January 8, 2021
After snowfall from the winter storm was lighter than expected, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) reopened roads today (Friday) within the Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area at Jocassee Gorges on the Pickens and Oconee county sides.
The roads were closed Thursday afternoon after weather reports forecasted three to five inches of snow along the Blue Ridge Escarpment.
Land managers with SCDNR reopened the gates around lunchtime Friday to Horsepasture Road on the Pickens County side and to Musterground Road on the Oconee County side.
Access to the road to the Sassafras Mountain Overlook, F. Van Clayton Highway, is managed by Pickens County, which also closed that road on Thursday evening.
Check the SCDNR social media outlets, or call (864) 868-0281 for Jocassee Gorges road management updates.
The Jocassee Gorges, which includes the Franklin L. Gravely Wildlife Management Area, is in northern Pickens and Oconee counties along the North Carolina border and surrounds Lake Jocassee. The property features numerous forest ecosystems and many rivers and streams. Jocassee Gorges, acquired by SCDNR in 1998, is also home to rare and unusual plants and animals. Recreational uses include hiking, backpacking, hunting, fishing, mountain biking, paddling, birdwatching, and nature viewing.
For more information on Jocassee Gorges, visit South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (sc.gov).