Lake Keowee, SC: A Local Guide to Lake Living and the Top 25 Neighborhoods

If you're dreaming about a place on Lake Keowee, you're in good company. I've been helping folks buy and sell around Seneca and the lakes since 2011, and the first question I usually get is, "Which neighborhood is right for me?" This guide walks through 25 of the best-known communities on and around the lake, in alphabetical order, so you can start narrowing it down.

About Lake Keowee

Lake Keowee sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Oconee and Pickens counties, South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, it covers roughly 18,500 acres with about 387 miles of shoreline and an average depth of around 50 feet. Communities along its shores are tied to Seneca, Salem, West Union, Six Mile and Sunset.

How Lake Keowee Came to Be

Duke Energy built Lake Keowee and its neighbor upstream, Lake Jocassee, in the 1970s to generate electricity and provide public recreation. Lake Keowee was formed by damming the Keowee and Little rivers. Duke still owns the lake and manages the shoreline, and the lake serves as the cooling reservoir for the Oconee Nuclear Station. The name comes from the Cherokee town of Keowee, which once stood in the river valley the lake now covers.

Getting Out on the Water

You don't have to live on the shoreline to enjoy the lake. Visit Oconee SC lists public access at High Falls County Park and South Cove County Park, plus landings including Mile Creek Park, Crow Creek, Keowee Towne, Fall Creek, Cane Creek, Stamp Creek, Lake Keowee Marina and Warpath. The lake is popular for fishing, boating, swimming, sailing and watersports. Parking at public access points is limited, so arrive early on summer weekends.

Keowee-Toxaway State Park

On the Pickens County side, Keowee-Toxaway State Park covers about 1,000 acres on the lake, with roughly 5.5 miles of trails, campsites, a lakeside cabin, a launch for canoes and kayaks, and views toward the Jocassee Gorges. Its trails cross land once traveled by the Cherokee.

Docks and the Shoreline

Because Duke Energy manages the shoreline, building, changing or transferring a dock goes through Duke's lake permit process. I wrote more about that in our Lake Keowee docks and permits guide.

Top 25 Neighborhoods on Lake Keowee

These are 25 of the best-known communities on and around the lake. They're listed alphabetically rather than ranked, because the right fit depends on what you want out of lake life: golf and a full club, a quiet cove with your own dock, or a community marina and pool.

Backwater Landing (West Union area)

A gated community of lakeside cottages. Listings describe a lodge-style clubhouse with a stone fireplace, a pool, fitness room, docks, a private beach and a lakeside boardwalk trail, with a regime fee that covers many exterior services.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Backwater Landing

Beacon Shores (Seneca area)

An established neighborhood on a peninsula with protected coves. It has a private sandy beach and waterfront park with picnic facilities, community docks, and sidewalks throughout.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Beacon Shores

Cane Creek Harbor (Seneca area)

A small enclave of just under 25 waterfront homesites on protected coves, a few minutes from downtown Seneca. There's no clubhouse; docks and lifts are on individual lots, and the Cane Creek public landing is nearby.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Cane Creek Harbor

Cedar Creek at Keowee (Sunset area)

A Pickens County community governed by the Cedar Creek Property Owners Association, Inc. Its covenant revisions are recorded with Pickens County.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Cedar Creek at Keowee

The Cliffs at Keowee Falls (Salem area)

A gated Cliffs community with 20 miles of Lake Keowee shoreline reserved for residents. Amenities include a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, a wellness center with a heated zero-entry pool, lighted Har-Tru tennis and pickleball courts, and about 10 miles of nature trails leading to waterfalls.

Homes for sale: See current listings in The Cliffs at Keowee Falls

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs (Six Mile area)

Home to an 18-hole Tom Fazio golf course, a Beach Club with water slides and a paddle shop, the Lake Club with two pools and a wellness center, a newer clubhouse, and hiking trails.

Homes for sale: See current listings in The Cliffs at Keowee Springs

The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards (Sunset / Salem area)

A Tom Fazio golf course with eight holes along Lake Keowee, a full-service marina, a Lakehouse with dining and an open-air pavilion, an equestrian center, and about 10 miles of nature trails.

Homes for sale: See current listings in The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards

Cove Harbor at Lake Keowee (Six Mile area)

A small gated community on the north side of the lake with both waterfront and interior homesites. Listings describe a community lake access area with a picnic pavilion, fire pit and walking trail.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Cove Harbor at Lake Keowee

Harbor Point (Seneca area)

A gated community with a community center, outdoor fireplace and common grounds. Listings note minimum home-size requirements, so the covenants are worth reading closely before you buy a lot.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Harbor Point

Harbour Pointe (Six Mile area)

A gated community on the Pickens County side, separate from Harbor Point in Seneca. Listings describe a community dock with deep-water boat slips.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Harbour Pointe

Highland Shores at Lake Keowee (Salem area)

A gated neighborhood of mostly waterfront lots on a quiet cove of the lake, with some interior lots offering lake views.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Highland Shores at Lake Keowee

Hunnicutt Cove (Seneca area)

A waterfront neighborhood with deep-water frontage and private docks on individual lots. There are no shared amenities, and listings indicate no HOA fees.

Homes for sale: Hunnicutt Cove isn't tagged as its own subdivision in the MLS, so ask us about current listings.

Keowee Bay (Salem area)

A gated community near the north end of the lake. It has a community boat ramp, boat slips, a shared beach area, a covered picnic shelter with grills, and boat and trailer storage.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Keowee Bay

Keowee Harbours (Salem area)

An established gated community from the mid-1980s with 103 homesites plus townhomes in the Shadow Walk section. Amenities include a clubhouse and pool, a community dock, a boat ramp with trailer parking, and a tennis/pickleball court.

HOA documents: Keowee Harbours documents page (some documents may require an owner login).

Homes for sale: See current listings in Keowee Harbours

Keowee Inlet (Seneca area)

A small waterfront neighborhood on the south end of the lake, about five minutes from downtown Seneca. Docks and covered slips are on individual lots.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Keowee Inlet

Keowee Key (Salem)

One of the lake's best-known gated communities, with gated and guarded entrances. It has 13 community docks with 327 boat slips, valet boat launch and fueling, a boat rental fleet, a golf course, The Club with several dining venues, and a fitness and racquet center.

HOA documents: Owner portal through the Keowee Key Property Owners Association. We request the current documents during due diligence.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Keowee Key

Keowee Mountain (Pickens County, near the lake)

A gated community of about 700 acres near Lakes Keowee and Jocassee rather than on the shoreline. It has a lodge with a fitness center, hiking and biking trails, an observation deck, picnic and camping areas, and community boat storage, with the Crowe Creek public landing nearby.

HOA documents: Keowee Property Owners Association page, which lists the Covenants & Restrictions and Architectural Guidelines.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Keowee Mountain

Keowee Pointe (Seneca area)

A small enclave on the south side of the lake with no clubhouse amenities. Some listings note limited restrictions and no routine HOA dues.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Keowee Pointe

Port Santorini (Seneca area)

The neighborhood shares a gated, roughly five-acre lakeside common area with a private boat ramp, day docks, a swim dock and sandy beach, and a pavilion with a built-in grill and a play area.

HOA documents: Password-protected on the Port Santorini HOA website. We request them during due diligence.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Port Santorini

The Reserve at Lake Keowee (Sunset area)

A private gated community with a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, a 200-slip marina, a village center with a market and post office, more than 1,400 acres of parks, preserves and trails, plus a fitness center, tennis, pickleball and lakeside pools.

Homes for sale: See current listings in The Reserve at Lake Keowee

Stoneledge at Lake Keowee (West Union area)

A lakeside community offering both townhomes and single-family homes.

HOA documents: Stoneledge HOA website.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Stoneledge at Lake Keowee

Timber Bay (between Seneca and Walhalla)

A lake community with its own marina and 56 boat slips (assigned to some interior lots), a covered pavilion with a fireplace, a terrace with grills, and a kayak and paddleboard launch.

HOA documents: Timber Bay POA governing documents (Declaration, By-Laws, plats and amendments are posted publicly).

Homes for sale: See current listings in Timber Bay

Waterford Pointe (Seneca area)

More than 400 acres with over four miles of Lake Keowee shoreline. Amenities include a lakeside clubhouse and pool, lighted tennis and pickleball courts, a playground, a paved walking trail, and boat slips for interior lot owners.

HOA documents: Waterford Pointe HOA website.

Homes for sale: See current listings in Waterford Pointe

Waterside Crossing (Seneca area)

About four miles of Lake Keowee shoreline, with private docks on lakefront lots and marina slips for interior lots. It has a clubhouse, a 25-meter pool, tennis and pickleball courts, a 1.3-mile paved walking trail, a lakeside pavilion with a fireplace, and fenced boat storage.

HOA documents: Waterside Crossing documents page (CC&Rs, Bylaws, Architectural Guidelines and Rules are posted publicly).

Homes for sale: See current listings in Waterside Crossing

The Woods at Keowee (West Union area)

A lake-access community with a pool, clubhouse, tennis and pickleball, boat and RV storage, a common dock area, and deeded boat slips on select lots. Cane Creek Landing is about five minutes away.

Homes for sale: See current listings in The Woods at Keowee

About HOA Documents and Covenants

HOA rules on the lake cover things like minimum home size, short-term rentals, boat slips, architectural review and tree removal, so they matter a lot. Associations amend their documents from time to time, and an old copy can steer you wrong. Where a community's HOA posts its documents or has its own website, I've linked it above. For the rest, we request the current covenants and restrictions during your due diligence period, before you're committed.

Recorded covenants and restrictions are also public record at the county Register of Deeds: Oconee County Register of Deeds or Pickens County Register of Deeds, depending on which side of the lake the property sits.

Lake Keowee Neighborhoods FAQ

What counties is Lake Keowee in?

Lake Keowee sits in Oconee and Pickens counties in Upstate South Carolina, with communities in and around Seneca, Salem, West Union, Six Mile and Sunset.

Who controls docks and the shoreline on Lake Keowee?

Duke Energy owns the lake and manages the shoreline under its Shoreline Management Plan, so building, changing or transferring a dock goes through Duke Energy's lake permit process.

Where can I find the covenants and restrictions for a Lake Keowee neighborhood?

Where a community has its own HOA website, we've linked it in the neighborhood list above. Recorded covenants are public record at the Oconee County or Pickens County Register of Deeds, and we request the current set from the HOA during due diligence.

Which Lake Keowee communities are gated?

Among the communities on this page, Keowee Key, The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Keowee Harbours, Keowee Bay, Harbor Point, Harbour Pointe, Highland Shores, Cove Harbor, Backwater Landing and Keowee Mountain are gated. Always confirm current access details with the HOA.

A Note on These Descriptions

I pulled these details from each community's official website where one exists, and from listing information where it doesn't. Amenities, fees and rules change, so always confirm the current details with the HOA before you make a decision. That's part of what we do for every client.

Find Your Place on Lake Keowee

At JW Martin Real Estate, we try to live by a simple idea: "Be the kind of Realtor you'd want your Mother to have." On the lake, that means pulling the covenants, checking the dock permit and asking the boring questions before you fall in love with a view. If you're thinking about buying, reach out to us here or call 864-722-5558. If you already own on Keowee and you're curious what your home is worth, start with a free home valuation. You can also learn more about the area on our Seneca community page.

Banner photo: Lake Keowee from Keowee-Toxaway State Park by DXR, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Lake Keowee photo below the headline by Andy Montgomery, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.