Things to do nearDevils Fork State Park

Devils Fork State Park occupies a narrow peninsula along the southern shore of Lake Jocassee, a reservoir formed in 1973 when Duke Power dammed the Horsepasture and Toxaway rivers. The flooding preserved the steep gorge landscape beneath the surface, and today the lake is celebrated for its extraordinary water clarity and the submerged waterfalls that draw divers and snorkelers from across the region.

Above the waterline, the park offers a network of hiking trails through second-growth hardwood and hemlock forest. The Oconee Bell Nature Trail is a particular draw in late winter, when the rare Oconee bell flower blooms along the creek banks in one of its few remaining wild habitats. Longer backcountry routes connect to the surrounding Jocassee Gorges wilderness, where cascades and ridge views reward those willing to cover more ground on guided hikes.

On the water, the park provides a boat ramp and a small beach area. Anglers target trophy-sized brown and rainbow trout, as well as smallmouth bass in the deeper coves. The surrounding Jocassee Gorges, managed as a wildlife corridor, shelter black bear, bobcat, and an impressive variety of migratory birds.

For a place so close to the Upstate South Carolina towns, Devils Fork State Park delivers a genuine sense of remoteness, making it well worth the drive into the foothills.