Jocassee Gorges Recognized by National Geographic

A beautiful part of the Upstate is listed among the world's 50 last great places, according to National Geographic. 

The Anderson Independent Mail reports that National Geographic magazine has named the 43,000 acres that comprise the Jocassee Gorges "a destination of a lifetime." 

The Jocassee Gorges contains some more than 40 miles of main access roads that are open to the public during the spring and fall, about five and a half months out of the year.

The main road that enters Jocassee Gorges in Pickens County, Horsepasture Road, begins at US Highway 178 near Rocky Bottom and is also open year-round for the first 3.5 miles.

It provides access to the Laurel Fork Creek and Eastatoee Creek heritage preserves and affords a good jumping-off spot for the wild interior of Jocassee. The main access for Oconee County Jocassee lands is Musterground Road at Bad Creek Hydro Project off SC 130.

The key access road to Crossroads Mountain is open year-round, and it passes through North Carolina’s Gorges State Park, off NC Highway 281, in North Carolina.

Waterfalls, black bear, uncommon plants such as Oconee bells and many long-range vistas are just a few of the natural wonders that may be found in the 33,000-acre Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area at Jocassee Gorges and Franklin Gravely Wildlife Management Area in Pickens and Oconee counties.