Lake Jocassee

Lake Jocassee is a reservoir in northwestern South Carolina that covers roughly 12 square miles and can reach depths of around 90 meters. The water sits in a forested mountain setting within Devils Fork State Park and is surrounded by steep shorelines.

The reservoir formed in the early 1970s when a dam blocked the Keowee River system. Flooding submerged several small communities and a cemetery below the water surface.

The reservoir takes its name from a Cherokee story about a girl who once lived in the region. Visitors today find waterfalls flowing into the water and use the lake to experience the mountain landscape from a different angle.

The park offers boat ramps and equipment rental if you want to go out on the water. Campgrounds sit along the shore and allow multi-day stays near the lake.

Four mountain rivers flow into the reservoir and form waterfalls below the surface that draw divers. These submerged structures offer unusual dive sites where you can find old trees and traces of the former landscape.

Location: South Carolina

GPS coordinates: 34.96000,-82.91944

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:51