About: Lake Keowee has more than 300 miles of shoreline. It is 26 miles long, 3 miles wide, and averages 54 feet in depth. It covers more than 18,300 acres (making it roughly half the size of Washington, D.C.). With crystal-clear blue-green water and gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains things to do include boating, fishing, water sports, swimming, kayaking, hiking, camping, and picnicking. Boat rentals are available at several outfitters. The lake is close to a dozen public access areas.
A Cherokee name that roughly translates as “the place of the mulberries,” Lake Keowee is fed by Lake Jocassee to the north. It has wide, winding channels. Some describe Lake Keowee as being shaped like a Christmas tree - its large main channel branches off to form many smaller channels and coves to either side, and the 71 islands form the “ornaments."
The Raven Rock hiking trail in Keowee-Toxaway State Park offers a picturesque view of Lake Keowee, and the rock outcropping is probably the best photo opportunity on the park. The 1.3-mile Natural Bridge Trail that begins behind the park office at the trailhead orientation kiosk takes about 45 minutes and features different forest types, rock outcroppings, geological formations, small cascades along Poe Creek and seasonal wildflowers and mountain laurel.
Location: Less than an hour directly west of downtown Greenville.
Links: https://www.visitgreenvillesc.com/blog/stories/post/guide-to-spending-the-day-on-lake-keowee/ https://southcarolinaparks.com/keowee-toxaway
