Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests
 

Recreation

Recreation on the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests is as varied as the South Carolina landscape from the mountains to the coast. Click a link to activity of your choice in the left column of this page to explore two forests full of opportunities! We'll post cautions and weather closures in the conditions report below, but please......

Motorcycle on forest trailCall Before You Haul!

Conditions may change quickly! Please check the Call Before You Haul telephone hotline at (803) 561-4025 for the most recent trail closures and openings. The hotline will provide you with the most current updates. Trails are frequently closed after prolonged or heavy rainfall when usage would result in resource damage. The website is updated on weekdays only. It is not updated on weekends or federal holidays.

Please note: The date recorded in the hotline trail report reflects the date the trail was opened or closed. The message will remain the same until the open/closed status changes.

Recreation Conditions Report

 Area Name Status Area Conditions
Beaver Dam Rifle Range   
Cedar Springs OHV Trail Closed to Visitor The trail is closed for the season and will reopen the last Friday in March, weather conditions permitting.
Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Open to Visitor ATTENTION PADDLERS: HAZARD IN 5-FALLS! During the last year, a number of kayaks have been pinned in Right-Crack. Please be extra cautious around this river feature. Consider setting safety ropes below Corkscrew. Overflow Creek put-in, a westfork of the Chattooga put-in: a large portion of Forest Road 86 is closed due to a wash-out. This is the primary access to both the put-in and the take-out for Overflow Creek paddlers. There is a gate at both ends of the damaged road. Paddlers can park at the Warwoman campground on Forest Road 86 and easily walk to the common take-out bridge, about a 1/4- 1/2 mile.
 
Collins Creek Seasonal Camp    Collins Creek Camp will open Friday, September 12, 2014.
Elmwood Recreation Area Open to Visitor
Enoree OHV Trail Closed to Visitor The trail is closed for the season and will reopen the last Friday in March, weather conditions permitting.
Enoree Passage of the Palmetto Trail    The first bridge before mile marker 4 is out due to storm damage.  Trail users may find crossing impassable during high water.
Fairforest Rifle Range Open to Visitor Weekly Enoree Rifle Range Cleaning Closures
Forks Area Trail System    Please check the Call Before You Haul hotline at 803-561-4025 for the latest updates on trail conditions before your visit. 
Herbert Seasonal Camp Closed to Visitor Herbert Hunt Camp is closed.
Indian Creek Rifle Range Open to Visitor Indian Creek Rifle Range will be closed to the public on Saturday, September 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m, for a South Carolina High School Rodeo Association competition shooting team event. The range will reopen when the event is completed. Weekly Enoree Rifle Range Cleaning Closures
Leeds Rifle Range Open to Visitor Weekly Enoree Rifle Range Cleaning Closures
Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area Closed to Visitor Open seasonally May 1 through November 15. 
Long Cane Horse Trail Open to Visitor  A section of the trail is closed from Candy Branch (FS 518) to the east side of the bridge on Long Cane Creek (Point J). A new project is in the planning phase to improve the ford at Long Cane Creek. Please check back for updates on the section's reopening.
Parsons Mountain OHV Trail Closed to Visitor The trail is closed for the season and will reopen the last Friday in March, weather conditions permitting.
Parsons Mountain Recreation Area Closed to Visitor Open seasonally May 1 through November 15.
Philson Crossroads Rifle Range Open to Visitor Weekly Enoree Rifle Range Cleaning Closures
Poulous Loop Hunt Camp    Poulous Loop Campground opens Friday, Sept. 12, 2014
Rocky Branch Seasonal Camp    Rocky Branch Camp will open Friday, September 12, 2014.
Sedalia Campground Open to Visitor Sedalia Campground's back loop will open Friday, September 12, 2014.
Tyger River Canoe Trail    Gordon's Bridge  is no longer open to public use. Please refer to the printable guide and vicinity map for alternative access points.
Wambaw Cycle Trail (North Loop)    Please call the trails hotline at (803) 561-4025 for the trail closure status before you visit.
Wambaw Cycle Trail (South Loop)    Please call the trails hotline at 803-561-4025 for trail closure status before you visit.
Woods Ferry Recreation Area    Campground open April 1 - Oct. 31, 2014. Day use, picnic area and boat ramp are open year round. 

Spotlights

Buck Hall Recreation Area

Buckhall boatlaunch

This premier recreation area is situated on the site of the old Buck Hall plantation just six miles southeast of McClellanville. Its location on the Intracoastal Waterway provides the best access to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, 65,000 acres of marsh, tidal creeks and beaches and Bulls Bay, the best area for shrimp baiting on the coast.

Click here for a printable guide and vicinity map.