Devils Fork State Park at Lake Jocassee in South Carolina is one of those rare places at the end of the road that is easy to imagine but rarely experienced. Located on the eastern slope of the extreme Southern Appalachians you are hard-pressed to believe you are in the deep South.
The park is a focal point as the gateway to the Jocassee Gorges Conservation Area which bounds between North and South Carolina. The park is also close to the Georgia border. The lake is amazingly deep at up to 350 feet and can only truly be appreciated by boat as the waterfalls and rivers cascade from the distant shore across from Devils Fork. Guided waterfalls tours are available as well as fresh water fishing charters departing from the boat ramp at the park. The lake's 75-mile shoreline is almost completely protected from development and is unique unto itself in the region. Visitors can either stay at the park's cabins, campground or nearby private vacation rentals. Reservations are a must as the region is very rural and vacancies in season are scarce. The Park is open year round and attracts over 250,000 visitors annually.
Only known habitat for the Oconee Bell
Moderate year round temperatures. Temperate Southern Rain Forest annual rainfall 75 plus inches per year
When coming in from Charlotte, NC, take the I-85 South, followed by the I-26 West until you get to SC state highway 11. From here, turn onto State Rd S-37-127 to get to the region. A GPS / paper maps are essential to get to the park from this point as there are no directions other than road names. But cell service is spotty, so offline maps are recommended.
Annual SC Park Pass $99. There is a parking fee in certain park areas unless you are staying in the villas at the park (in which case, you get issued with park tags).
Guided waterfall tours are available. Bring a boat or rent one to view the waterfalls on Lake Jocassee.
Major waterfalls on Lake Jocassee are: Wrights Creek Falls - Mills Creek Falls - Devils Hole Falls - Laurel Falls. There are also several smaller falls and streams that feed into the lake.
No alcoholic beverages inside park campground or picnic areas.
Villas at Devils Fork State Park (Villas at Devils Fork State Park), The park address is 161 Holcombe Cir, Salem, SC 29676. The villas are within the park but don't have a listed address. (Once you get to the park, there are signs directing you to the villas. The roads to the villas are not gated, so as long as you let the reservations office know that you are arriving late, you'll be able to get in late evening, or night and head into your villa.). Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. Lodging within the park, and run by the park. Villa reservations require a minimum stay of two (2) nights, with some locations and dates requiring longer stays. Each villa has wi-fi, satellite TV, and an external fire-pit. Some of the villas are pet-friendly.
Maplecrest at Lake Jocassee (A Lake Jocassee Rental Cottage), 694 Jocassee Lake Rd (1 mile from Devils Fork State Park), 34.5736°, 82.551°, +1 864 719-9494. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. A pet-friendly country home on two wooded acres adjoining Devils Fork State Park and Lake Jocassee SC. Comfortably furnished with five bedrooms and two full baths accommodating ten guests. Major credit cars accepted. From $175 per night
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