Visit Jocassee, The Grand Canyon Of South Carolina, To See The Beautiful Changing Leaves This Fall

While some states are well beyond their peak fall weeks, it feels like we still get to enjoy some of the most lovely parts of the season. We always feel lucky to be in South Carolina, but it's seasons like this that make us feel even more fortunate. We get some fall foliage, but don't have to worry much about an oncoming blizzard season! To fully maximize the version of fall we do get, head to South Carolina's very own Grand Canyon.

The state’s ‘Grand Canyon’ is comprised of about 43,500-acres of wilderness known as Jocassee Gorges.

You’ll find it along the Blue Ridge Escarpment extending from the upstate of South Carolina all the way into North Carolina. But, of course, we count it as our very own.

When folks think about a typical gorge, a long river with high walls comes to mind. That’s correct in most cases, but the Jocassee is a bit different.

Here the mountain waters have carved out walls that rise as high as 2,000 feet! And, you’ll find them all in about a mile.

Jocassee is a native word meaning “place of the lost one” and it’s named after a local Indian princess. The native ties don’t end there.

In fact, control of the area was first in the hands of the Cherokee Indians who were forced to turn over the land to America as part of a 1785 “agreement.”

Exploring Jocassee is a wonderful way to fill a day. In the summer we recommend spending the day on the man-made Lake Jocassee which fills about 7,500 acres of the Gorges.

But in the fall, it’s lovely to simply walk around and take in the sights and feel the breeze. Head to Devils Fork State Park for some lovely exposure to the area this time of year.

To enjoy more of the outdoors check out the 9 most incredible natural attractions in South Carolina that everyone should visit.