jocassee lake tours

I joined a meetup group for a shuttle boat ride to a hike and then a tour of lake Jocassee afterwards.It was a wonderful trip, everything was set up and ready to go when arrived. It was a very clean and well kept vessel. Brooks was a very knowledgeable guide he took us to see birds and waterfall's we would never have found on our own. This along with Brooks cheerful demeanor and wonderful smile made this a great day on the lake.

Brooks is an amazing guide! He knows the history of this beautiful lake. National Geographic placed this as 9th out of, “50 of the World's Last Great Places: Destinations of a Lifetime.” It is a fabulous place and Brooks knows how to show you around to all the key spots in the Lake, best swimming holes, and great waterfalls! If you go, be sure to call them in advance to make a reservation. That tour makes a trip to the area an adventure.

Joined my friends with Georgia Homeschooler on a Jocassee lake tour today. All the kids loved it and us big kids were thrilled! I grew up in nearby Seneca but had never visited Jocasee before. Brooks was an awesome guide, jumping off the boat and leading us to all the beautiful places. He was a hit with the kids and adults alike. We swam on a beach, under a gorgeous waterfall and played on a magnificent river!! Highly recommended for all ages.

My wife and I have taken this tour 3 times already since moving to nearby NC. This trip we took a group of Russian visitors, all young professionals. Everyone had an awesome time. This group of people all have some focus on the environment. Brooks, the co-owner of the business and guide, did an extraordinary job discussing the ecology of the lake and surroundings as well as the history of the lake. I can honestly say this is one of our most favorite activities to do ANYWHERE! The lake is so beautiful, the waterfalls spectacular, and Brooks does a tremendous job. I am sure we'll be doing the tour again.

We took a four-hour pontoon boat tour of Lake Jocassee with Kay as our guide. It was great and you should take this tour. My parents (and my son) took a tour last year and loved it so much that this year they got the whole family together for a ride. Lake Jocassee is so beautiful. Most of the area is undeveloped--there are 90 miles of shoreline but only 37 houses. The lake is also not overrun with boats--the only public boat access is at Devils Fork State Park and when that parking lot fills up, no more boats can launch. Compared to adjacent Lake Keowee, this is a nature lover’s paradise.Lake Jocassee Tours is a great operation. Our guide took us to waterfalls that are only accessible by boat and we moored in two different coves. One time, we walked on a path to see a beautiful waterfall and great rock formations. The other time, we swam (a very short distance) from the boat to a waterfall that you could sit under. It was amazing. Kay is trained as a naturalist, well versed in the history of the region and clearly loves the lake and loves to share it with others. The boys were very interested in the details she gave about the Bad Creek Hydroelectric Station. The boat was clean and in great shape. My parents previously had Brook as a guide and he was great as well. Word of caution: parking is very limited. It would be best to take the morning tour and arrive at least 15 minutes early. When our tour was over, the parking lot was full and they were turning people away at the gate.

This was our third year of taking a boat tour on our annual camping trip to Devil's Fork State Park. Since our group this year was much larger, we had the pleasure of being led by both Captain Brooks and Captain Kay on two pontoons. We had 10 kids and I don't know how many adults. Ages 4 to 60. We always love seeing the waterfalls and swimming in the lake. They know all the best places! We can't wait for next year!

Despite being nearby residents for over 4 years, this was our first tour of the lake…..and certainly not our last. Kay educated and entertained us for over 3 hours, sharing her knowledge of the lake's history and especially its botanic life. This area is a true treasure of nature and we'd encourage anyone in the area to have Kay & Brooks share it with you.We'll be back for more soon, thanks again Kay!Dave & Sally

Cannot say enough good things about our evening boat tour with Kay last Saturday. The lake itself is totally incredible, but the lasting impression was really made by Kay, who personalized our tour to meet our needs, and whose passion for the care and conservation of this pristine lake is obvious with every sentence she speaks. This was much more than a boat tour...it felt like Kay was sharing a piece of herself with us. She is so knowledgeable about the history of the lake, and I especially loved the little details she added...like identifying plant life/trees along the shoreline, and telling us how they change throughout the seasons. My kids were thrilled to swim behind and through a waterfall, and try out some serious cliff jumping. I so look forward to doing this tour again very soon, and we will definitely be coming back in the fall for the autumn leaves that Kay promised us are spectacular!! I recommend this tour to everyone, of any age. In fact, I think that anyone who visits Lake Jocassee should take this tour. You will see the lake in a very different and more intimate way afterwards, I promise. Thanks, Kay and Brooks! You gave me and my family a wonderful birthday present we will never forget!!We will be back soon!!

The title is a direct quote from my 10-year-old son. We just spent the morning touring Lake Jocassee with Kay as our guide. Kay was thoughtful and knowledgeable not only about the history of the lake, but of the flora and fauna as well. She first took us across the lake to what felt like our own private beach for a little snorkeling, diving off a rock and climbing up a white, sandy cliff. We thought that was fun, but had no idea the real fun was yet to come. Next stop was a series of waterfalls from the Thompson River. This is where it got exciting! We hiked up a short distance and then climbed huge rocks alongside the waterfalls - intermittently swimming, hiking and relaxing. It got a little scary at moments, but Kay was careful, yet adventurous. I would never have done something like that on my own. It was great to have her go first! She was also quick to point out an interesting fern or mushroom. It was wonderful to see this part of our country with someone who so clearly loves and respects the land. I highly recommend this tour to families who like to do active, cool things with their children!

Highlight of our trip. Breathtaking scenary, friendly people and just plain awesome! The boat stops and gives you the chance to swim through several waterfalls and water covered with floating flowers ( magnolias? ). Worth every penny and although scheduled for 3 hours, we actually were out for 3 and one half hours. Even owner/operators' dog joined us and was friendly to all. This is scenary you will always remember, but bring your camera anyway.

Brooks and Kathy took our Cliffs group on a great tour of Lake Jocassee and gave us a little bit of history and knowledge along the way. We were dropped of at Horse pasture bridge (?) and hiked for over 8 miles (just over 4 hours) on an easy to moderate (for regular hikers) or moderate (for new hikers). They picked us up and had lunch(we were able to order a gluten and dairy free lunch) and were then taken to a remote area to swim in the crystal clear water. Although it was hot, the path was fully shaded. Make sure to wear bug spray if bugs love you like the love me. It was a wonderful tour and hike!

Jocassee Lake Tours and Meetup organized a camping trip, lake tour and hike for us over a weekend. The scenery was gorgeous, the hike was one of the best and Brooks was such an entertaining guide who truly loves the lake. He knows so much of the history of the area which made the tour really interesting besides being the most beautiful lake in the East!

My friends and I had the good fortune recently to join a pontoon boat tour of Lake Jocassee from Devils Fork State Park with Stephanie Couch, owner of Jocassee Keowee Rentals as our pilot and guide. She's a long-time local resident who knows the lake like the back of her hand and she shares her knowledge with unbridled enthusiasm. Flanked by forested mountains and ringed with waterfalls, this is one of the most beautiful and pristine lakes we've ever seen and Stephanie got us up-close views of the best of the waterfalls -- a half-dozen of them at least. You can't see that much of the lake from its shores -- so don't miss the chance to explore it on a boat tour.

Brooks took my son, grandson and I on a tour of Lake Jocassee. We had never been to this area before and had a limited amount of time, so we decided to go with one of their tours of the lake. It was so much more than I expected. We learned about the history of the area, construction of the dams and the lake itself as well as how protected the area is as the majority of the property surrounding the lake is owned by the State. He brought us to great swimming spots, waterfalls and a place for my grandson to catch a fish! It was so beautiful that I plan to return before year end. If possible, I would like to go on the tour with them again. Brooks even pointed out Whitewater Falls and gave us directions. It was the last thing we did on our way out of town. My grandson says "best trip EVER!" Thank you Jocassee Lake Tours for a lovely vacation and great memories.

This company is the perfect mixture of impressive professionalism and southern charm. I was part of a Meet-Up group of four couples that camped in the primitive area of Devil's Fork State Park. Amanda set up our camping arrangements with clear and informative emails in advance, and then camped with us. Brooks met us promptly at 9:00 the following morning, bringing the boat in right below our tents. He ferried us across the lake to a hiking trail, where Amanda led the group on a 4.5 hour hike to the pick-up point. I was the group wimp, eschewing the hike in favor of some free time with a book, but Brooks appeared genuinely fine with the alternative arrangement of dropping me off and coming back for me alone. After the hike, we were treated to a leisurely boat tour highlighted by waterfalls. After dinner, we went out again to experience sunset on the water, first touring even more hidden areas with an emphasis on the trees and flowers and birds this time around. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we immediately started making plans to return with our grandchildren. Brooks has a true talent for teaching without preaching. I loved his off-the-cuff observations and storytelling, and can hardly wait to return.