April 26, 2019
Dangerous landslides caused by abundant rainfall have forced the closure of a section of Horsepasture Road in Jocassee Gorges. (SCDNR photo by Mark Hall)
A 3-mile section of Horsepasture Road within the Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area at Jocassee Gorges in northern Pickens County has been closed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) due to unsafe landslides caused by massive rainfall in the area.
The 3-mile section of Horsepasture Road that is now closed is from Bootleg Road south toward Jocassee Dam. The road, closed until further notice, is unsafe due to landslides, according to Mark Hall, SCDNR Jocassee Gorges land manager. The area received 8 inches of rain in 10 hours on April 19. "Everything is just saturated," Hall said.
The Jocassee Gorges is in northern Pickens and Oconee counties along the North Carolina border and surrounds Lake Jocassee. The property features numerous forest ecosystems and many rivers and streams. Jocassee Gorges, acquired by SCDNR in 1998, is also home to rare and unusual plants and animals. Recreational uses include hunting, fishing, mountain biking, paddling, birdwatching and nature viewing.
For more information on Jocassee Gorges, visit https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/ManagedLands/ManagedLand/ManagedLand/53.