Devils Fork State Park

Lake Jacassee is also young, created in 1973 by the Duke Power Company for hydroelectric power generation. Three dams, Jacassee, Keowee, and Little River hold back the waters of the Keowee and Devils Fork River. The clean and cold rivers flow through the rocks of the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains feeding the 7,565 acre lake. The park itself is peppered with small waterfalls that eventually find their way to the waters of the Jacassee. Because of this the water in the 145 feet deep lake is surprisingly cold year round.

If Devils Fork State Park was designed for anything, it was designed for doing nothing. Because the park is only ten years old, it has some of the most modern facilities of any park, state or national, in the country. Among these are twenty modern villas, eleven of which overlook the shores of Lake Jacassee.

There are 15 two-bedroom, one-bath villas (you really can't call these cabins) and five three-bedroom, two-bath villas. All of the villas have full linen, full kitchen including microwave, toaster, blender coffee maker, and ice maker, color television with cable, central air and heat, fireplace, wall to wall carpeting, screened porches, grill and picnic tables. Two of the villas have provisions for handicapped guests. It certainly brings new meaning to the term roughing it!

If your idea of camping is in an RV you will find 59, forested campsites, eight of which are directly on the shores of the lake. Campsites can accommodate recreational vehicles under 36 feet in length, and five of the sites are pull through. All sites have paved pads, electrical and water hookups, a grill, fire rings and picnic tables.

Tent campers shouldn't feel left out. Devils Path State Park offers 25 walk-in tent sites. Ten of the sites are located on the shores of the lake, and each site offers a picnic table and fire ring. A central water supply is easily accessible. Modern, heated, bathroom facilities with hot showers are conveniently located between the two campgrounds. During the summer months there are laundry facilities. Combine all of this with a public swimming area, modern bathhouse, a playground for the kids, and two picnic shelters and you will be hard pressed to find a finer state campground in the southeast.

One of the best ways to visit Devils Fork State Park is by canoe or kayak. If you are paddling the waters of Lake Jacassee consider an overnight stay at the boat-in, primitive campsite. At only $2.20 a night, per person the stay is a bargain considering the level of the facilities. The boat-in campsites are on the shores of the lake and each heavily forested site has a fire ring.

Devils Fork State Park has two hiking trails. The 1.5 mile Oconee Bell Nature Trail is a moderately difficult loop that passes through a combination of pine and hardwood forest. The trail gets its' name from the Oconee Bell, a wildflower indigenous to North and South Carolina that grows throughout the park. As a matter of fact, 95% of the world's population of these delicate white and pink flowers are found within the boundaries of Devils Fork State Park.

The 3.5 mile Hiking Trail is also a moderately difficult loop trail. The trail courses through hardwood forest lined with mountain laurel and rhododendron offering excellent views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Lake Jacassee. There are many wildlife viewing opportunities and you are all but guaranteed to see wild turkey and white tail deer while out on the trail. If you're lucky you may be able to spot a fox or the recently reintroduced peregrine falcon. The forest and nearby lake is a haven for a variety of songbirds that call the park home, and the incredible symphony of their calls can be heard during the hour just before dawn, and the hour before sunset.

Lake Jacassee is also a very popular destination for fishing. If you own a boat Devils Fork State Park has four boat ramps or you can try your luck from the shore. The park is famous for rainbow and brown trout. An 18 pound brownie was pulled from the lake, a state record. Large mouth, small mouth, and white bass, crappie, bream and catfish can also be caught in the cold, clean waters. The park store sells bait and tackle during the summer, and you can even rent a boat from a concessionary located just outside of the parks main entrance.

The waters of Lake Jacassee are also popular for diving. Devils Fork State Park has special accommodations for scuba divers including a walk in ramp. If you have a boat you can head across the lake to a region called, "The Wall," where under the waters of the Jacassee you can find a shipwreck ready for exploring.

Visibility is impressive with 25 to 30 feet being common and 40 or more feet being possible. Because the lake is manmade, roads, houses, signs, fire hydrants, equipment and other indications of human life can all be found on the bottom of the lake. There are no dive shops in the immediate area, so divers should be prepared with appropriate gear before arriving at the park.

Whether you visit Devils Fork State Park for a picnic on the shores of Lake Jacassee, or spend a lazy vacation doing nothing but listening to the birds and watching the sunrise over the lake, it is an ideal getaway located in the upcountry of South Carolina.

Just The Plain Facts