Enoree Passage of the Palmetto Trail

Area Status: Temporarily Closed

The Palmetto Trail was established in 1994 to give hikers and bicyclists access to a trail from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Intracoastal Waterway. 380 miles of the 500 mile trail have been completed.

The Enoree Passage is almost 37 miles long, ranging from Newberry up into Union.  Enoree Passage is 36 continuous Trail miles through Sumter National Forest, linking Newberry, Laurens, and Union counties. The southern trailhead is located at the end of Forest Service Road 379 (Chandler Road) off Old Whitmire Road (SR 81). The Palmetto Trail winds 4 miles through pine ridges and hardwood bottomlands, and crosses Gilders Creek and Indian Creek before joining Buncombe Horse Trail. From the 10 miles to Brick House Campground, hikers and bicyclists share the Trail with equestrians.

Buncombe trailhead for equestrians is located at Brick House Recreation Area (mile 14) and accessed from SC 66. Heading north, the Trail meanders through some of the most diverse habitats located in the Enoree Ranger District, including a beaver pond, numerous hardwood drains, and the Enoree River corridor. Take a break on the 80-foot bridge for superb views of the river, and stop to fish in Macedonia, Sedalia, and John’s Creek lakes on the way to the northern trailhead at Sedalia Campground.

Visit https://palmettoconservation.org/passage/enoree-passage/ for trail maps and current information.

At a Glance

Current Conditions: In response to the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene, all recreation sites on the Sumter National Forest remain closed until hazardous conditions improve and assessments can be completed.
Fees: The only area that charges for parking a vehicle is the Buncombe Trailhead located at Kinards.  Day use parking at Sedalia Campground in Union is free if the vehicle is not occupying a campsite.

General Information

General Notes:

There are campgrounds, Brick House and Sedalia, that are located at trail access points.  Reservations through Recreation.gov are required to stay in the campgrounds. 

Backpackers may camp along the trail if they fill out a dispersed camping permit before their trip.  Permits are free and can be downloaded on the Enoree Ranger District website under Visit Us tab then click on Passes & Permits https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/scnfs/passes-permits

Be sure to include entry and exit points for the trip when filling out the permit.  Email them back to the office for a signature.

Rules for dispersed camping are included with the permit.


Activities

Day Hiking

For more information about this trail, please contact the Enoree Ranger District at (803) 276-4810.