Lake Jocassee
Lake · Pickens County ·

Lake Jocassee

Lake · Pickens County ·

Vast reservoir for boating, diving, fishing & waterfall exploration

kayaking
cliff jumping
swimming
paddle boarding
clear water
beautiful lake
get here early
campsites
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null
Lake Jocassee by null

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Last updated

Jan 18, 2026

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28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

This Secluded Lake in South Carolina Has Caribbean-clear Waters and a Submerged Ghost Town

"Built in 1973 in northwest South Carolina, this 7,500-acre reservoir pairs Caribbean-clear, cool water with an untouched, wild feel from 43,000 acres of surrounding forest, and it’s accessible to the public only via Devils Fork State Park. Fed by waterfalls and four mountain streams, it has become a go-to for divers exploring what lies beneath: the flooded Jocassee Valley, where dozens of houses, camps, and towns were covered, including the reportedly still mostly intact Attakulla Lodge and Mount Carmel Cemetery from Deliverance. Visibility typically exceeds 15 feet and can surpass 50 feet in parts of the lake, with recommended dive sites like Big Wall/Small Wall, Jenny’s Drift, and Junk, a sunken boat sitting at about 60 feet. Beyond diving, you can fish for trout (a standout here thanks to the cooler waters) along with smallmouth and largemouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill—just be sure to secure a South Carolina fishing license—and in summer you can swim, canoe, kayak, paddleboard, or take a boat tour for a proper introduction; just swim with caution, as there are no lifeguards or roped-off swim areas." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com.  Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/lake-jocassee-south-carolina-11791623
Lake Jocassee
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14 Best Things to Do in South Carolina, According to a Local

"Lake Jocassee is another scenic lake in the state where you can rent a boat and enjoy a day out on the water." - Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes is a senior editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/best-things-to-do-in-south-carolina
Lake Jocassee

Eduard K.

Google
Beautiful lake! Chill atmosphere. Get here early on the weekends to beat the traffic. One of my fav spots to get away and paddle board.

Ian J.

Google
Quiet, secluded, plenty of waterfalls and jumping rocks. Water is a bit chilly (to be expected), but it's a gorgeous blue-green and you can see at least 8 feet down. Highly recommend taking a boat tour

Ashley

Google
This is my favorite lake! There are so many hidden gems and unlimited sightseeing of pure beauty that nature has. A boat is a must to get to some of the locations pictured. I do, however, believe they offer paddle board and kayak rentals.

Travis F.

Google
Absolutely love this lake. It is such a big lake with gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains. There are all kinda of little islands to tie up to and have fun swimming or doing a little picnic. This lake also has plenty of waterfalls to travel to. Some of the waterfalls you can climb up and jump off of. Even one side of the lake where it is a cliff side that you can climb and jump off of. This lake can get pretty busy and they don't have a lot of parking so I would suggest getting there early.

Matt T

Google
Lake Jocassee is like a slice of the Mediterranean in the Carolina Mountains! The clarity of the water provides opportunities for diving and underwater exploration, the many waterfalls that spill directly into the lake make for great destinations for kayakers and boaters, and the cliff jumping spots help the adrenaline junkies scratch that itch and get some air time!! Great place for a day trip or a camping trip with the fam at one of the campgrounds. Quiet, scenic, refreshing.

Andrew D.

Google
It's a very clean beautiful lake that has many adventure filled waterfall treks but the rules are a bit too tight for my tastes and it's expensive in regards to camping but as far as the scenery it's top notch!

Hannah T.

Google
The most beautiful lake. Lots and lots of friendly visitors, and waaaay too much to do! The morning staff were much more friendly. I recommend coming early, and applying way more sunscreen than you think you need. The lake reflects the sun pretty intensely. Please unless you are a very skilled kayaker with a ton of stamina, do not try to make it to the waterfalls. The Lake is so much bigger than you think! They are very far out and hard to find by yourself. Everyone we talked to agreed. Every cove looks identical and orienting yourself is very hard once you get so far because the water level changes and the shape of the lake is not exactly the same as the map. We looked for two hours and only found one very small waterfall (pictured) when another kayaker called out about it. Avoid the outhouses. They reek! 🤢 Pee at the up at the visitor center. Don’t hang out by the docks too long because the horseflies are insane! My legs are still swollen from the bites! Definitely swim in the designated swimming areas unless you are a very strong swimmer and like being freezing cold. My husband tried out his snorkel where we put in our kayaks as I waited and got bit and he froze in the water 😆

Stan P.

Google
A beautiful clear clean unspoiled lake to see and explore. There are campsites some with electric and villas to rent at the Devils Fork State park. There is a small beach area at the park to swim and it looks suited well for the little ones. Kayaks are available to rent at the park or you could do a great excursion like I did with Jocassee Charters which offers an easy way to see the various waterfalls throughout the park and fish at the same time. If you bring your own boat during the busy summer months you may want to reserve your spot for the park allots a certain number of boats each day. *When using your GPS to travel to the lake use Devils Fork State Park. There is a $8.00 entry fee to the park and I don’t know of another way to see the lake.