Sewee Shell Ring Trail Re-opening

Release Date: May 11, 2022

Awendaw, SC, May 11, 2022 — After a three-month closure, the Francis Marion National Forest is pleased to announce the Sewee Shell Ring Trail is opening with a new look. Damage resulting from Hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Irma (2017) led to temporary repairs and ultimately the full replacement of the trail boardwalk.

The six-foot-wide 366 feet long wooden boardwalk was replaced with a fiberglass structure which includes expanded viewing platforms to accommodate larger groups. Forest Engineers settled on the fiberglass construction due to its increased expected lifespan and improved load capabilities in comparison to treated wood. Specifically, the fiberglass used for the trail boardwalk has a lifespan of 75 years in comparison to the 13 years of treated lumber and is eight to ten times stronger.

“The Sewee Shell Ring is a truly unique historical feature that the Francis Marion National Forest is fortunate to hold. We’re excited to open this trail back up to the public with a newly designed boardwalk. The new boardwalk is made of high-strength fiberglass materials that hold up better to the elements and the extreme weather that frequents the SC coast. We’re hopeful these sustainable materials will prove to be a wise investment for future generations to enjoy,” said Francis Marion National Forest Recreation Program Manager Robert Stewart.

Built from the accumulation of discarded oyster shells over several hundreds of years, the more than 4,000-year-old shell ring served as a meeting place for Native American communities. The self-guided interpretative Sewee Shell Ring Trail is one mile in length, taking trail users through a maritime forest to the edges of the salt marsh.

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