Georgia / Columbia County

Below Dam South Carolina

Closed — Currently closed. Park typically operates with hours from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. when open. Reservations available through Recreation.gov.

About

Below Dam South Carolina Recreation Area is a popular day-use park located just below J. Strom Thurmond Lake Dam along the Savannah River on Power Plant Road off South Carolina Highway 221 near the Visitor Center. This heavily wooded area features mixed pine and hardwood forest providing summer shade and fall color at an elevation of 235 feet above sea level. The park offers several group picnic shelters, including one with electrical hookups, along with flush toilets, drinking water, a boat ramp, fishing pier, hiking trail, and playground. Swimming is not permitted at this location due to strong currents in the river. The Savannah River offers excellent fishing and boating opportunities. Turmond Lake, one of the largest Corps of Engineers lakes east of the Mississippi River, encompasses 70,000 acres of water and provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern United States. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish, and striped bass. Wildlife is abundant around the lake, with visitors regularly seeing southern bald eagles, osprey, migratory waterfowl, wild turkeys, and whitetail deer. Hot, humid summers and mild, pleasant winters characterize the area.

Directions

Located just outside Clarks Hill, SC. From US Highway 221, head west onto Power Plant Road just below the dam.

Nearby Campgrounds