#07–120 April 30, 2007
North Carolina, South Carolina agree to temporary Jocassee access solution
Agencies in North and South Carolina have agreed on a temporary solution
to the problem of accessing the
Jim
Timmerman Natural Resources Area at Jocassee Gorges through North
Carolina.
The Jocassee Gorges was purchased by the S.C. Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) in 1998, and
certain sections can only be legally accessed over roads in North Carolina.
The South Carolina DNR secured an easement across certain roads to ensure
public access in 1998. In 1999, the N.C. Department of Environment and
Natural Resources bought the property that supports those roads and
established Gorges State Park.
South Carolina DNR and the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural
Resources have differed in opinion as to how the easement roads will be
managed and used by the public. A recent meeting between the agencies was
held in Asheville, N.C., where many issue surfaced, but the question of
access was not resolved. , The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural
Resources State Parks Division recently offered to open the road with
certain restrictions for the spring of 2007. South Carolina DNR accepted the
proposal for spring 2007, however many differences of opinion remain to be
worked out.
“This is a tough situation, where we want to be good neighbors, protect the
environment, yet use the privileges we secured for public access at the same
time,” said Mark Hall, South Carolina DNR Jocassee project manager. “North
Carolina Parks does not want unregulated public vehicular traffic through
their park. We respect the State Park’s philosophy of land management,
however we think we can derive a solution that will allow regulated public
access and satisfy everyone for the long haul.”
Persons wishing to access remote portions of the Jocassee Gorges can travel
from Salem, S.C., up SC Highway 130 to where the highway changes to NC
Highway 281. About 8 miles into North Carolina, take a right into the North
Carolina’s Gorges State Park parking lot and enter the access road through
the gate at the back of the parking lot. Hunters using the road must unload
and case their guns. Visitors must have licensed, four-wheel drive vehicles
and may not stop or leave their vehicles until they reach North Carolina
Game Lands at Turkey Pen Gap. After reaching Turkey Pen Gap, travel west
about 1/2 mile, then south on Bear Creek Road to South Carolina’s Crossroads
Mountain. The road will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from March 20 to May
10. Gates will open at 5 a.m. during the month of April (except Sunday) to
accommodate turkey hunters.
Interested visitors may contact South Carolina DNR’s Mark Hall at (864)
878-9071 or North Carolina’s Gorges State Park at (828) 966-9099.
