Recreation


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2019 Recreation Fee Increases

Sustainable Recreation

We'll post cautions and weather closures in the conditions report below, but please...

Motorcycle on forest trailOHV Riders - 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 OHV trail closures and openings. Forks Area Trail System for off-road bicycles is also included. 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. Updates are made 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 FYI

Enoree Weekly Rifle Range Cleaning Closures: Indian Creek and Leeds rifle ranges are closed Monday and Thursday 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Philson Crossroads and Fairforest rifle ranges are closed Tuesday and Friday 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Please call the Enoree Ranger District at (803) 276-4810 if you are interested in volunteering to clean up your rifle ranges.

Enoree Seasonal Hunting Camps: Extended-stay sites at Collins Creek are open September-December for deer season and April for turkey season..

Piedmont OHV Trails Season: Enoree OHV Trail is open from April 15 until the first Monday in January. Cedar Springs and Parsons Mountain OHV Trails are now open year-round. Wambaw Cycle Trail is open year-round.

Upper Chattooga Season: Boating season on the Upper Chattooga is from December-April on the Upper Chattooga Wild and Scenic River corridor. Paddling is only allowed on this highly technical section of the river on days after flows reach 350 cfs or greater at the USGS Burrells Ford Gauge and only during daylight hours. 

Zoom in on the map below to see recreation areas on the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Current Recreation Conditions

Area Name Status Area Conditions
Beaver Dam Rifle Range Open Open 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.
Boggy Head Rifle Range Open Open Boggy Head Rifle Range will reopen September 1, 2023.
Brick House Campground Open Open
Broad River None None
Buck Hall Recreation Area Open Open
Buncombe Horse Trail Open Open
Candy Branch Rifle Range Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed 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.
Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp Open Open
Cedar Creek Rifle Range Open Open
Cedar Springs OHV Trail Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed 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.
Cherry Hill Recreation Area Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed In response to the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene, Cherry Hill will remain closed until hazardous conditions improve and assessments can be completed.
Collins Creek Seasonal Camp Closed Closed
Elmwood Recreation Area Open Open
Enoree OHV Trail None None The Enoree OHV Trail is currently closed for winter maintenance and will reopen the last Thursday in March.
Enoree Passage of the Palmetto Trail Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed 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.
Fairforest Rifle Range Open Open
Forks Area Trail System Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed 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.
Halfway Creek Trail Open Open All campgrounds, rifle ranges, OHV trails, and other recreation areas across the Francis Marion Ranger District will be closed August 30, 2023, to ensure the safety of the public and staff ahead of Hurricane Idalia. We will reopen our recreation areas and offices as conditions permit.
Honey Hill Recreation Area Open Open
Huger Recreation Area None None
I'on Swamp Interpretive Trail Open Open
Indian Creek Rifle Range Open Open
Jericho Horse Trail None None
Leeds Rifle Range Open Open
Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area Open Open 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.
Morrow Bridge and Midway Seasonal Camps Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed 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.
Parsons Mountain OHV Trail Open Open 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.
Parsons Mountain Recreation Area Open Open 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.
Philson Crossroads Rifle Range Open Open
Poulous Loop Group Camp Closed Closed
Rocky Branch Seasonal Campground Closed Closed
Santee River Floodplain Wildlife Viewing Area None None
Sedalia Campground Open Open
Sewee Shell Ring Boardwalk Open Open Sewee Shell Ring Trail has reopened.
Twin Ponds Open Open
Twin Ponds Rifle Range Open Open Twin Ponds Rifle Range will reopen September 1, 2023.
Tyger River Canoe Trail None None
Wambaw Cycle Trail (North Loop) None None All campgrounds, rifle ranges, OHV trails, and other recreation areas across the Francis Marion Ranger District will be closed August 30, 2023, to ensure the safety of the public and staff ahead of Hurricane Idalia. We will reopen our recreation areas and offices as conditions permit. Visitors are responsible for their own safety. Trail conditions change frequently! Before your visit, please call the Call Before You Haul Hotline at 803-561-4025 for the latest trail conditions and weather closures.
Wambaw Cycle Trail (South Loop) None None All campgrounds, rifle ranges, OHV trails, and other recreation areas across the Francis Marion Ranger District will be closed August 30, 2023, to ensure the safety of the public and staff ahead of Hurricane Idalia. We will reopen our recreation areas and offices as conditions permit. Visitors are responsible for their own safety. Trail conditions change frequently! Before your visit, please call the Call Before You Haul Hotline at 803-561-4025 for the latest trail conditions and weather closures.
Whetstone Horse Camp Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed In response to the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene, Whetstone Horse Camp will remain closed until hazardous conditions improve and assessments can be completed.
Woods Ferry Recreation Area Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed The day-use area and the campground are open for public use.

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.

Buck Hall Recreation Area will soon be undergoing a major renovation. During construction, which is anticipated to start in 2025, the entire recreation area will be closed for public and contractor safety. Pending available funding, the renovation will affect the following amenities: campground, dump station, day use area, boat ramp and floating docks, roadways, infrastructure systems (electrical, water and wastewater), and the seawall. More information on the timeline for construction will be posted when available. If you have questions or would like additional information you can send an email to: SM.FS.fmrd@usda.gov.