The Laurel Fork Falls Trail In South Carolina Takes You To Lake Jocassee And Back
South Carolina’s Lake Jocassee was once named One of the World’s Last Great Places by National Geographic — and it still is! Created in 1973 in a partnership with Duke Power, the lake is by far the clearest and most pristine lake in the state. But access to the lake is coveted and very hard to come by. One state park is located on the shores and getting into the park in the height of the summer season requires arriving very early in the morning before the maximum occupancy is reached… or, camping overnight or even renting a cabin in the park, thus having access in the morning by default.
But there’s another less publicized way to gain access to Lake Jocassee: hike in!
Lake Jocassee is comprised of 7,500 acres of water surface; water that drops to depths of 375 feet in places. But along the shore, it can be so shallow and clear that visitors can see all the way to the bottom.
The lake replenishes its water supply naturally, with waters that filter down from the Appalachian Mountains that ring Lake Jocassee. Four notable waterfalls pour into the lake and are only seen by those with a boat and map to find the falls. They are: Laurel Fork Falls, Moondance Falls, Wright Fork Falls, and Mill Creek Falls.
Laurel Fork Falls is a spectacular sight, as visitors get to witness this 80-foot spectacle cascade down the steep mountain before it pours over the rock ledge into Lake Jocassee. (The last 30 feet of this waterfall is pictured here.)
For the most part, you can only see this waterfall if you arrive by boat... unless... you hike in by way of Laurel Creek Road's Laurel Fork Falls Trail.
The trail is rated as 'moderate' by our friends at AllTrails and has a total elevation change of 1,112 feet. (That's total for the hike in and the hike back out).
It's located about one mile into the hike down to Lake Jocassee. Continue on for another three-plus miles and you'll find some amazing experiences along this section of the Foothills Trail.
If you love bridges, then you'll get to cross the most famous swinging bridge (and least traveled) in the state.
Again, the hike to Lake Jocassee along the Laurel Fork Falls Trail is not an easy one. But the trail is so remote you may find you have it all to yourself.
Whether you're a seasoned hiker or not, there are bears in these woods. Bring your bear spray and be sure to let someone at home base know where you're hiking and when you are expected to return. A seasoned hiker should be able to complete this hike in five or six hours.
Have you hiked to Lake Jocassee on another trail (oustide of Devils Fork State Park) in South Carolina? Tell us about it here!
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Address: Sunset, SC 29685, USA
Address: Laurel Fork Falls, Sunset, SC 29685, USA
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Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.
