SC State Park Oconee

Camped at Oconee State Park for 2 nights. We have camped here many times but this was our first with our 560 Ultra, in fact it was our first 2 nights in our our new camper. There are over a hundred sites. It is broken into three areas of campsites. The Lake loop, Forest Loop, and there are some paved sites where you find a Lot of the big campers and RVs. We prefer the Lake loop. The sites are gravel with a mix of pull through and back in sites. Your site will have a picnic table and fire ring with grill attached. This place is heavily wooded.

The small lake has a fishing pier and canoes/row boats for rent. In the spring you will see some wood ducks with babies. The pond is stocked with trout. The state of SC has fish hatchery nearby which is a neat side trip. There is a second lake in the park with a swimming beach,paddle boats, & picnic shelters. This was a CCC built park and it has a playground and a old style putt-putt course ($2 per game). On Fridays you can find some of the locals at the park's barn clogging and Square dancing. They will show how if you need a quick lesson. The office has a nice camp store. There are several hiking trails in the park of various distances including the beginning of the Foothills Trail which is 70 miles total and takes you across the tiny sliver of the Blue Ridge Mountains in SC.

NearbY is the Sumter NationalForest which has the Chatooga River running through it. There are hiking trails, trout fish hatchery, and for those who are daring there are raft/kayak trips on the river. This is where Deliverance was filmed. The fishing is great too, Burrels Ford and right outside the fish hatchery on the East Fork are two popular spots. The hike between those two is absolutely beautiful. There are several lakes nearby and Whitewater Falls. The nearest town is Walhalla, SC and Cashiers, NC. SC several other state parks in the mountains and on the lakes in the area. In the fall starting around Labor Day find the orchards of the Long Creek Community
for fresh picked apples, we prefer Bryson's Orchard.

On weekends especially holiday weekends it can have a party atmosphere but during the week, early in the season, or late in the season are the best times to go.

Oconee | South Carolina Parks Official Site

 

Camped there again this past weekend, but this was my first time on the Forest Loop. It was not crowded and we actually could still get to the lake from our site. It was quiet but sometimes on weekends this place can be crowded. An old favorite of ours because of the surroundings.