Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
othereasterntribes,wereforcedtoleavetheirhomelandforpointswest.Tolearnaboutthis
sad chapter in history, stop at Keowee-Toxaway State Natural Area's Interpretive Center,
where a museum and kiosks display such artifacts as arrowheads and pottery. Also be sure
to sample the nearby woodlands, which envelope the shores of man-made Lake Keowee.
The sprawling reservoir has inundated the onetime capital of the Lower Cherokees—a vil-
lage also called Keowee, or ''Land of the Mulberry Groves.''
6.
Devils Fork State Park
AftercrossingLakeKeowee,turnnorthonRte.25toreachDevilsForkStatePark,located
on the shores of Lake Jocassee. Though it might be difficult to shift your gaze from the
sparkling water of the lake or to interrupt your search for such wildflowers as trout lilies
and Oconee bells, a skyward glance may be rewarded by a glimpse of a peregrine falcon,
one of America's most majestic birds of prey. Other denizens of the park include wild tur-
keys, white-tailed deer, and gray foxes, while the waters of Lake Jocassee teem with bass,
sunfish, and trout.
Back on Rte. 11, the drive splits northward in another side trip, Rte. 130, for a visit
to Lower Whitewater Falls, part of the tallest series of waterfalls in the East. To view the
cascade—its wide veil of water leaps for more than 400 feet—stop at the Bad Creek Hy-
droelectric Project for a hike along Foothills Trail or a drive to an overlook.
7.
Rte. 107 Scenic Byway
The tour parallels the state border as it follows Rte. 413 west, then takes Rte. 107 south
throughthemountainsofSumterNationalForest.Meanderingthroughpines,oaks,hickor-
ies, and hemlocks, the highway is the gateway to many of the Upcountry's most appealing
sites. First you'll pass the Walhalla National Fish Hatchery, which raises about a million
trouteachyear.ThehatcheryalsomarkstheentrytotheEllicottRockWilderness,arugged
realmofwaterfallsandwoodlandsthatboastsoneofAmerica'smostrenowned—andmost
remote—white-water rivers: the Chattooga. Although many of its rapid-choked stretches
are rated strictly for experts, raft trips on gentler sections allow chances for anyone who
wishes to try them.
Farthersouth,Rte.107meetsRte.28,whichleadstotheStumphouseTunnelPark.The
preserve has several trails, complete with interpretive displays, and a picnic area that af-
fords a view of 200-foot Issaqueena Falls. The drive then heads to Walhalla, a pretty town
amid orchards with a rich heritage. The town features the Oconee Heritage Center, Patriots
Hall Museum, many charming shops and restaurants, and serves as the starting point for
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