Keowee-Toxaway State Park

Autumn was in full swing when we headed to the upstate of South Carolina for another exciting adventure. It was early November, and we were looking forward to seeing some vibrant autumn colors. After a brief stop at Devils Fork State Park, we set our sights on Keowee-Toxaway State Park. These stops would be the sights of our Ultimate Outsider stamps #29 and #30 respectively.

Nestled along Lake Keowee, Keowee-Toxaway State Park offers some of the state’s most stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Winding through the rolling foothills of these mountains, Keowee-Toxaway is one of the state’s most gorgeous places to visit.

It’s two main trails offer visitors a chance to walk along land once traveled by Cherokee Indians. There is also a short half-mile trail that meanders through the campground and eventually to Lake Keowee. From here, there’s an access point for canoes and kayaks, where you can launch non-motorized boats into the lake.

For more serious adventurers, Keowee-Toxaway State Park offers zipline canopy tours. What could be more thrilling than to soar through the trees and over Lake Keowee?

Unfortunately, due to damage sustained by Hurricane Helene, only one of the main trails was open. So, this would make our decision to begin with the Natural Bridge Nature Trail a no-brainer.

As we worked our way along the Natural Bridge Nature Trail, the devastation wreaked by Helene was undeniable. Massive trees were down everywhere. It is amazing that park staff were able to clear enough of a path to make this trail accessible. Many thanks to their dedication and hard work, for making this possible.

Despite the damage, nature’s true beauty found a way to shine. The melodic sounds of Poe Creek flowing through the forest, and the wind whispering through the trees, created a perfect harmony. Vibrant colored hardwoods, intertwined with pine trees, beckoned to be photographed. And the rust-colored leaves that crunched beneath our feet, while more rained down, were just icing on the cake.

As we continued along the trail, we came upon the natural bridge. Here, we were bestowed an opportunity to view the upper section of Poe Creek Falls. It is not a very large waterfall, but it is quite magnificent. The reflections of passing fluffy clouds, and the waterfall itself, were amazing. This, coupled with the scattered leaves sparkling along the creek’s surface, made for some fantastic photos.

Upon finishing up the trail, we were left wanting more. The colorful canopies, the dazzling waterfall, the crunchy leaves, and nature’s own natural windchimes, were so captivating that we didn’t want this part of our day to end. So we hopped in the car and headed down to Lake Keowee.

Sitting along the water’s edge, witnessing the passing clouds against the vibrant blue sky, was pleasantly tranquil. The lake was astonishingly clear and the blend of pine trees and colorful hardwoods reflecting off its surface made for quite the picturesque scene. It was so peaceful that we could’ve stayed here all day.

Keowee-Toxaway State Park is an absolute must visit when you’re in the upstate of South Carolina. Between the trails, camping, ziplining, Lake Keowee and stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you can’t go wrong.

I hope you enjoy the photos below as much as we enjoyed capturing them. These photos, as well as any picture on my site, are available in many different printing options. Be sure to head over to my Photo Collections for more details.

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As for us, we were off to our next stop, Caesars Head State Park. I can’t wait to share that story with you. Thanks for taking time to read about another one of our exciting adventures. Hope to see you out in the wonderful world of nature. Have a great day!