Trails / South Carolina / Upstate South Carolina

Keowee-Toxaway State Park: Raven Rock Trail

Keowee-Toxaway State Park, Lake Keowee, Pickens County (SC 11)

Keowee-Toxaway State Park sits on Lake Keowee and is home to the Jocassee Gorges Visitor Center. Its Raven Rock Trail is one of only three places in South Carolina’s state parks, along with Jones Gap and Caesars Head, that offer pack-in, pack-out trailside campsites, according to the state. The park’s FAQ says backcountry camping is allowed at four designated sites along the trail, and that site 3 is the park’s only campsite on the water.

The loop is short, about 4 miles depending on the source, so this is an easy first overnight or a late-start trip.

The hike

The Raven Rock Trail shares its trailhead with the Natural Bridge Trail, directly behind the Jocassee Gorges Visitor Center, according to the park. SCTrails.net describes the route: take the Natural Bridge Trail, cross Poe Creek on the natural bridge, then turn right onto the Raven Rock Trail.

From there, the trail climbs and descends around McKinney Mountain to a rocky area near the top with views of the Blue Ridge to the west. A second vista overlooks Lake Keowee before a steep descent to the lakeshore. The trail then climbs steeply over stone ridges and drops back to Poe Creek, where “boulders in the creek provide a way to cross,” before rejoining the Natural Bridge Trail.

The Internet Brothers website, which hiked the trail in December 2017, describes the natural bridge as about two feet high, small waterfalls on Poe Creek, and granite outcrops on McKinney Mountain. From Raven Rock, it describes a view across the lake to a small island and the Blue Ridge. It found a spur onto a small peninsula leading to three tent campsites. It counted about 794 feet of total gain and warns that wet granite can be slippery, especially on the descent to the lake.

The park manager calls Raven Rock his favorite feature, saying the outcrop “offers a picturesque view of Lake Keowee” and is a good spot for lunch or the sunset.

For a longer walk, the Eastatoe Passage of the Palmetto Trail shares the Natural Bridge Trail at its west end and runs 4.6 miles to Eastatoe Creek, crossing a 95-foot suspension bridge, according to SCTrails.net. For a multi-day trip, the Foothills Trail runs through the Jocassee Gorges.

Tips

Ask for site 3 if you want the water. The park says it’s the only lakeside site.
Take care on wet rock. The granite and the lake descent can be slippery.
Check Poe Creek. The crossing is on boulders.
Leash pets. State trailside rules require a leash of 6 feet or less.
Use a stove. The state encourages backpacking stoves where possible.

Camping

Backcountry trailside camping is allowed only at the four designated sites along the Raven Rock Trail, according to the park. The state’s trailside rules say to camp only in designated sites, build campfires only in designated areas using existing rings, bury waste 6 inches deep at least 100 feet from water where there’s no privy, use biodegradable soap well away from water, and pack out everything. Alcohol is prohibited. Book through the South Carolina State Parks reservation system or call 1-866-345-7275.

Inside Intel: No camper accounts recommending a specific site were found. The park itself points out that site 3 is the only campsite on the water, and Internet Brothers’ photos include views “from tent campsite 3.”

Trail facts

Distance: About 4.1 to 4.4 miles, depending on the source
Route type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Campsites: 4 designated backcountry sites; site 3 on the water
Water: Lake Keowee and Poe Creek. Treat all water.
Permits: Campsite reservation through the park
Dogs: Leashed (6 feet or shorter)
Trailhead: Behind the Jocassee Gorges Visitor Center, Keowee-Toxaway State Park
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

Steep stone ridges above Lake Keowee:

The Raven Rock Trail makes a steep descent to the Lake Keowee shore, then climbs steeply over stone ridges, and wet granite can be slippery. Our pole tips cover choking down, placement, and rubber tips on rock.

See the pole tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.