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Francis Marion Ranger District
The Francis Marion, located in the coastal plain of South Carolina, is bounded to the north by Santee River and to the east by the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. The forest is situated between two major metropolitan areas: Myrtle Beach (30 miles to the north) and historic Charleston (40 miles to the south).
This part of coastal South Carolina is a popular tourist destination, well-known for its freshwater and saltwater recreational opportunities, golf and tennis, beautiful coastal scenery and historical landmarks dating from prehistoric times through the Revolutionary and Civil War eras.
The forest offers a wide variety of recreation opportunities ranging from hiking, biking, motorcycle and canoe trails to rifle ranges and a boat launch on the intracoastal waterway.
At a Glance
| Closest Towns: | Myrtle Beach (30 miles to the north) and historic Charleston (40 miles to the south). |
|---|---|
| Information Center: | Primitive camping is allowed on the Francis Marion Ranger District, but a primitive camping permit is required. Permits are available at the district offices free of charge. |
Activities
Mountain Biking
Recreation areas with activity Mountain Biking:- Awendaw Passage/Palmetto Trail
- Halfway Creek Trail
- Jericho Horse Trail
- South Tibwin Hiking Trail
- Swamp Fox Passage/Palmetto Trail
- Tuxbury Horse Trail
Campground Camping
Recreation areas with activity Campground Camping:RV Camping
Recreation areas with activity RV Camping:Dispersed Camping
Recreation areas with activity Dispersed Camping:Dispersed camping is allowed on the Francis Marion Ranger District, but a dispersed camping permit is required. Permits are available at the district office free of charge.
Lake and Pond Fishing
Recreation areas with activity Lake and Pond Fishing:- Asphalt Pond
- Bellfield Pond
- Bluebird Pond
- Cane Swamp Pond
- Co-op Pond
- Gator Pond
- Guilliard Lake
- Jackie Pond
- Little Hellhole Reservoir Birding Area
- Lower Nebo Pond
- Middle Nebo Pond
- New Hope Pond
- Old Georgetown Road Pond
- Rhem's Church Pond
- Twin Ponds
- Upper Nebo Pond
- Willow Hall Pond
- Windom Corner Pond
River and Stream Fishing
Recreation areas with activity River and Stream Fishing:- Awendaw Creek Canoe Trail
- Buck Hall Recreation Area
- Chicken Creek Canoe Trail
- Echaw Creek Canoe Trail
- Huger Recreation Area
- Nicholson Creek Swamp
- Wambaw Creek Wilderness Canoe Trail
Day Hiking
Recreation areas with activity Day Hiking:- Awendaw Passage/Palmetto Trail
- Battery Warren Interpretive Trail
- Halfway Creek Trail
- Hellhole Bay Wilderness
- I'on Swamp Interpretive Trail
- Jericho Horse Trail
- Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness
- Sewee Shell Ring Boardwalk
- South Tibwin Hiking Trail
- Swamp Fox Passage/Palmetto Trail
- Tuxbury Horse Trail
- Wambaw Swamp Wilderness
Horse Camping
Recreation areas with activity Horse Camping:Horse Riding
Recreation areas with activity Horse Riding:Big Game Hunting
Recreation areas with activity Big Game Hunting:Game Bird/Waterfowl
Recreation areas with activity Game Bird/Waterfowl:Viewing Wildlife
Recreation areas with activity Viewing Wildlife:- Carolina Bays
- Hellhole Bay Wilderness
- I'on Swamp Interpretive Trail
- Little Hellhole Reservoir Birding Area
- Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness
- Nicholson Creek Swamp
- Santee River Floodplain Wildlife Viewing Area
- South Tibwin Hiking Trail
- Wambaw Swamp Wilderness
- Waterhorn Area
Viewing Plants
Recreation areas with activity Viewing Plants:- Awendaw Savanna Wildflower Viewing Site
- Carolina Bays
- Conifer Road (FS 166) Wildflower Viewing Site
- Echaw Road (FS 204) Wildflower Viewing Site
- Halfway Creek Road Hiking Trail (Palmetto Trail)
- Hellhole Bay Wilderness
- Lethcoe Road (FS 230) Wildflower Viewing Area
- Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness
- Ocean Bay Wildflower Viewing Area
- Wambaw Creek Wilderness Canoe Trail
- Wambaw Swamp Wilderness
Viewing Scenery
Recreation areas with activity Viewing Scenery:- Guilliard Lake
- Hellhole Bay Wilderness
- Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness
- Sewee Shell Ring Boardwalk
- Wambaw Swamp Wilderness
Target Shooting
Recreation areas with activity Target Shooting:Interpretive Areas
Recreation areas with activity Interpretive Areas:- Battery Warren Interpretive Trail
- I'on Swamp Interpretive Trail
- Sewee Shell Ring Boardwalk
- Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center
Picnicking
Recreation areas with activity Picnicking:- Buck Hall Recreation Area
- Honey Hill Recreation Area
- Huger Recreation Area
- Wambaw Cycle Trail (North Loop)
- Wambaw Cycle Trail (South Loop)
Boating - Motorized
Recreation areas with activity Boating - Motorized:Boating - Non-Motorized
Recreation areas with activity Boating - Non-Motorized:- Awendaw Creek Canoe Trail
- Buck Hall Recreation Area
- Chicken Creek Canoe Trail
- Echaw Creek Canoe Trail
- Huger Recreation Area
- Wambaw Creek Wilderness Canoe Trail
Alerts & Warnings
- Woods Ferry Recreation Area temporarily closed
- Sumter Nat'l Forest opens several more areas today (10/31)
- Closures on Francis Marion Nat'l Forest (Wambaw Trail, Litchfield/Lottie bridges
- Candy Branch Rifle closed until further notice
- Emergency Bridge Closure off Forest Service Rd. 251H
- Long Cane district office reopening in new location
- Check the Call Before You Haul hotline before riding our OHV trails
- Seasonal rec area closures for Enoree OHV Trail, Collins Creek, & Rocky Branch
- FSR 376 Asias Branch Road closed on Enoree Ranger District
- FSR 374 (Hunting Fork Rd) closed
- America the Beautiful passes unavailable at Supervisor's & Long Cane offices
- Damaged bridges along the Enoree Passage of Palmetto Trail; exercise caution
- Please be aware of open well hazards on Sumter National Forest
- Enoree Ranger District Rifle Range Cleaning Schedule
Related Links
Highlights
Location
