Want to get on the water at Lake Jocassee, a paradise only an hour from Greenville, SC? Eclectic Sun is the way to go!
Thank you to Eclectic Sun for providing us with paddleboards and kayaks for an amazing day on the water so we could write this review.
I’ve personally been a huge fan of Lake Jocassee for many years due to its unmatchable beauty and its ability to take me to a place of peace and serenity. In fact, my very first time at Lake Jocassee was when I rented a tandem kayak from Eclectic Sun when my youngest daughter was nearly three years old. That was all it took for me to be completely hooked on kayaking. I also ruined myself because I did it first at Lake Jocassee and no other place has since compared to experiencing the paradise that is that very special lake.
So began my adventures with my daughters on the water and they haven’t stopped since, seven years later. Going to Devils Fork State Park is always a blast but paddling around the lake is a whole other experience than hanging out on the shoreline. And if you want to get out on the lake, Eclectic Sun has all you need to do so.
Want to know more about Lake Jocassee? Start here: Our Guide to Fun on Lake Jocassee.
Paddling on Lake Jocassee
There are places you can only get to on the lake by boat like fun islands, coves, and waterfalls. I have kayaked to bigger waterfalls but I honestly would not recommend it because it’s very, very far. There is a small waterfall you can paddle to from the put-in point at Eclectic Sun but it’s a bit of a ways. If you really want to see waterfalls, rent a pontoon boat. That’s absolutely the way to go see the majestic waterfalls and swim at them!
But kayaking and paddleboarding on the lake is a lot of fun. You can stop at coves and beaches (if the water level is low enough) and paddle out to a fun island to chill and eat your lunch.
In that same area, there are a couple of small beaches and the water is shallow so you can easily get out and just enjoy the soft sand and swim around.
Rentals Available at Lake Jocassee
There are lots of things to rent at Eclectic Sun to get you out on the water, like:
- Canoes
- Paddleboards (both hard boards and inflatables)
- Tandem kayaks (that can fit two people)
- Single kayaks
If you plan to stay on the shoreline, you can also rent umbrellas, beach chairs, and tubes.
I do have my own paddleboards and frequently take them out to Lake Jocassee but I have forgotten the absolute ease and stress-free emotions that come with showing up at the park and renting equipment without having to pack it all in my car, get it to the park, inflate the boards, paddle around, carry the boards out of the water, deflate the boards, get them back in the car, get them home, unload the boards and put them away.
Renting is super easy, like a million times easier than owning your own equipment! Plus, it was a lot of fun to try out different boards and kayaks that I don’t have. And everything we rented was in absolute perfect condition. All we did was check in, get our paddles and life jackets, and walk to the water. Eclectic Sun staff had the equipment ready to go and then got it out of the water when we came back.
And there is no skimping on equipment at Eclectic Sun. They have some of the very best paddleboards and kayaks on the market. I’m familiar with their inflatable boards because one of my family members purchased them used from Eclectic Sun several summers ago for a really good price and they’ve held up really great. And after a Google search of the hard paddleboards we used, they aren’t cheap. I also owned a Perception tandem kayak, the same kayaks they use for rentals, and they are fantastic boats.
Choosing Your Time on the Rentals
Eclectic Sun lets you rent boards for two hours, four hours, all day, and overnight. I’d suggest no less than four hours to start because you’ll want to paddle around and enjoy all the coves and lake water. Time in paradise goes quickly!
If you want to paddle to the waterfall on the left side of the lake, you’ll need at least four hours to do so. And if you’re staying overnight at the campground, you can easily rent as much as equipment from Eclectic Sun as you need.
Included in your rental are life jackets, paddles, and dry bags. They will also hold onto your keys for you so you don’t accidentally lose them in the lake.
Pontoon Boats
An absolute dream of mine is to rent a pontoon boat and spend all day at Lake Jocassee swimming and seeing all the waterfalls. It’s one of those things on my bucket list that I have yet to check off.
Luckily for me, and all of you who have the same idea, Eclectic Sun rents not only pontoon boats but also captains! I’m not terribly comfortable driving a pontoon boat so it made me happy to know that Eclectic Sun has captains that will take you out all day on their beautiful pontoon boats. They also offer waterfall tours.
Tips on Enjoying Your Eclectic Sun Rentals
Here are a few tips to have an awesome day out on the lake:
Reserve your rentals ahead of time, especially on weekends and holidays over the summer. The lake is very popular and it’s best to plan ahead.
Get to Devils Fork State Park at least thirty minutes ahead of your rental time. You’ll encounter a line to get into the park on weekends and you will need that time to put on sunscreen and sign waivers.
Bring a lot of sunscreen and water. Don’t get burned or dehydrated! A hat is also a great accessory for paddleboarding and kayaking.
Bring a lunch. I always bring food while paddling because it’s exhausting and I have kids who want to eat all the time.
Go on a weekday. If you can go to Lake Jocassee on a weekday, it’s so much less crowded than on weekends. It’s quieter and easier to navigate.
Rent in the morning. Lake Jocassee is famous for their afternoon storms. You really don’t want to be caught in those so if you can paddle in the mornings, you have a better chance of avoiding the storms. They come up fast and paying attention to the weather is always a smart thing to do there.
You do need to pay park admission. Your rental rate doesn’t include park admission, which is $8/adult, $4/kids ages 6-15. If you have a SC State Parks Pass, admission is free. We highly recommend this pass as it has saved us hundreds of dollars a year in entrance fees.
No experience required. Don’t worry if you’ve never paddleboarded or kayaked before. It’s not hard whatsoever and you’ll have fun.
If you want to buy their equipment, they usually have an end-of-season sale. They usually offer some of their equipment at the end of the season in the fall for really cheap prices. If you’re looking for a good deal, stay tuned to their social media pages that time of year.
Eclectic Sun also has a great FAQ section on their website that pretty much answers all the questions you can think of.
Honest Mom Review of Eclectic Sun
Lake Jocassee is one of my most favorite places on the planet. This is not an exaggeration. I absolutely love this place and choose to spend as much time as possible here.
Our day renting boats and boards from Eclectic Sun was even better than usual because I really didn’t have to do a thing in order to go paddle and enjoy the lake. The staff was so awesome and gave us directions on where to go and what to see and the process was so smooth from checking in to getting in the water.
My mom friend who came with us had never paddleboarded before and she said “this is so easy!”. So there ya go. You need zero experience to do this and have fun.
And this isn’t an outrageously expensive activity for a family. If you’re a family of four, it will cost you $100 to rent two tandem kayaks for four hours. Bring a picnic, spend the day and make fantastic memories.
The only regret you’re going to have this summer is if you don’t get out to Lake Jocassee and paddle around for a few hours with your family. You very well may have a new obsession after you do!
Looking for other beautiful spots to kayak? We’ve got a list of the 22 Most Beautiful Places to Kayak Near Greenville. And, we have a list of places to rent boats near the Upstate.
Eclectic Sun
238 Buckeye Drive, Salem, SC
864.944.1191
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