains and waterfalls

County and State Parks

Oconee County Parks

Stunning forested mountains and towering waterfalls, blackwater rivers and scenic high country lakes and treasured American historic sites are a few of the discoveries that can be made at Oconee County’s State and County Parks.  

At scenic County and State Parks, you’ll find the best boating, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and hiking in South Carolina’s upcountry. One of the original 13 Colonies, South Carolina’s significant contributions to American history are brought to life in historic parks throughout the county.  Parks and Recreation facilities in Oconee County feature over 1,300 campsites at an array of accommodations such as lakeside and streamside cabins, villas and campgrounds making it a popular family, sporting and group vacation destination.  There are three County Parks, two Corp of Engineer parks, and four State Parks in Oconee County:

County Parks

·          Chau Ram Park – Known as Oconee County’s “Best Kept Secret, Chau Ram Park is located at the confluence of the Chauga River and Ramsay Creek and provides a variety of outdoor activities.

·          High Falls Park – This 44-acre park is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and serves as a gateway to a variety of recreational activities.

·          South Cove Park - Located on the clear waters of Lake Keowee, South Cove Park offers a variety of sports-based activities and facilities such as four lighted tennis courts, a volleyball court, 18-hole miniature golf course, horseshoe pits, playground areas along with other nature-based activities.

State Parks

·          Oconee State Park - This historic park rests deep in the Blue Ridge foothills with several beautiful but non-demanding hiking trails and well-kept cabins and campgrounds that have welcomed families since the days the park was first built during the Great Depression.

·          Devils Fork State Park – 622-acre Devils Fork State Park provides the only public access to Lake Jocassee, a beautifully undeveloped nature retreat.  It is the number one visited State Park in South Carolina.

·          Lake Hartwell State Park - Lake Hartwell State Park is widely known for attracting fishing aficionados, campers and family vacationers.

·          Oconee Station State Historic Site – This historic locale served as a military compound against attacks from the Cherokees and eventually became a trading post. 

·          Coneross Campground- This park is located on the Seneca River arm of the northern end of Lake Hartwell.  It is conveniently located near Anderson and Clemson, SC with a total of 106 sites.  All electric sites have 50 amp service.

·          Oconee Point Campground - This park is located on the Seneca River arm of the northern end of Lake Hartwell.  It is conveniently located near, SC with a total of 60 sites.  All electric sites have 50 amp service.

Accommodations

Accommodations range from deluxe and primitive campsites at some of South Carolina’s most-visited parks to charming B&Bs, lake-front and mountain rental homes, and value-driven hotels.

Rental Homes
Privately-owned vacation rental cabins and homes offer a complete range of vacation accommodations from fishing cabins to romantic getaways and deluxe homes on Lakes Hartwell, Keowee or Jocassee. 
·         Mountain Lakes Vacation Rentals
·         Call 800-610-0020 for more information or visit http://www.mtnlakes.com/SCnorthwest/NorthWestArea.htm for pictures and details of the homes in Oconee County.

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