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 trail Call 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
Cedar Springs OHV Trail Closed to Visitor Seasonal closure Monday, Jan. 6, 2014 through the last Friday in March.
Collins Creek Seasonal Camp    Open Friday, March 24 through Friday, May 2, 2014.
Elmwood Recreation Area Closed to Visitor Elmwood Campground is temporarily closed due to storm damage, downed trees and overhanging limbs.
Enoree OHV Trail Closed to Visitor Scheduled to reopen Friday, March 28, 2014, weather 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    CAUTION ADVISED! The Forks Area Trail System has many downed trees and dangers from overhanging trees and branches as a result of the recent winter storm. Many other district roads and trails have suffered similar damage. Please use extreme caution as crews work to clear roads and trails for use
Herbert Seasonal Camp Closed to Visitor Herbert Hunt Camp is closed.
Honey Hill Recreation Area Closed to Visitor Honey Hill Campground is temporarily closed while crews clear limbs and trees damaged by the ice storm.
Indian Creek Rifle Range Open to Visitor Weekly Enoree Rifle Range Cleaning Closures
Jericho Horse Trail Closed to Visitor Temporarily closed for storm damage assessment. The first bridge between Hell Hole Road, FSR 158 and HWY 41 is closed for repair. For your safety, please use the detour around the bridge. Map of Detour
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.
Parson's Mountain OHV Trail Closed to Visitor Seasonal closure begins Monday, Jan. 6, 2014 through the last Friday in March.
Parsons Mountain Recreation Area Closed to Visitor Open seasonally May 1 through November 15.
Philson Crossroads Rifle Range Open to Visitor Philson Crossroads Range will be closed to the public on February 24 and again on February 26 tor a South Carolina Department of Corrections training exercise. Leeds, Fairforest and Indan creek ranges will remain open. Weekly Enoree Rifle Range Cleaning Closures
Poulous Loop Hunt Camp    Open for turkey hunting season Friday, March 24 through Friday, May 2, 2014.
Rocky Branch Seasonal Camp    Open for turkey hunting season Friday, March 24 through Friday, May 2, 2014..
Sedalia Campground Open to Visitor Back loop open for turkey hunting season Friday, March 24 through Friday, May 2, 2014..
Swamp Fox Passage/Palmetto Trail    Swamp Fox Passage of Palmetto Trail from Conifer Road to Hwy 17 is temporarily closed while windfalls are cleared.
Tuxbury Horse Trail    Crews are evaluating storm damage on the trail. Please travel with caution in all storm-damaged forest areas.
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) Closed to Visitor Wet trail conditions. Please call the OHV hotline at (803) 561-4025 for the trail closure status before you visit.
Wambaw Cycle Trail (South Loop) Closed to Visitor Wet trail conditions. Please call the OHV hotline at 803-561-4025 for trail closure status before you visit.
Woods Ferry Recreation Area    Campground opens April 1, 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.