If you’re in South Carolina and you like mountains and water, this is the place for you. It’s one of my favorite places in the whole state and one of my favorite South Carolina parks, and we’ve been to all of them.
This beautiful park is called Devils Fork State Park in Salem, South Carolina. This is the only public access point to Lake Jocassee, which has the best combination of water and mountains in all of South Carolina.
Lake Jocassee is on the border between the Carolinas. Most of it is in Oconee County, the northwestern corner of South Carolina. You can see it from the Jumping Off Rock overlook in Pickens, but I haven’t been there myself yet.
The only public access point to Lake Jocassee is through Devils Fork State Park. Admission is $8 per person if you don’t have a state park pass.
There is one short trail within the park that’s currently open, the Oconee Bell Trail. It’s one mile long and crosses through some streams and a pond. Overall, I would only use the beginning of this trail for photos to get the woodsy scenery, and that requires a short walk downhill. The rest of the trail doesn’t offer much of a variety of backgrounds that are safe for taking photos.
The Oconee Bell Trail is named for the rare Oconee Bell flower, which was thought to be extinct until it was found here. It’s difficult to grow this flower anywhere else, so this is one of the few places you’ll get a chance to see it. This park also has American Beauty Berry bushes, which are bright green and purple in the early fall.
This park also has some of the last foliage you’ll see in the upstate in the fall. The photo below was taken mid-November after the fall colors in Greenville had mostly disappeared.
Even though it’s really easy to access beautiful views of the lake and mountains, you’re only scratching the surface of what the park has to offer if you’re not in a boat. There are some beautiful coves, cliffs, and waterfalls that are only accessible by boat. You can take your own boat out there, you can rent one from local boat companies, or you can book a tour of the lake.
Devils Fork also offers several options for overnight accommodations, including tent camping, boat-in camping, and villas. It’s also about 15 minutes from Sunrise Farm Bed and Breakfast, where we stayed for our wedding night and highly recommend it!
For more photos in South Carolina with water and mountains, check out one of my other favorite parks, Table Rock State Park. It’s in Pickens, just a little down the road from Devils Fork!
My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.
One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.
I can’t wait to meet you!
Lake Jocassee in South Carolina, accessible through Devils Fork State Park.