Welcome to Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Canoe Launch on Francis Marion National Forest

Getting to Know Your Forest

Four ranger districts in South Carolina: the Andrew Pickens, the Enoree and the Long Cane districts on the Sumter National Forest; and the Francis Marion District on the Francis Marion National Forest offer recreational activities as diverse as their terrain--whether you prefer to hike to a mountain waterfall or paddle a lowcountry swamp wilderness.

You might mountain bike the epic Forks Area Trail System on the Long Cane, or paddle and fish the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River on the Andrew Pickens district. Saddle up and explore a horse trail on any district, or unload your ATV or dirt bike and hone your skills on one of four OHV trails.

The Intracoastal Waterway begs to be explored from Buck Hall boat launch on the Francis Marion, or perhaps you’d prefer to paddle, hunt or fish the three rivers on the Enoree Ranger District. Nine rifle ranges will help maintain your aim for hunting season. There are hiking trails, campgrounds and picnic areas, a human-made shell ring built 4,000 years ago, fishing rodeos and waterfowl hunts for youths and disabled visitors, and an environmental education center that sponsors monthly programs for kids and adults to share the wonders of both the national forest and Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.

Where would you like to go first? Click on the map above to locate the district you'd like to visit. Or click on any of the headings in the column to the left for drop-down menus and links to more detail about recreation opportunities, maps, resource management, volunteering and much more!

The Forest Service now offers a free Interactive Visitor Map and downloadable app for all of our forests! Just zoom in over South Carolina at: https://www.fs.fed.us/ivm/

Features

Forest Service Employee Recognized Nationally

The Francis Marion National Forest is pleased to announce that one of its employees has been recognized nationally as a young leader who is ‘making a difference in conservation.’

Allison Williams, an information assistant on the Francis Marion National Forest since 2018, was recently named among the top 10 young leaders under 40 in the United States who are making a difference in natural resource conservation and education by the National Parks and Conservation Association. As part of her duties on the National Forest, Allison conducts community outreach and volunteer coordination to connect people of all ages and backgrounds to the land in the greater Charleston, South Carolina, area.

Francis Marion fishing ponds offer family fun and outdoor adventure

Bluegill sampled on the Francis Marion National Forest

Looking for some simple outdoor fun for your family? Did you know that the Forest Service actively manages more than a dozen freshwater fishing ponds on the Francis Marion National Forest near Charleston?

The ponds, which vary in size from a half acre up to 8 acres, are all easily accessible from Forest Service roads for fishing from the bank. The ponds also provide an excellent opportunity for anglers with small boats—including kayaks and canoes—to access pristine freshwaters surrounded by undeveloped forest.

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