The air is crisp, the sky is a bright blue, the clouds are white and puffy, the roadsides are full of fall flowers, and the leaves are turning. In short, the scenery is beautiful and photo opportunities are everywhere. Oconee County, South Carolina has beautiful lakes on the western and northeastern sides of the county. The northern part of the county is dotted with waterfalls and clear mountain streams. The middle and eastern side of the county are rolling hills and pasture. The Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway traverses Oconee County from Interstate 85 at the Georgia border to Lake Keowee in the northeastern part of the county.

This year many schools, groups, and individuals have come together to create the first annual Oconee Bale Trail. The Bale Trail is a contest for decorating hay bales and is open to anyone or any group in the county. Many bales are scheduled to be on display by Oct 5th, however bales may be added to the trail at any time. To be eligible for the cash prizes, entries must be on display by October 16th. We expect that most bales will be on display through the Thanksgiving holidays.

Visit the Oconee Bale Trail Website at www.oconeebaletrail.com