A water park doesn’t have to be laden with fancy slides or even splash fountains to be fun. Just ask your grandparents… they likely didn’t have those amenities while growing up, and yet they somehow managed to have a great time in natural swimming holes throughout South Carolina. The following, which may be the best natural water park in South Carolina, is a perfect example.

The Mountain Lakes Region in the Upstate of South Carolina is a delightful place to to take a day trip, especially if there's a cool mountain lake in which to cool off. Head in this direction if you're seeking some places that offer the best family outing in South Carolina.
Google Maps/Kirsten Witzling
Lake Keowee has 300 miles of shoreline and is approximately 26 miles long, three miles wide and approximately 50 feet deep. Along the shores, there are several parks, but perhaps none are as accessible and versatile as South Cove County Park in Oconee County. This little-known county park may have the best natural water park in South Carolina.
Google Maps/Fanfang K
From here, you can boat, camp, fish, picnic and swim. You can spend the day, or longer if you want to reserve one of their lakeside campsites.
Google Maps/dbernuy dan
The natural waterpark found at South Cove County Park is just that: natural. It beckons families to spend a day together the old-fashioned way, without fancy, tall water slides and lazy rivers that follow the same loop all day long.
Google Maps/Merab Perez-Arellano

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In fact, if you want a ride on anything at this water park, you'll need to pack it in (and inflate it) yourself. Sometimes, that's the best kind of ride!
Google Maps/Shannon Cook
The water park at this Oconee County Park is rather large, so there's plenty of room for everyone. And if you're camping in one of the lakeside spots, then you can literally swim in front of your campsite.
Google Maps/Patrick Duffy
Of course, you don't have to camp here to enjoy the water; the park does allow (and encourage!) day visitors. What's more... it's only $2 per car to gain admission. That's an old-fashioned price for an old-fashioned day of fun in the water!
Google Maps/Sidney Florêncio da Costa
No article about South Cove County Park would be complete without showing off the sunrise. Get yourself one of those coveted campsites (there are 86 of them) and you just may get to see this in person!
Facebook/South Cove County Park
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South Cove County Park may be the best natural water park in South Carolina! Camping prices vary and can be found at this link. Day passes cost $2 per vehicle ($5 per boat/trailer). Annual passes are available for $25. Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, year-round. Learn more about the park from the official website for Oconee County, SC Parks, Recreation & Tourism.

Address: 1099 South Cove Road, Seneca, SC, 29672

Want more places to cool off on a warm day in the Palmetto State? Keep reading here for a short hike that leads to a hidden waterfall swimming hole!

 

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Best Natural Water Park In South Carolina

Robin Jarvis | July 12, 2019

What is a natural water park?

A natural water park is a lake that's commonly used for swimming. The lake could be either a man-made lake or a natural lake, and the amenities found within the lake are those that aren't teeming with water slides and other bells and whistles found in water parks of recent times. Swimming in a natural water park in South Carolina may bring back nostalgic memories of a bygone era.

Are natural water parks in South Carolina clean?

The lakes and streams in South Carolina are clean enough to swim in. The Mountain Lakes Region, in particular, has a number of lakes that have mountain streams and springs that keep the lakes filled with a new, fresh supply of cold water all year long. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control monitors lakes, beaches, streams, and popular swimming holes regularly for the presence of harmful bacteria. If you want to double-check that the natural water park/swimming hole you're headed to isn't on a current advisory list from SCDHEC, click here.

What do I need to bring to a natural water park in South Carolina?

Visiting any natural water park in South Carolina is just like a day at the beach. There are some items you simply can't go without on a hot day in South Carolina. Bring sunscreen, a towel, a chair, any snacks you'll need to refuel throughout the day, and plenty of water to stay hydrated underneath the hot South Carolina summer sun.

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