Lake Cherokee is a quiet fishing lake of roughly 50 acres in Cherokee County, southwest of Gaffney off the Wilkinsville Highway. Small, wooded and unhurried, it is the kind of local lake where the loudest sound is a bass breaking the surface — a relaxed alternative to Gaffney’s larger Lake Whelchel and the managed Lake Thicketty nearby.
Lake Cherokee at a glance
| Surface area | ≈ 50 acres |
| County | Cherokee (southwest of Gaffney) |
| Fish | bass, catfish, bream |
Fishing Lake Cherokee
Stocked with bass, catfish and bream, Lake Cherokee is an easy, low-key spot for a relaxed afternoon on the water. A South Carolina fishing license is required, and the lake is best suited to bank fishing and small boats or kayaks. To find it from Gaffney, take E. Frederick Street (SC 18) south about a mile, turn onto Wilkinsville Highway (SC 105) and continue a few miles to Lake Cherokee Road.
Nearby lakes
- Lake Whelchel — Gaffney’s larger city fishing lake
- Lake Thicketty — a managed state lake in the same county
Lake Cherokee FAQ
How big is Lake Cherokee in SC?
About 50 acres, in Cherokee County southwest of Gaffney.
What fish are in Lake Cherokee?
It is stocked with bass, catfish and bream.
How do you get to Lake Cherokee?
From Gaffney, take SC 18 south about a mile, turn onto Wilkinsville Highway (SC 105) and continue to Lake Cherokee Road.
