Lake Keowee impounds two rivers, Little River and Keowee River. Warpath Dam impounds the Keowee River and the other dam near Seneca impounds the Little River.
- About the Lake Keowee
- Specifications
- Lake House Rentals Available on Lake Keowee
- Lake Keowee quick facts
- How deep and how clear is Lake Keowee?
- Fishing on Lake Keowee
- Swimming, parks and camping
- A lake steeped in Cherokee history
- Things to do at Lake Keowee
- Lake Keowee real estate
- Explore more South Carolina lakes
- Location
- Lake Keowee at Warpath Landing
- Fall Creek Photos
- Boat RentalsRent a Boat! Tri County Boat Rentals
- Marinas & Landings
- Lakefront Property
- Public Boat Ramps
- Fish Species
- Lake Keowee – My Personal Recreational Paradise
- Lake Keowee FAQ
- How deep is Lake Keowee?
- Why is Lake Keowee so clear?
- How big is Lake Keowee?
- What fish are in Lake Keowee?
- Can you camp and swim at Lake Keowee?
- Who owns and manages Lake Keowee?
- How much does Lake Keowee real estate cost?
About the Lake Keowee
Duke Energy (owns and operates Lake Wateree, Lake Greenwood, Lake Wylie, and Lake Jocassee) owns and operates this lake for a cooling reservoir for the Nuclear Station located at Warpath Dam. In addition to having a power generating plant, Duke Energy provides many public access areas to the lake. These areas include picnic facilities and boat ramps. For lake living, this lake is one on the best in the state of South Carolina. Lake property can be found here in abundance.
Specifications
- Major Highway Access 183 * 130 * 11
- Length 15 Miles
- Lake Size 18,500 Acres
- Shoreline 300 Miles
- Dam Completion 1971
- Project Management Duke Power Company
- Maximum Depth 297 Feet (SCDHEC)
- Mean Depth 54 Feet (SCDHEC)
- Full Pond Elevation 800 Feet above M.S.L.
Shawn Fuller – Two Kentucky Spotted Bass Lake Keowee 3-2-14
Lake House Rentals Available on Lake Keowee
Lake Keowee quick facts
| Surface area | ≈ 18,500 acres |
| Shoreline | ≈ 300 miles |
| Length × width | 26 miles long, about 3 miles wide |
| Average depth | about 54 ft |
| Maximum depth | about 150 ft |
| Full pond | about 800 ft above sea level |
| Built / managed by | 1971, Duke Energy (Keowee & Little River dams) |
| Counties | Oconee & Pickens |
How deep and how clear is Lake Keowee?
Keowee averages about 54 feet deep and reaches roughly 150 feet in the old river channels, but the number people really talk about is its clarity. Fed by the cold, near-pristine outflow of Lake Jocassee just above it, Keowee is one of the clearest large lakes in North America — on a calm day you can often see 20 feet or more straight down. Duke Energy holds the lake within a narrow band close to its full pond of around 800 feet, so unlike a Corps flood-control reservoir it almost never looks “drawn down.” That stable level and gin-clear water are a big part of why the shoreline became some of the most valuable real estate in the state.
Fishing on Lake Keowee
Keowee is first and foremost a bass lake, and it holds all three black bass — spotted, largemouth and smallmouth — with spotted bass the most common catch over the deep, rocky structure. Because the water is so clear and deep, the fish often sit deeper than on stained lakes, and light line with finesse presentations is the local standard. The lake also gives up crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, channel catfish and even a few trout that drift down from Jocassee. The worst-kept secret on Keowee is the warm-water discharge near the Oconee Nuclear Station: in the cold months baitfish and gamefish stack up in that “hot hole,” and it can be one of the best winter bites in the Upstate.
Swimming, parks and camping
Clear, clean water makes Keowee a wonderful swimming lake, and three county parks put a real beach within reach. High Falls County Park in Oconee County has a buoyed swimming beach, 100 campsites with water and electricity, two boat ramps and fishing piers. South Cove County Park adds 88 campsites and its own swimming area, while Mile Creek Park in Pickens County offers 69 campsites plus ten lakefront cabins. Up in the hills, Keowee-Toxaway State Park trades beaches for Blue Ridge views, hiking trails and a window into the region’s deep Cherokee history.
A lake steeped in Cherokee history
Long before the dams, this valley was the heart of the Lower Cherokee nation. The town of Keowee and the path that becomes “Warpath Landing” were real places — Keowee was one of the most important Cherokee settlements in the Carolinas, and Fort Prince George once stood across the river. When Duke flooded the valley in 1971 those sites slipped beneath the water, but the names live on all over the lake, and Keowee-Toxaway State Park tells the story.
Things to do at Lake Keowee
The clear water draws swimmers, paddleboarders and divers; the deep coves are made for kayaking; and the surrounding foothills are laced with waterfalls and trails. Keowee sits at the doorstep of Lake Jocassee and the Jocassee Gorges, with Clemson, Seneca and the town of Salem all close by — easy to pair a morning on the water with an afternoon chasing waterfalls.
Lake Keowee real estate
Keowee is the luxury end of South Carolina’s lake market. The headline communities are The Cliffs at Lake Keowee — a collection of gated, golf-and-wellness neighborhoods where homes average around two million dollars and run past six — along with The Reserve at Lake Keowee and the established, amenity-rich Keowee Key. Outside the gates you will still find cottages and wooded lots in quieter coves, but on Keowee the premium is always for clear, deep, dockable water with a mountain backdrop. If you own a Keowee home or rental you would like featured here, get in touch through our contact form.
Explore more South Carolina lakes
- Lake Jocassee — the deep, wild mountain lake that feeds Keowee its clear water
- Lake Hartwell — the big Corps lake just downstream on the Seneca/Savannah
Location
Lake Keowee at Warpath Landing
Fall Creek Photos
Boat Rentals
Rent a Boat! Tri County Boat Rentals
Marinas & Landings
- Gap Hill Landing 864-868-2823 Boat Ramps, Store, Gas, Food, Bait & Tackle – Fee for Boat Ramp
- Keowee Key Marina Toll Free 1-800-537-5253
- Lake Keowee Marina
- Full Service Marina 864-882-2047
Boat Rentals, Store, Boat Sales, Slip Rentals, Store
Lakefront Property
Advertise your business here for $20 a month.
Public Boat Ramps
- Cane Creek
- Crowe Creek
- Fall Creek
- High Falls Park
- Holders Landing
- Keowee Town
- Lawrence
- Mile Creek
- South Cove Park
- Stamp Creek Landing
- Warpath Access
Fish Species
- Largemouth Bass
- Smallmouth Bass
- Redeye Bass
- Spotted Bass
- Crappie
- Bream
- Shellcracker
- Catfish
Lake Keowee – My Personal Recreational Paradise
I just happen to live about 45 minutes from this beautiful lake known as Lake Keowee, and I can tell you it is one of my favorites. This is the lake I take my family to for swimming and boating. We take the boat, the grill, and plenty of food and spend a day here. We like to ride around in the boat and find a shaded beach area to spend the day. The perfect spots are located on the islands with white sandy beaches, shade trees, and shallow water. Sometimes we spend the day on one of the islands near Warpath Landing.
When we have had enough fun on the beach area, we will get in the boat and just go riding. We really enjoy going to the waterfall in the back of one of the coves on the lake. Even though the land surrounding the waterfall is private property, you can anchor a boat in the shallow water here and go wading or swimming. In the Summer, the water in this area is cooler than the rest of the lake. Consequenty, this is a very popular spot on the lake and there are almost aways other boaters doing the same thing.
Finally, I know that my family and I will always cherish this wonderful lake with clear water with mountains in the background. I do not take this lake for granted, and thank Duke Energy for creating this fantastic resource for the residents and visitors of the great state of South Carolina.
Lake Keowee FAQ
How deep is Lake Keowee?
Lake Keowee averages about 54 feet deep and reaches roughly 150 feet at its deepest, in the old river channels near the dams.
Why is Lake Keowee so clear?
It is fed by the cold, near-pristine water released from Lake Jocassee above it and is kept at a stable level by Duke Energy, so it stays exceptionally clear — often 20 feet of visibility or more.
How big is Lake Keowee?
About 18,500 acres with roughly 300 miles of shoreline, 26 miles long and around 3 miles wide, across Oconee and Pickens counties.
What fish are in Lake Keowee?
Spotted, largemouth and smallmouth bass, plus crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, channel catfish and a few trout. The warm-water discharge near the Oconee Nuclear Station is a top winter spot.
Can you camp and swim at Lake Keowee?
Yes. High Falls, South Cove and Mile Creek county parks all offer campsites and swimming areas, and Keowee-Toxaway State Park has camping and trails.
Who owns and manages Lake Keowee?
Duke Energy created the lake in 1971; it powers the Keowee hydro station and cools the Oconee Nuclear Station.
How much does Lake Keowee real estate cost?
It is South Carolina’s luxury lake market. Gated communities like The Cliffs average around two million dollars, while cottages and lots in quieter coves start far lower.
