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Lake Keowee Now
Located in the "Golden Corner" of the Upstate, our residents on Lake Keowee live in an area unparalleled to any other. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with over 400,000 acres of undisturbed forests, and 300 miles of shoreline you will be hard pressed to find any other like this anywhere else. With only about ¼ of the lake developed, the natural beauty of the lake still emerges. Leisure activities are seemingly endless at Lake Keowee. Swimming, fishing, boating, camping, kayaking and hiking are just a few of the activities you may enjoy. At the near by Chattooga river, white water rafting is just a few miles away. For the sports advocate there is Clemson University, only 10 minutes away with its NCAA sporting events. Lake Keowee is known for being one of the cleanest and safest lakes in South Carolina, so you and your family can enjoy the water without the worry.
Once you arrive you will know that this is the place for you, the toughest part will be deciding which community to call home. There is something for every taste, and price point. Begin today enjoying this gift we call life.
Humble Beginnings
Beneath Lake Keowee lays memories of the once fertile and prosperous Keowee Valley. The Valley was lush with abundant wildlife and fed by the mighty Keowee River. However, this valley was also home to over 400 Cherokee Indians at their capital, Keowee Village, on the banks of the Keowee River. It was once noted that in 1721 that 450 Cherokees lived at the village consisting of 168 men, 155 women and 127 children. The centerpiece of the village was a council house where social events and meetings took place. The council house was a dome-like structure held up by large timbers. This and other structures were usually located on higher ground since near the river there were always chances of it flooding. The residences houses were normally located further away from the council house. These residences were built on a series of upright posts, clay and thatch. Normally, only one family would live in a home. In 1753 the South Carolina governor, James Glen, began the construction of Fort Prince George to protect the Cherokees from the French. It was believed the Cherokee would be valuable to trade with so the Governor wanted to protect the interest of South Carolina. Because of this deep and interesting history extensive archaeological excavations were done at the site of Keowee Village and Fort Prince George in the 18 months prior to flooding the Keowee Valley. It was discovered the fort included numerous buildings, a palisade, earthen walls and a dried out mote. The entire fort was excavated except for the mote area, which only had some sampling. During the excavations three skeletons were found that were thought to be Native Americans.
Lake Keowee Source for Power
Since 1971, Lake Keowee's 18,500 acres of water and 300 miles of shoreline have been a valuable source of energy and recreation in northwestern South Carolina. Keowee was the first lake developed as part of Duke Energy's Keowee-Toxaway Complex. The complex includes the Oconee Nuclear Station and the Keowee, Jocassee and Bad Creek hydroelectric stations. Full pond elevation at Lake Keowee is 800 feet. The lake provides a dependable water supply for Greenville and Seneca, South Carolina. Duke Energy has partnered with South Carolina for the establishment of the 1,000-acre Keowee-Toxaway State Park. Campers can also enjoy the county-managed 155-acre Mile Creek Park, the 40-acre South Cove Park, and 44-acre High Falls Park (all leased from Duke Energy). Another 373 acres along Eastotoe Creek have been turned over to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for management as a natural area. Duke Energy provides six additional boat access areas on the lake in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Public Access Areas
Upper Section
Fall Creek Access Area
Crow Creek Access Area
Keowee Town Access Area
Mile Creek Access Area 1-864-868-2196 (Leased to Pickens County)
Lower Section
Stamp Creek Access Area
High Falls Access Area 1-864-882-8234 (Leased to Oconee County)
Warpath Access Area
Cane Creek Access Area
South Cove Access Area 1-864-882-5250 (Leased to Oconee County)
Weather Information:
Upstate South Carolina is infamous for its "no weather days." With an average maximum temperature of 73.5 and a minimum of 49.1, the meteorologists are often hard-pressed to find anything to report. The area experiences four seasons without the snow, and enjoys sunshine the majority of the time.
Average Monthly Temperatures
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | De |
| Hi Fº | 51 | 54 | 62 | 73 | 80 | 85 | 88 | 88 | 82 | 72 | 62 | 53 |
| Low Fº | 31 | 33 | 39 | 48 | 57 | 64 | 68 | 67 | 62 | 49 | 40 | 33 |
Lake Keowee with Major Highways
Proximity to Cities:
Lake Keowee is in close proximity to several well-known and booming metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Greenville, and Charleston. Atlanta is merely 133 miles south, while Charlotte is 168 miles north, Greenville is East and 40-45 minutes away, and historic Charleston is only 275 miles east.
Lake Keowee Marina
Conveniently located on beautiful Lake Keowee off Highway 123, in Seneca, South Carolina. Nestled in a beautiful blue water cove, Lake Keowee Marina will turn every visit into a vacation. Every boat in the marina is a short walk from our dockside, paved parking areas. Quick access to the big water means more time for water skiing or the excitement of cruising on your personal watercraft. Website
Information from lakekeoweelifestyles.com discoverkeowee.com dukepower.com bigfoto.com