Can you tell me about the Swamp Rabbit Trail in South Carolina? What's its history and current extent?

Imagine more than 425 miles of hiking and bicycling paths beside lakes, across mountain ridges, through forests and into towns big and small. What better way to explore the natural beauty and local color of South Carolina?
This video was made by a guest of the Palmetto Trail.
Conceived in 1994, South Carolina’s Palmetto Trail is the state’s largest bicycle and pedestrian project and will run from the mountains to the sea.
This federal designated Millennium Legacy Trail is the signature project of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. It is one of only 16 cross-state trails in the United States.
Lake Moultrie Passage of the Palmetto Trail – Opened in 1995, the Lake Moultrie Passage is a 33-mile hiking trail that wraps around Lake Moultrie from the trailhead at the Canal Recreation area off Highway 52 north of Moncks Corner to the Redivision Canal at Cross and passing through some of South Carolina’s most beautiful vistas. When completed the Palmetto Trail will extend from McClellanville on the coast to the Foothills Trail in the Upstate.
Swamp Fox Passage of the Palmetto Trail – A 42-mile trail under development of which the 27-mile Swamp Fox National Recreation Trail is open. The trail spans four distinct ecosystems. The trail is good for hiking, biking, bird watching, nature study, environmental education and photography. The eastern trailhead is located on the left of US Highway 17 just north of Awendaw. The western trailhead is located at the Witherbee Ranger Station in Cordesville. For more information call the Witherbee Ranger Station at (843) 336-3248.
A Million Dollar View
Don’t miss the Swamp Fox Passage of South Carolina’s Palmetto Trail million dollar view. From the Trail you can get a panoramic view of Santee Cooper’s 70,000 acre Lake Moultrie, with sunsets rivaling those at the beach. If you have time wait for the sun to set. It’s worth it!
The easy three-mile round trip hike is a great outdoor date. The trail passes through a loblolly pine ecosystem, which is quite diverse. In the southern United States, the word loblolly means a “mud hole or a mire” and has become associated with the pine trees that favor wet bottomlands or swamps.

Wild Plants on the Rabbit!
South Carolina supports a rich and diverse collection of plant life, partly because of its high rainfall and the variety of physiographic regions within its borders.
The southern Appalachians, considered one of the most biologically diverse regions of the temperate world, include the mountains of our northwest corner. Many species are endemic to this region and found nowhere else in the world. The rolling foothills of our Piedmont region were once home to “Piedmont prairies” with a plant palette similar to that of Midwestern prairies.
However, much of this land has been used and abused since the 1700s, the mountains timbered, the rich soil of its gentle foothills eroded and exhausted by cotton, the rivers polluted by the mills and industries which gravitated to their banks.
The Swamp Rabbit Trail follows the path of an old shortline railroad that carried freight (often timber) from the mountains above Marietta into Greenville. Some of the Trail also parallels the Reedy River. It’s a delightful glimpse into our communal “backyard” — where the plants have been left to fend for themselves.
Nature is resilient. Over the years, the forests began to grow back. The soil lost downstream can never be recovered, but life stored deep in the seedbank continues to emerge. Our citizenry has worked to clean up the waters.
Where the Trail is crisscrossed by utility lines, prairie plants emerge: Indian-hemp, Splitbeard Bluestem, a multitude of Sunflowers, Asters and Goldenrods. Where the river spreads out into floodplains or beavers do their work, wetland plants thrive — Cardinal Flower, Spotted Jewelweed, Allegheny Monkey-flower, even the globally rare, federally protected Bunched Arrowhead!
But backyards can also become dumping grounds, and the Swamp Rabbit Trail exposes heretofore hidden (and ignored) infestations of invasive plants.
What is an invasive plant? To answer that, it helps to understand that naturally occurring plants and animals tend to interact with one another to maintain an evolving balance, an intact ecosystem appropriate to a particular landform, elevation, geology, soil type, moisture, etc. There are many different types of natural communities, several of which are encountered along the Trail. (Click here to read more.)
When an invasive plant enters that ecosystem, the balance is disrupted.

Passage of the Palmetto Trail
This easy walking/biking section of the Palmetto Trail
connects the Swamp Fox Passage to the ocean and serves as the coastal
trailhead for the statewide trail on its way to the mountains. You
will follow Awendaw Creek and pass through the surrounding marsh area,
which provides a home for many shore birds and other lowland wildlife.
A scenic overlook and boardwalk provide and opportunity to stop and
enjoy a sweeping view of the area and the Intracoastal Waterway. Use
extreme caution when you cross US 17.
and restrooms for trail users are available at Buck Hall Recreation
Area. Insect repellant is recommended during warmer months.
For additional information from Palmetto
All visitors must pay to
use Buck Hall Recreation Area. $5 per vehicle per day, payable at
the self-pay station or a $25 annual pass is available at the Wambaw
Reservations may be made by calling 877-444-6777 or using
www.reserveusa.com. A $9
reservation fee will be added.
From McClellanville drive south on US17 approximately 6.5 miles, or
from Awendaw drive north approximately 3 miles and turn at the Buck
Hall Recreation Area sign. Drive to the end of the road and the
trailhead is at the small parking area on the left. You can also
access the Awendaw Passage from the Swamp Fox Passage west of Awendaw.
Dawn to dusk.
At Buck Hall Recreation Area.
Information: Francis Marion
National Forest, Witherbee Ranger District, 2421 Witherbee Road,
Cordesville, S.C. 29434. Telephone:
843-336-3248. Also try the Sewee Visitor
& Environmental Education Center, 5821 Hwy. 17 N, Awendaw, SC
Conservation Foundation, 1314 Lincoln St., Suite 305, Columbia, SC
Updated: September 18, 2008
South Carolina State Trails Program
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
1205 Pendleton Street :: Columbia, SC 29201 :: 803-734-0173
Program | Trails
Inventory | Agencies
& Organizations |
Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
Also See Disclaimer Information

A Few of My Favorite Trails in North and South Carolina
As an outdoor person, I have taken advantage of many of the trails in the area. Whereas the Swamp Rabbit trail has been a boon to walkers, runners, bikers and skaters, I have enjoyed several more rustic trails that provide resources for more rugged hiking and/or horseback riding.
One of my favorites is North Mills Recreation Area. This is located in North Carolina, south of Asheville. The North Mills River is an area that provides excellent trout fishing and is a delayed harvest stream (meaning catch and release only in the winter months). This is an area frequented by horseback riders and mountain bikers. There is an extensive network or trails, many following the river. When fishing this river, it is not uncommon to encounter biker and horseback riders, especially on weekends.
One of the most interesting, in terms of construction details, is the Rainbow Falls Trail. It is part of the trail system at Jones Gap State Park. The park is home to 60 miles of hiking trails, but the Rainbow Falls Trail is one of the latest additions. Formerly, Rainbow Falls could only be accessed by a dangerous and tortuous descent from Camp Greenville above. The beautiful and difficult trail was built as a spur off of the Jones Gap Trail. The Jones Gap Trail and the Rainbow Falls Trail Create an 11.9-mile loop with breathtaking views.
Rainbow Falls drops almost 100 feet and the pool at the base is a pleasant place to view nature in all its splendor. It is more pleasant during warmer seasons, but is well worth the hike at any time. The trail has beautiful steps cut into the stone in places and at one point the trail passes through a gap between two mammoth boulders.
Another spur trail, called Rim of the Gap Trail, forks off from the Jones Gap Trail and terminates at Caesar’s Head. It is 4.3 miles of cliffside trail that is extremely difficult. It is often closed in winter months due to the dangerous build-up of ice. The trail is narrow, precipitous and crosses several small streams. It is dangerous and difficult, but the views of the gorge below are phenomenal.
Historic Origin of Jones Gap Trail
The Jones Gap Trail follows the route of the old Solomon Jones toll road that was the only route over the mountains at the time. It was actively in use from 1840 to 1910.

Congaree Swamp is a 2.3 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Hopkins, South Carolina that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and canoeing and is accessible from September until May.
OK I'm not going to recommend kyacking here by yourself! but as far as a hike around the boardwalk it was awesome! there was a huge amount of wildlife
This trail actually had a mosquito meter and it's well worth it to check it out. This is a swamp so after a good rain it is wet and slippery. Beautiful flora and fauna and loads of wildlife. Feral hogs so keep an eye on your pups. Had one get completely out of her harness to have a look and we had to plough through muck to go get her. There is a boardwalk and a trail, in fact a few well marked trails and some are quite long. The boardwalk is no dogs allowed. We really enjoy this trail but it is clearly for hiking, not a breezy walk amongst the trees but have a look. It's well worth it.
Interesting walk through the swamp with views of Cypress trees , wildlife . Hot and lots of bugs in the summer.
I've heard this national park referred to as the worst national park in America. I haven't been to all 59, but I have been to a dozen or so, and this is by far and away the worst that I've been to.
It's a great hike; very scenic. But beware of the snakes sunning themselves along the trail. Look ahead closely before walking an looking up. And you will look up with the amazingly huge trees along the way.
I graded this "trail" only on the condition of the surface. There are a few boards starting to come up. Those that are not sure-footed may want to be aware of this to prevent a fall. The boardwalk is made out of wood and has benches scattered throughout for ones needing to rest or watch whatever may be out there. I didn't get to walk the eastern side of the boardwalk because it is closed for storm repairs.
A very unique place...amazing trees with wonderful wildlife. I saw several beautiful pileated woodpeckers near the boardwalk...and the noise of their pecking accompanies you everywhere.

Do you remember the Swamp Fox? If you are around my age and watched The Wonderful World of Disney as a kid, you might. They made an 8 part miniseries about Francis Marion, AKA The Swamp Fox starring Leslie Neilson. Marion was a prominent figure in the Revolutionary War here in the USA. He was one of the first to use guerilla fighting against the British. And so, there is a National Forest named for him in South Carolina.
I’ve been staying here for a couple of days, soaking up the forest peacefulness and exploring the area. I camped at one of the primitive campgrounds called Half Creek. It’s a lovely site in the woods and there was only one other car here so I enjoyed the quiet.
The Palmetto Trail goes through the forest, stretching across the entire state from the ocean to the mountains. The section through here is called the Swamp Fox Trail. It begins at Buck Hall Recreation Area
which is on the Intercoastal Waterway that runs along the east coast from Massachusetts to Florida. Apparently, it was the first interstate “highway”, used by Natives and explorers for easy transportation.
Just north of my camp is the Hampton Plantation, which has been made an historic site. There is a walking trail around the property where you can see the locations of the rice fields, and an archeological dig of one of the slave houses. You can also tour the inside of the main house.
I was planning on going up the coast, but with the weatherman saying there’s going to be another winter storm in New England, I think I’ll go south instead.

What was a rich medley of plant species supporting a wide assortment of wildlife becomes a botanical desert of one or two species. Very few other plants thrive after Privet blankets a floodplain or Kudzu swallows a field.
It behooves us to pay attention to the identity of the plants taking up residence in our green spaces….
The Native Plant Society is in the process of compiling a list of plants
that appear to be growing wild along the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
This list currently numbers almost 400 species, many of which are featured in Wild Plants on the Rabbit.
To search for a plant
on the Trail by “describing it”,
You can pick up a copy of Wild Plants on the Rabbit
at these outlets:
Cafe @ Williams Hardware
Greenville County Parks, Recreation & Tourism (office)
Greenville Visitors Center
Lake Conestee Nature Park (office)
Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery
United Community Bank (Travelers Rest)
— more coming! —
Click here to submit your own Swamp Rabbit Trail pictures
to the Native Plant Society for identification.
Click here to download a reduced version of the brochure in PDF format.

Added by The Outbound Collective
A scenic trail through forest and along the Saluda River on the Blue Ridge Escarpment.
Start on the Jones Gap Trail (blue), which will lead you alongside the Saluda River. After 2.5 miles, take the Old Springs Branch Trail (orange) to loop back to the lot.
For a challenging, more strenuous hike, with great views of the Gap, check out Rim of the Gap Trail. It is not advised to take children or dogs on this trail.
- Hiking boots
- Sun protection
Please respect the places you find on The Outbound.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures. Be aware of local regulations and don't damage these amazing places for the sake of a photograph. Learn More
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More Adventures Nearby
Hike Swamp Rabbit Trail to Reedy River Falls
South Carolina / Mayberry Park Parking
Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 21 mile-long paved walkway that closely follows the Reedy River in Downtown Greenville.
Hike to Yellow Branch Falls
South Carolina / Yellow Branch Picnic Area
Once you have turned into the picnic area off of Highway SC 28, you will see the open and easy parking area. The trail begins at 2 points on the southern end of the parking area.

The Congaree River Blue Trail is a 50-mile designated recreational paddling trail, extending from the state capital of Columbia, downstream to Congaree National Park. Paddlers begin with an urban adventure experience, with quick access to the Three Rivers Greenway hiking trails, as well as opportunities to learn about the historic significance of the capital city, including prehistoric Native American sites on the river's tributaries. As the trail continues downstream, paddlers cross the fall line and enter the Coastal Plains region. With ever increasing meanders and seemingly countless sandbars, boaters encounter high bluffs and extensive floodplain habitats associated with the Congaree National Park. Once in the park, paddlers have the opportunity to take out and explore the park's 20 miles of established hiking trails - including a 2.4 mile boardwalk. In addition to paddling and hiking, many visitors to the park also enjoy backpacking, camping, fishing, birding and nature study.
The Congaree River Blue Trail project came together through a collaborative, multi-agency effort with representatives from American Rivers, the National Park Service, The River Alliance, Friends of Congaree Swamp, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Congaree Land Trust, Coastal Conservation League and the Richland County Conservation Commission - the goal of which being to improve public access and increase recreational interest along this stretch of the Congaree River. On June 7th, 2008, the Congaree River Blue Trail was designated a "National Recreation Trail" by the U.S. Department of the Interior in recognition of its local and regional significance.
Click here to view the official Congaree River Blue Trail Map on screen (Acrobat Reader required). A waterproof, full size version of this map may be obtained at the park's Harry Hampton Visitor Center.
Visit www.bluetrailsguide.org for more information about establishing a Blue Trail in your area.
Last updated: April 14, 2015

Steps should be pegged down with rebar hammered down through holes drilled in ends of the steps. Rebar should be hammered flush with step surface to avoid the possibility of injury on the sharp ends of the rebar.
- In areas where the elevation changes rapidly, terracing and ditching should be considered to retard erosion. If these are used at frequent intervals, the downward progress of water flow is slowed to a point that erosion will be minimized. The ditching at the terracing can divert water into areas where the water will be absorbed quickly.
- If the trail is of significant length, a bench at mid-point will create a nice spot to take a ‘breather’.
Tools that may be required: shovel, rake, chain saw, bush axe, hammer, nails, carriage bolts and adjustable wrench.
More details on trail building are available in the ‘Complete Guide to Trail Building and Maintenance’ sponsored by the Appalachian Mountain Club. Another book of the same title is authored by Carl Demrow and David Salisbury but is much more costly.
Rails to Trails Projects are Popular Throughout the United States
In addition to our own trail project, we also had the opportunity to assist in a community effort to create a “Rails to Trails” project that helped to revitalize the small South Carolina town of Travelers Rest.
The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail follows the path of the Swamp Rabbit railroad that originally ran from Greenville, SC, to Jones Gap State Park. The trail follows the course of the Reedy River for some distance.
In the beginning it was a community effort to provide a trail for hikers and bikers to enjoy by removing the rails and crossties and cutting the years of growth after the railroad had ceased to utilize the route.
The trail was expanded and now travels several miles north of Travelers Rest and to the south, it runs through the campus of Furman University and continues into the heart of Greenville, passing by the historic Reedy River Falls. It extends to the southeast of the city of Greenville, ending near Greenville Tech.
After a gap of several miles, the trail winds through Lake Conestee Nature Park, and another disconnected section is near the city of Fountain Inn. Future plans are to connect all sections.
After the initial undertaking of the project, funding of $1 million by the Greenville Health System allowed for paving, lighting and other amenities to be added. The impact on this part of the state cannot be measured in dollars.

Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail
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Revision as of 16:29, 25 March 2011South Carolina colonial town of Charleston with the British military's colonial Fort Charlotte on the Savannah River in what is now McCormick County, South Carolina. Charleston was the largest European settlement, the capital, on the King's Highway, and the start of several other trails. Fort Charlotte was built 1765-1767 to help protect European settlers from Indian raids. Fort Charlotte was near the place where the Middle Creek Trading Path crossed the Savannah River from Georgia into South Carolina. Several other trails also radiated out from this fort. The Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail was opened to European settlers about 1765. It began in Charleston County, South Carolina and ended in McCormick County, South Carolina. The length of the trail was about 105 miles (169 km).
Scots-Irish (that is Ulster-Irish), French Huguenots, and German farmers began settling the area in the 1750s. Some of these early colonists near Long Cane Creek were killed by Cherokee Indians in 1760. As a result, the British military constructed Fort Charlotte between 1765 and 1767 to help protect local colonists from hostile Indians. The fort was then turned over to South Carolina. The Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail probably followed older Indian trails. Fort Charlotte was built at or became the nexus of several trails along the Savannah River in South Carolina and Georgia.
As roads developed in America settlers were attracted to nearby communities because the roads provided access to markets. They could sell their products at distant markets, and buy products made far away. If an ancestor settled near a road, you may be able to trace back to a place of origin on a connecting highway.
Fort Charlotte played a role in the American Revolution. The South Carolina colonial government used the fort as an arsenal. The first Revolutionary War action in South Carolina ocurred when Patriots seized those supplies. They also negotiated at the fort trying in vain to win the Indians to the Patriot cause.

Many historians consider the Revolutionary War to have been decided in the swamps, fields, woods and mountains of the South, won by the resilience and determination of Continental soldiers and Patriot militia. Although the full story of the Southern Campaigns is not widely known, the events of 1776-1782 in the Carolinas directly led to an American victory in the war. We call this history The Liberty Trail.
The Liberty Trail is a unified path of preservation and interpretation across South Carolina, telling this remarkable story. These important battlefields, still largely unspoiled, deserve to be preserved. That’s why the American Battlefield Trust has partnered with the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust to accomplish these goals.
Each stop along the driving tour features unique on-site interpretation that connects visitors to the extraordinary events that came to pass nearly 250 years ago. The Liberty Trail honors the Patriots that decided the Revolution’s outcomes in South Carolina.
More than 200 battles and skirmishes occurred in South Carolina during the war. Working with a panel of historians and archaeologists to select the most significant of these actions, we have created the first phase of The Liberty Trail, an innovative driving route designed to connect these battlefields and tell the captivating and inspiring stories of this transformative chapter of American history.
The cornerstone of The Liberty Trail is the preservation of hallowed battlegrounds. Through this initiative, thousands of acres of land will be permanently protected. Today, most of these sites are blank slates — quiet fields and forests waiting to tell their stories.
To date, we have preserved nearly 700-acres at nine battlefield sites in South Carolina: Camden, Eutaw Springs, Fort Fair Lawn and Colleton Castle, Hanging Rock, Hobkirk Hill, Parker’s Ferry, Port Royal Island, Stono Ferry, and Waxhaws.
The Liberty Trail program founders Douglas "Doug" Bostick and Catherine Noyes talk about the program's formation, their connections to South Carolina, and historic site preservation.

AN UNTOLD TREASURE FOR MORE THAN 300 YEARS
AN ISLAND OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCESpring Island is indeed unique and its story is the same. The historical record tells a passionate story of Lowcountry natives, industrious plantation owners, agriculturalists, quail hunting enthusiasts and most recently, land developers endeavoring the risky and courageous preservation of this long treasured property.
Spring Island’s History Trail
The trail was established in 2011 to tell the story of this 3,000+ acre island. Its creation seems an appropriate way to honor those who lived here before us. The path connects the historic house ruins with the wooded space of the Old House Cemetery. Interpretive signs along the trail explore human and natural history and geography, celebrating South Carolina’s deep roots a variety of cultures.
Port Royal Sound is the deepest natural harbor in the Southeast. The Lowcountry, of which Spring Island is a part, consists of a jigsaw pattern of islands and tidal rivers fostering mild, long growing seasons.
In early history, European settlers and native peoples struggled to control the region. Agriculture then brought fields of indigo, rice and Sea Island cotton. In 1862 the Sound’s strategic importance to theConfederacy resulted in a successful Union blockade. Such events have left their marks on the region’s modern-day landscape and culture
The Tabby Ruins Gazebo
The gazebo faces across the Colleton River to the western shore of Port Royal Sound and the view of theAtlantic Ocean. At the trailhead two interpretive signs help us gain a deeper understanding of our geographical position and historical juncture.
The timeline offers significant dates from the geological and archeological records, and history. A panoramic “locator” sketch identifies places of interest withinBeaufort County and noteworthy commercial and population centers beyond the horizon that have played important roles in SpringIsland’s chronology.
Every phase of Spring Island’s history connects to water. The Broad River estuary is an especially fertile ecosystem, conducive to oyster growth. The super-abundance of edible fish, the ease of intercoastal transportation and deepwater access appealed to Native Americans and to European explorers and settlers.In the 16th and 17th centuries Spring Island lay along critical shipping lanes linking Caribbean, NewEngland, European and African trade hubs.

The Carolina Thread Trail is a regional network of greenways, trails and blueways that reaches 15 counties, 2 states and 2.3 million people. There are over 220 miles of trails open to the public – linking people, places, cities, towns and attractions. The Thread Trail preserves our natural areas and is a place for exploration of nature, culture, science and history. This is a landmark project that provides public and community benefits for everyone, in every community.
The interactive map below and a great deal more information can be found on the Carolina Thread Trail Website at www.carolinathreadtrail.org

The Spanish Moss Trail
The Spanish Moss Trail is an emerging rails-to-trail green-way project owned by Beaufort County, South Carolina and is located in the heart of Northern Beaufort County. Today,the Spanish Moss Trail is a 3.3 mile, 12-foot wide, paved, pedestrian Trail open for the enjoyment of bikers, runners, walkers, fishers, and nature enthusiasts of all stages of life. When completed, the 13.6 mile Trail will connect neighborhoods, parks, water and marsh views, nature preserves, cultural features, historic sites and businesses for recreation, transportation and conservation purposes.
Where is the Spanish Moss Trail?
The Spanish Moss Trail is currently 3.3 miles in length and located in Northern Beaufort County, South Carolina. The first 2 phases of the Trail are open for residents and visitors enjoyment between Ribaut Road in Port Royal and Depot Road.
What is the next phase of the Spanish Moss Trail?
Phase 2 of the Trail opened in November 2013, connecting an additional 2.3 miles between Ribaut Road in the Town of Port Royal to Allison Road in Beaufort. This section of the Trail now connects with the Phase 1 Model Mile (Allison to Depot Roads), bringing the Trail to 3.3 miles. Funding for Phase 3 of the Trail is COMPLETE (Beaufort County with a Federal Grant) and is in the design/engineering phase. Implementation of Phase 3 is planned for the Spring/Summer 2014.
Bay Street Outfitters guided Fly Fishing and Light Tackle tours
Beaufort: South Carolina Fly Fishing and Light Tackle At Its Best
Twentyfive percent of the entire United States east coast marshland water is here in Beaufort county. Located about halfway between Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA, and only a stone’s throw from Hilton Head. Shallow water sight fishing at its finest! The flats of the Low Country are teeming with fly casting and light tackle opportunities. Whether it is sight casting to tailing reds, chasing giant cobia or casting into schools of jacks , ladyfish, Spanish mackerel or trout, the fish are here! With literally hundreds of square miles of tide waters and grassy marshes to draw from, fishing possibilities are endless.

This registration is for the Swamp Fox Passage ONLY
Looking to get your hands dirty for a good cause…join us for Trail Work Wednesdays!
With all of the flooding that has occurred along the Palmetto Trail, we are in need of volunteers to help us get the trail back on its feet again!
Trail Work Wednesdays will be held every Wednesday, with a specific passage designated for cleanup for each month. For the month of February, we will be working along the Wateree Passage & the Swamp Fox Passage of the Palmetto Trail.
We want YOU to help us make a difference to South Carolina’s Palmetto Trail!
*Trail Work Wednesdays will run from 9am – 12pm (with the option to stay after lunch until 3pm) every Wednesday.
*Snacks and water will be provided. Volunteers will need to provide their own lunch.
For Directions and Map, click HERE
Cordsbee, SC 29434
Google map and directions

New River Linear Trail
Located in Bluffton, Beaufort County, SC.
This little-known piece of the East Coast Greenway passes through some wonderful scenic and historic areas near Bluffton, SC. The south end of this unpaved rail-trail terminates at the New River. Signs and markers along the main trail describe some features of the area's history. You can hike the trail or use an off-road bicycle.
Features and Facilities
Hours of Operation
Admission or Parking Fee
How to Get There
Latitude 32.24165, Longitude -81.00397 [PK502]
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straight across the road, where it continues to go straight.
It’s a mere 1.2 miles to the next crossing at Pinyard Road. This might have been the coolest stretch that we hiked on this trail.
Pinyard Road is the final road crossing for this one! It’s just about a mile exactly to where we parked the cars at the baseball fields in Elmer!
Further reading and pictures – As with all awesome places in the great state of South Jersey, Yummygal’s South Jersey History and Adventures beat us here. Well worth checking out her pictures and write up here.
Large tracts of beautiful swampland. One short section is designated as a nature trail, and has educational signs.
Dirt bikers using the trail.

The Carolina Thread Trail, also known as The Thread, is a regional trail network that will ultimately reach 15 counties and more than 2.3 million people.
More than a hiking trail, more than a bike path, The Thread preserves our natural areas and is a place for exploration of nature, culture, science and history.
The Thread arose from a discovery process started in 2005 when the Foundation For The Carolinas convened more than 40 regional leaders and organizations to determine the regions most pressing environmental needs and concerns. From that process, open space preservation surfaced as the number one priority. The Carolina Thread Trail was successfully launched in 2007 as a project focused on preserving natural corridors and connecting people to nature through a network of connected trails.
Under the leadership of Catawba Lands Conservancy and many local partners, the Carolina Thread Trail strengthens the region and promotes economic development, education, better health and land conservation by connecting people, businesses and communities of diverse backgrounds and interests.
While not every local trail will be part of the Carolina Thread Trail system, The Thread is linking regionally significant trails and many regional attractions. Think of it as a "green interstate system" of major trails and conservation lands created through local efforts throughout the region. The Thread will emerge over time as communities work together to plan and build trails reflecting community character, aspirations and priorities. Currently, 113 miles of The Thread are open to the public in North and South Carolina with 14 active corridors under development.
Mission: The Carolina Thread Trail (The Thread) is a regional network of greenways and trails that reaches 15 counties and 2.3 million people. There are 113 miles of The Thread open to the public - linking people, places, cities, towns and attractions.
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This the longest and best known scenic byway in South Carolina. It is 118 miles long. It is named Cherokee Foothills because it runs through the foothills found at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains which were the ancestral home of the Cherokees.
Starting in Cherokee County, it runs along SC 11 all the way through Spartanburg, Greenville, Pickens and Oconee Counties to the west. The majestic Blue Ridge Mountains become clearly visible to the west of the Town of Chesnee and they remain dominantly present until you have driven past the Town of West Union in Oconee County. This is a good scenic alternate to I-85.
Bohicket Road - Cowpens Battlefield - Edisto Beach - Falling Waters - Fort Johnson Road - Hilton Head - Hilton Head Island - Long Point Road - Mathis Ferry Road - May River - McTeer Bridge - Old Sheldon Church - Plantersville - Riverland Drive - SC 170 - US 21 - Western York
For more information about South Carolina Scenic Byways, please contact SCDOT at (803) 737-1952.

By the end of 1982 only the 5 miles coming north off Hutchingson Island to the junction with the new connection remained in use. This was re-designated the Hutchingson Island Subdivision and survived into CSX. Eventually, all of the business dried up on the island and in 1996 CSX sold most of the land they owned including the flat yard; today the land is now golf courses and race tracks and hotels. CSX did leave the track in place from South Hardeeville to Hutchingson Island though and plans for a new container port and industrial complex at Hardeeville along the out of service route may soon bring new life to the track, which is overgrown today. North of this area the old roadbed has been converted into a hiking trail called the New River Trail.
A note about the name "East Carolina Subdivision": This line was never officially named the "East Carolina" Subdivision by the SAL. It was part of the Carolina Division of the SAL and earned the nickname "EC" by the people who worked it and maintained it, due to its alignment on the east side of South Carolina. After the SCL merger, for a brief time (2 months), it was renamed the "Charleston Subdivision", and ultimately became part of the New Savannah Division. After the Lobeco-to-Charleston abandonment, the line south of Coosaw was renamed the Coosaw Subdivision.
Lots of evidence remains of the former SAL freight route. Several concrete signal bases are located near Pritchard and a few poles still stand in the swamp along the roadbed. The long trestle at the Broad River still stands although heavily damaged by fire. Several bridges to the north have been converted into fishing piers, the most recent one at Lobeco. Other traces remain here and there of the once proud freight route of the Seaboard Air Line. The EC may be gone, but it is not forgotten.
Thanks to Eugene Cain for contributing information about this route.

I often thought of Elephant Swamp often over the next few years, but never carefully enough to work out a plan.
So, when 2016 hit, I decided I just had to it. I called up a few folks, hoping to get a friend to go. Instead, I ended up with four friends (Tom, Chuck, Skunk, and Pat). And a dog (Bert – for elephant protection, of course). This was gonna be an awesome hike.
We stashed an end car at the baseball fields off of Rt 40 in Elmer, then backtracked to the start of the trail at the very, very, very back end of Stewart Park in Elk Township. Having found the trailhead (it’s a little tricky, check out Google Maps ahead of time with the coordinates in our trailheads section up top), we loaded up and set off down the trail.
Right off the bat, there is some nice swampland to the side of the trail.
You’ll quickly notice that this trail is very wide, very level, and very straight (you actually turn for a while… over the course of a mile or so). That’s because this trail was created out of railroad right-of-way. Nothing will change about this aspect of the trail throughout its length. But what the trail lacks in challenges, it will make up for in scenery on either side. Like the farm on the left side of the trail in this first stretch, the first of many that you’ll pass.
The trail will parallel Railroad Ave in this section, and the frequent cars passing by made sure that this was not my favorite section of the trail.
After just over a mile, you’ll come to the end of this first section of trail when you hit Elk Road. You’ll cross the road into the main parking area for the trail. If you google maps Elephant Swamp Trail, this is the parking lot that the GPS will take you to.
The next stretch of trail is 1.7 miles to Monroeville Road. 1.2 miles into that stretch, you’ll cross from Gloucester County into Salem County. There is a stone here marking the border, but we didn’t think to look for it until later.
This stretch is also the nature trail portion of the trail, complete with education signs.
At the road, you’ll discover a gate, then immediately the Monroeville Fire Company.
The trail continues (surprise!)

Simon Island on Georgia’s southeast coast, is a relaxing ride that provides scenery of...
The Georgia Coast Rail-Trail will eventually stretch 68 miles from Kingsland north to Riceboro, a lush corridor of longleaf pine forest, marsh and saw...
The Amelia Island Trail, on Florida's northeastern coast, runs from Peters Point Beachfront Park to Amelia Island State Park in the city of Fernandina...
Along the northeast coast of Jacksonville, sections of the developing Timucuan Trail have been built in Big Talbot Island State Park and Little Talbot...
The S-Line Urban Greenway is a rail-trail that runs just over three miles.
Jacksonville's Northbank Riverwalk offers scenic views of the St. John's River and the city skyline. It's also part of a larger effort called the...
Jacksonville is developing an interconnected 14-mile trail system called the Emerald Necklace. Portions of the route are already on the ground, like...
Just west of bustling downtown Jacksonville, the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail-Trail, one of north Florida's oldest, traverses a rural setting of hardwood...
The Black Creek Trail parallels U.S. Highway 17, from Orange Park south to Black Creek Park near Lakeside, FL, just south of Jacksonville. Passing...
J.F. Gregory Park is a 335-acre multi-use recreational area that once encompassed a thriving rice plantation and was subsequently bought up by Henry...
Constructed in the 1820s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal was once an important transportation...
Built on a stretch of the Savannah & Atlantic Railroad line, the 6-mile McQueen's Island Trail offers a salt-air excursion for nature lovers and...
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Welcome to Congaree National Park’s most popular hiking trail, the Boardwalk Loop Trail. This 2.4-mile hike serves as an excellent introduction to the park’s natural and cultural history. You will see some of the giant trees that put this park on the map, including outstanding specimen loblolly pine, beech and baldcypress, and learn of the efforts to preserve this landscape. The boardwalk passes through a cypress-tupelo flat with hundreds of cypress “knees” emerging from the floodplain soils. At the Weston Lake overlook, see if you can spy turtles, sunfish and gar. In passing through the old-growth forest, evidence abounds of damage from natural disturbances, including hurricanes, ice storms and floods. The last portion of the trail passes through ideal habitat for the rare Carolina bogmint, look for its blooms in mid-summer. Though Congaree National Park has only been a national park since 2003, there is a long-recorded cultural history to learn as well. This land has been inhabited by many peoples, but signs of their presence on the land can be subtle.
The boardwalk passes by red-shouldered hawk and barred owl nests, and you have a reasonable chance of seeing these predators waiting in ambush for crayfish and other prey in the park’s wetlands. Listen for other bird species including the loud rattling of pileated woodpecker and red-headed woodpecker, or the chittering of chimney swift overhead. Near the bluff, keep an eye out for box turtle, mud turtle and rat snake. The boardwalk itself attracts all manner of skinks, anoles, and caterpillars interesting to children and adults alike.
The park is often mislabeled as a swamp; it is better categorized as an old-growth bottomland hardwood forest periodically flooded by groundwater or surface water. Additionally, tree species common to the area possess adaptations that allow for growth and reproduction despite periodic flooding and drought. Bottomland hardwood forests display distinct ecological zones at different elevations, and Congaree National Park is no different—as you walk along the Boardwalk Trail, it is possible to observe a change in soil saturation, groundcover plants and tree species with only slight changes in elevation.
The Boardwalk Trail begins at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center just past the breezeway. American holly trees line the edges of the boardwalk near the start of the trail.

A bench sits off to the right along the Gum Swamp Trail to take in the scenic view. Turn right to start your journey down the Gum Swamp Trail, and take a moment to step out on the rocky bluff so you can see where the stream rises out of the ground.
While the Gum Swamp Trail offers less in the way of cool geology, it’s here you’ll find botanical beauty, especially during early spring when the wild azaleas are in bloom. The ones I’ve seen here are unlike any others I’ve seen in Florida. They open up into giant puffs, with azalea blossoms forming perfect orbs suspended in air along the stems. Pine cones cover the forest floor, and the footpath is on a nice layer of pine duff. You pass a marker with a lime green arrow.
After you cross an old jeep road, the forest becomes much denser, with loblolly and longleaf pines towering overhead. Gum Swamp is visible in the distance through the trees to the left. But you’ll have your swamp encounters soon. The trail reaches Bear Scratch Swamp and a bench overlooking the view at 2.9 miles. At South Swamp, look for a pine and water oak that have grown intertwined, right near the sign. The trail winds past Shadows Swamp, a good place to stand and listen for birds.
The Gum Swamp Trail meets back up with the Crossover Trail at 3.6 miles. Turn right to stay on the outer loop heading clockwise. There is one last karst formation to visit – the Gopher Hole. It’s down a side trail on the right and well worth the short ramble. It’s a water-filled cavern that indeed looks like a gigantic gopher hole, and you can stare right into it and watch drops of water fall from the cave ceiling and create ripples across the placid surface. Bring a flashlight if you want to peer further inside.
Returning up the Gopher Hole side trail, turn right. Within a few minutes, you’re back at the beginning of the Sinkhole Trail. Turn right to exit out to the parking area, completing your hike of 4.4 miles.

Our truck followed a long, gravel road through the Sumter National Forest near the border of Laurens and Newberry counties. Cutover land lined both sides of the road for more than a mile — prime habitat for cottontail rabbits — and after another half-mile, we found a safe place to park.
Unsheathing my 20-gauge shotgun as the 10 beagles began to stir in the dog box, it seemed the day was going to be full of excitement.
Rabbit hunting in South Carolina has a long tradition, and although it can be done without dogs, using beagles to run bunnies is the norm. The music of beagles chasing through coverts, thickets and pine plantations is as sweet as it comes.
Eric Braselton of Greenville has embraced running his 13-inch beagles after Upstate cottontails.
“Running my dogs is about as fun as it gets in the outdoors” Braselton said. “I love everything about this sport, from breeding the dogs, to training them as puppies to, of course, hunting the rabbits.
“Sure, we want to kill the rabbit; it’s a reward to the dogs, and to us. But the race is really what it’s all about.”
Braselton is a young hunter who embraces tradition, choosing to use a side-by-side, 12-gauge as his shotgun of choice and carrying a family heirloom bullhorn to call his dogs. But don’t be fooled by his age; his knowledge of beagles and how they interact with rabbits translates into a lot of success for those who have the opportunity to tag along.
South Carolina is blessed with a lot of good rabbit hunting ground. Public land is abundant throughout the piedmont and Upstate. Key habitat for rabbits includes planted pine plantations, recent cutovers and those that are between two and 10 years old. As the pines grow taller, they shade out the undercover and the rabbits — needing plenty of cover to hide from everything that’s trying to eat them — leave.
Cottontails have a hard life. They have been referred to as “the shrimp of the land.” From four-legged predators to avian predators, rabbits are on everyone’s menu. To handle this, they are prolific breeders and are able under most circumstances able to handle a lot of predation.
Braselton prefers areas featuring young pine plantations.

The first European colonists settled in counties along this trail (north to south) as follows:
Connecting trails. The Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail links to other trails at each end. The migration pathways connecting in Charleston included:
The migration routes connecting in Fort Charlotte included:
The newer Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail also crossed the much older Occaneechi Path in Aiken County. The Occaneechi Path was overlapped here by the Fall Line Road starting about 1735, and also the Great Valley Road (south fork) starting in the 1740s.
Modern parallels. The modern roads that roughly match the old Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail start in Charleston. Follow I-26 north to the Orangeburg. Then take the Neeses Highway west to Springfield. Then take Highway 4 west to Aiken. Then follow Highway 19 northwest until it becomes Highway 25. Continue northwest along Highway 25 to where it meets Highway 378 in northern Edgefield County. Turn west onto Highway 378 to reach McCormick. Then go northwest on Highway 28 until Highway 81 forks off to the west. Follow Highway 81 winding westerly to Mt. Carmel. From Mt. Carmel take the Fort Charlotte Road 6.5 miles (10.4 km) southwest to Strom Thurmond Lake. The Old Fort Charlotte site lies under that lake.
Settlers and Records
The first colonists in what became the Fort Charlotte area arrived before the Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail existed. They would have arrived by way of the Savannah River, the Middle Creek Trading Path, the Fort Moore-Charleston Trail, the Augusta and Cherokee Trail on the Georgia side of the river, or even the Occaneechi Path and its overlapping Fall Line Road, and Great Valley Road. Only after Fort Charlotte was started in 1765 would travelers have been able to use what became the Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail. Even then, they may have used the older Fort Moore-Charleston Trail most of the way to Aiken County before splitting off toward Fort Charlotte.
Ulster-Irish, French Huguenots, and Germans were among the earliest, pre-Fort Charlotte pioneer settlers.
No complete list of settlers who used the Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail is known to exist.

If our area’s overabundance of wintertime weather has you down, there’s nothing quite like a long walk with your dog to lift your mood! If you’re looking for a fun place to head out this weekend in Greenville, give the Swamp Rabbit Trail that runs through Falls Park a try. For those of you who haven’t been there in a while, you really need to catch up with what’s new!
Experience the new Cancer Survivors Park – This beautiful new area opens up right after the trail goes under Church Street as it heads toward Cleveland Park. A fun, multi-level walkway up the side of the hill and a completely redone bridge over the Reedy are worth experiencing!
Doggie socialization opportunities abound – If your dog enjoys meeting other members of his or her own kind, this is the place for them! Lots of people take their dogs on this section of the trail through Falls Park. From dachshunds to golden doodles, there’s likely to be many chances to stop and say hello for more social pups.
Stop and smell the flowers – Most of the Swamp Rabbit Trail’s winding path through Falls Park is landscaped to the nines! No matter what time of year it is, there’s nearly always something blooming. Just seeing something that’s both beautiful and alive at this time of year can provide some much-needed cheer.
Although it’s unlikely you’ll peel off all 19.9 miles of trail in a day, the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Falls Park is a perfect choice for both a longer distance walk or just a lazy stroll. No matter what you and your dog are game for, this dog-friendly destination downtown has you covered!

Running along South Carolina’s coast between the metropolitan areas of Charleston and Myrtle Beach is a rural stretch of land that beckons to a time when things moved a little slower. The Bulls Bay Historic Passage consists of the northern tip of Charleston County which contains the towns of McClellanville and Awendaw.
Bounded by over a quarter of a million acres of Francis Marion National Forest to the west and 22 miles of protected coastline in the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge to the east, as well as the Santee Coastal Reserve and Santee River delta to the north, this area is buffered from urban growth and development.
Residents choose to live here as a way to get out of the city and back to nature. The history of the area is rich, dating back to the Native American tribe known as the Sewee Indians, from whom many local names such as “Awendaw” derive their roots. The area also witnessed its first European settlers dating back to the 1600’s. French Hugeonots settled along the Santee River and gave rise to rice plantations. The Gullah-Geechee culture is still preserved by the descendants of former slaves. Hopsewee and Hampton Plantations are both open to the public providing visitors a glimpse into the history of the area. McClellanville and Awendaw came about as coastal retreats away from the swampy, mosquito-filled rice fields of the plantations. McClellanville’s Historic District holds many homes dating back to the mid to late 1800’s.
Much of the area’s beauty is drawn from its natural surroundings; the creeks and marsh, the oceans and sunsets, the native palmettos and live oaks draped with Spanish Moss. The diverse ecology spreading from the forests, swamps, marshes, and beaches makes the area a prime destination for bird-watching and photography. An abundance of deer, turkey, and ducks also allow for great hunting opportunities.
Other outdoor activities centering around the waters of the wildlife refuge include boating, world-class fishing, and shelling on the secluded beaches only accessible by boat. The wildlife refuge is a Class 1 Wilderness Area, prized for its pristine water and air purity and is the longest stretch of the protected coastline on the eastern shore of the U.S. Kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding are also great activities to enjoy in the saltwater creeks.

There are many ways to connect people and places in a community. Few have the added advantage of protecting fresh water supplies, providing natural places to commune with the outdoors, offering environmentally beneficial transport options, and creating economic growth. In the piedmont of North and South Carolina the Carolina Thread Trail will be over 1500 miles long and growing. The trail is an ambitious project that offers all of the above.
The blue star poised on CTT signs throughout central Carolina is a both familiar and exciting reminder that someday you’ll be able to walk, run, or ride your bike on a trail to most places throughout the region. One day, the Thread will connect more than 2 million citizens in 15 counties from both North and South Carolina. Already, 76 local communities are involved raising money, planning for, and building new miles of path.
The forward thinking project to create an extensive network of trails throughout the region was launched in 2007. The trail stretches from Iredell County in the North to Lancaster County down south and Cleveland County in the west to Anson in the east. All land for new trails construction has been purchased, collected by easements, or already owned by the city or county, none relying on imminent domain, and much of it has been donated by private and public philanthropists. The CTT works under its lead agency, the Catawba Land Conservancy, whose mission it is to “…save land and connect lives to nature”.
The Thread adopted much of the current system from existing trails. Under the guidance of the CTT, however, local communities have built 137 miles of new trail. The job is just beginning. Vanessa Gorr, Community Outreach Coordinator, says the goals of the next five years include:
- Completion of five contiguous miles in each of the 15 counties, giving local residents places for long walks and bike rides.
- Finish at least half of a 140-mile “North-South spine,” roughly paralleling the Interstate 77 corridor, from South Carolina to counties north of Charlotte. About 30 miles have been completed.
- Pay special attention to the South Fork Catawba River in Catawba, Lincoln and Gaston counties. The South Fork has also been a focus of the Catawba Lands Conservancy’s land protection work.

Trails at Watson Mill Bridge
The 2 miles of nature trails run along the south side of the South Fork River and Big Clouds Creek. Portions of the trails wander through the historical portions of the park along the old powerhouse sluiceway, also know as a raceway. This man-made waterway channel is about 300 yards long and runs from the old dam just below the covered bridge to a second dam just above the foundation of the old powerhouse. The powerhouse generated electricity for a textile mill 10 miles away in Crawford, GA, for nearly half a century, beginning in 1905. The overlook at the head of this trail affords a view of the covered bridge and shoals below. At this site, the original Watson’s Mill, gone by the end of the 1800s, once sat. The rest of the trails beyond the old powerhouse ruin meander through the woods along the banks of the river and creek and pass by the camping areas.
BIKING & HIKING TRAIL
This six feet wide 2.5-mile loop trail runs along the north side of the South Fork River and is one of the most popular trails for hiking, mountain biking, and jogging. The trail meanders through hardwood and mixed forests and provides one of the best views of the lower shoals of the river. About half way around the loop is an overlook at the edge of what was once a natural beaver pond. Over the years, natural succession has taken place and the former pond area has now become a meadow. It most likely will eventually become part of the forest. Will it ever be a pond again? Only time, Mother Nature and the beavers will tell.
For the mountain biker, this trail is not overly technical as it is designed for beginners and intermediates. There are a few fairly steep grades. The entire trail is under shaded canopy. Whether you hike or bike, you will see a lot of biodiversity in the various types of environments the trail covers.
BEAVER CREEK TRAIL
This six feet wide 1.5-mile loop trail runs up Beaver Creek and over a high ridge back through the hardwood forests on its return. The creek was once the site of several beaver ponds. The beavers left this creek area in the mid 1990s after a period of heavy downpours washed away the beaver dams.

At 1.4 miles, pass a broad forest road to the left.
The white blazes lead you along the edge of the pine flatwoods, with a floodplain swamp beyond.
Reaching a property boundary with private property, the trail makes a sharp right at a 4-way intersection. An ephemeral wetland is busy with birds.
A bird box sits in the middle of the scrubby flatwoods as the trail points towards open scrub.
Tall loblolly bay trees and cypress dominate a bayhead swamp at 1.7 miles. The trail reaches another four-way intersection.
The trail makes a right, the footpath becoming soft sand in the scrub. The white blazes lead towards a copse of slash pines.
At the next junction, the trail goes straight ahead, entering an open palmetto prairie.
Passing a forest road sweeping in from the left, the trail continues straight towards a stand of pines in the distance.
Amid the prairie are patches of scrub, with short sand live oaks and Chapman oaks of a perfect height for Florida scrub-jays.
While we didn’t see any along our hike, we thought we heard them in the distance.
Emerging from the pines, you see an orange tipped post off to the left. Farther down the forest road, the trail comes within view of the power lines.
At 2.4 miles, this is the top of the loop. A forest road goes off to the left. A bat box sits off in the distance in the open scrub.
The trail curves past ancient saw palmettos rising up on their trunks out of the pine savanna.
Gravel covers the footpath at a place where a bayhead swamp drains seasonally into the pine flatwoods.
By 2.6 miles the trail reaches the power line. A double blaze points out the right turn, northbound along Powerline Road.
A bayhead swamp on the left has a large stocky, loblolly bay tree. The trail curves along the powerline and heads into the pine flatwoods.
Passing a small depression marsh with needlerush, the trail returns to the edge of the powerline and begins to parallel it.
Walk past another depression marsh on the left in between the trail and the power line, surrounded by cabbage palms, like a little oasis.
Wetlands are on both sides of the trail, just little marshes in depressions.

|Francis Marion National Forest - Sewee Shell Mound
|From Charleston, take U.S. Highway 17 north to Doar Road (SC Route 432-S). Turn right and go 2.5 miles to Salt Pond Road. Turn right on to Forest Road 243 and go 1/2 mile to the trailhead (which is on your right).
|Total Hike Distance:
|Roundtrip, Loop Hike
|Forest Road 243
|Sewee Shell Mound Interpretive Trail
|Backcountry Water Sources:
|U.S. Forest Service
|Sewee Visitor And Environmental Ed Center
5821 U.S. Highway 17 North
Awendaw, SC 29429
|Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads, Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads
|This is a loop hike that visits two ancient Indian sites that date back 4000 years. Hurricane Hugo devastated this area in 1989, and a wildfire ravaged the downed timber two years later in 1991. You can still see the remnants of the fire. The loop trail starts in the recovering coastal wood, then breaks out into the salt marsh on occassion with views to the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway. It is a pleasant and interesting hike along the coast. Some other notes:
- the hike is flat as a pancake - very easy
- the main trail is a loop with two spurs leading to Indian sites. Backtrack from the spurs to the main loop.
- at both the Oyster Shell Ring and Clam Shell Mound there were hundreds of tiny crabs roaming the ground (that disappeared into tiny holes when I approached). My dog would have freaked out if I had him with me. The ground was moving with every step I took.
- I would not want to hike this area in the summer - too buggy - take insect repellent in warm weather
- the views out to the Intracoastal Waterway are very pretty, grassy flat area with the waterway in the background
- the Forest Service has placed somewhat worn but very informative trail signs on the route explaining details on the route and the Indian sites

Summerton in Clarendon County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Elusive Francis Marion, 1780-1781
In November 1780, the British sent Lt Col Tarleton to engage Marion and his Militia. General Marion looked for the British and headed towards Jacks Creek. His spy reported Tarleton at Gen. Richardsonís home. Marionís Militia attempted to lure them into an ambush at Benbowís Ferry on the Black River. The British gave up the pursuit at Ox Swamp, and called Marion the old fox.
The Swamp Fox Murals Trail Society
donated this mural in Summerton in 2016.
Artist: Terry Smith, Land Oí Lakes, Florida
www.clarendonmurals.com , www.swampfoxtrail.com
Erected 2016 by Swamp Fox Murals Trail Society.
Location. 33° 36.469′ N, 80° 21.164′ W. Marker is in Summerton, South Carolina, in Clarendon County. Marker is on South Church Street (U.S. 15) near Main Street (U.S. 301), on the right when traveling north Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Summerton SC 29148, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Patriot Departs to Ride with Marion (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Senn's Mill (about 600 feet away); Wagon Travel (about 800 feet away); Siege of Fort Watson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Summerton Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Patriot and the Redcoat (approx. 0.2 miles away); Anne Custis Burgess (approx. 0.3 miles away); "Together Let Us Sweetly Live" (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Summerton.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Swamp Fox Murals Trail. (Submitted on April 11, 2016.)
2. Swamp Fox Murals Trail Society. (Submitted on April 11, 2016.)
Categories.

The correct intersection is at Commissioner's Rock, which lies 10 feet downstream and is inscribed with the markings "Lat 35 AD 1813 NCSC."
The Ellicott Rock Trail [Fig. 32(26), Fig. 35(1)] begins just outside the wilderness boundary on Forest Service Road FR 1178 and extends for 3.5 miles to the three-state intersection. After following an old road for more than 2 miles, the trail follows a left fork away from the road and slopes down into the Chattooga River Gorge. After crossing over to the east bank of the river, the trail joins with the Bad Creek/Fowler Creek Trail to form the Chattooga River Trail [Fig. 35(4)]. Ellicott Rock is encountered on the riverbank soon after this junction. This stretch of trail, extending 3.5 miles south from the Bad Creek Trail and ending at the East Fork Trail in South Carolina, is part of a former Cherokee Indian trail, which makes this one of the oldest trails in the region.
Other trails within the North Carolina segment of Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area include the Slick Rock Trail, an easy, .2-mile trail off of Bull Pen Road, approximately 6 miles from Highlands. This short walk on an unmarked trail leads to massive rock formations affording scenic views of the Chattooga River. Two other trails offer a moderate hike to picturesque views of the Chattooga River with its cascades and pools, sandbars and boulders.
The trailhead for the Chattooga River Trail and Chattooga River Loop Trail can be found off Bull Pen Road at the Chattooga River bridge, marked by an information board. After .7 mile, the Chattooga River Trail connects with the Chattooga River Loop Trail, which completes the loop with an additional 1 mile of trail.
Numerous wildflowers appear along the wilderness area trails. Rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens), a tiny orchid that grows on a 1-foot spike, is spectacular for its evergreen basal (ground level) leaves which show a pattern perhaps reminiscent of a snake skin. Mountain camellia (Stewartia ovata) is a rare shrub with a beautiful, large white flower similar to the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). It occurs sparsely on river bluffs or wooded stream margins.

The South Carolina Wildlife Magazine was started over five decades ago, published by the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department. It became famous for its excellent photography and high publication quality and won many awards. These selected articles from past decades document a different, slower and more enjoyable South Carolina: a time when Dad would take his son fishin' at Santee, the family would sit outside on a cold February night and enjoy a bushel of McClellanville oysters, Mom would cook a tasty Beaufort stew, or Grandad would take his grandkids frog giggin' in the spooky dark of night. Sadly, that innocent, slower-paced, high quality and healthy lifestyle has almost completely disappeared in the real estate boom. South Carolina was once renowned as a sportsman's paradise, and still has many attractions, but development and population growth have changed the character of the state. The Old South that many envision is now "Gone With the Wind." Please enjoy this glimpse of the past!
Spring 1964 Issue
This is a complete sample of one of the early issues. It contains interesting information about the construction of the striped bass hatchery at Bonneau below Lake Moultrie, along with boat landings around Santee-Cooper; aquatic weed management; and the members of the Wildlife Commission. Note the format of the telephone numbers of the officers-some with as few as four digits! Also see the picture of the 39-pound dead striped bass found at Lake Murray.
Winter 1965 Issue
Here are some excerpts from the Winter 1965 issue. Note the nice opinion piece written by the editor-he had the audacity to quote Jesus Christ, although he was too afraid to source the quotes. Political correctness was beginning even then. Also, there's a piece on the threatened alligator, written by famous game warden Mac Flood of Berkeley County. He used to patrol Francs Marion National Forest on horseback. If it weren't for good men like him who cared about the future generations, the American alligator might have gone the way of the passenger pigeon. Also, there are some nice photos of a fox hunt with dogs and horses-a sport only for the elite, of course!
Spring 1965 Issue
Here are some excerpts from the Spring 1965 issue. The cover photo is of the Horsepasture Valley before Lake Jocassee was formed.

Brookgreen Gardens, with a nature center and many outdoor sculptures, is a popular tourist spot.
The University of South Carolina and Clemson University maintain the Belle W. Baruch research site at Hobcaw Barony on Waccamaw Neck. The islands around the outlet of Winyah Bay are designated as the "Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center Heritage Preserve". This area is home to the northernmost naturally occurring hammocks of South Carolina's signature sabal palmetto tree.
2. The riverfronts have had little recent development. Such properties were once used for rice plantations, using a rice variety brought from Africa. After the Civil War, and the loss of slave labor, the plantations gradually ceased production. Today they are primarily wild areas, accessible only by boat. In some areas, the earthworks, such as dikes and water gates used for rice culture, still exist, as well as a few of the plantation houses. Litchfield Plantation has been redeveloped as a country inn; other properties have been developed as planned residential communities. Great blue herons, alligators, and an occasional bald eagle can be seen along the waterways. Fishing is a popular activity.
Fishing the Pee Dee off the old US 17 bridge near Georgetown
A tiny community accessible only by boat is on Sandy Island, in the Pee Dee River. Residents are descendants of slaves who worked plantations on the island, and they are trying to keep out development. Recently the Federal government began buying land along the rivers for the new Waccamaw Wildlife Refuge, which is intended to protect such wild areas. The headquarters of the refuge will be at Yauhannah in the northern part of the county.
3. Georgetown is a small historic city founded in colonial times. It is a popular tourist area and a port for shrimp boats. Yachting "snowbirds" are often seen at the docks in spring and fall; these people follow the seasons along the Intracoastal waterway.
4. The inland rural areas are thinly populated. Some upland areas are good for agriculture or forestry. Several Carolina bays are thought to be craters from a meteor shower. These areas are rich in biodiversity. Carvers Bay, the largest, was extensively damaged by use as a practice bombing range by US military forces during World War II. Draining of the bay has further damaged its environment.

- Well,one wld feel justified in thinking that when you check in and get your site, the employee wld THINK to mention: Bathrooms/showers completely closed, so you have to walk a half mile from that site. No. Driving, cold rain and high winds for days. No soap in the bathroom that is open. Over one year ago this same bathroom was closed for renovations, and still it is closed. Welcome to South Carolina, folks.
out standing! 5 Stars! - Whomever is taking care of this place needs a raise! I walked through geocaching and for the first time in a very long time I saw absolutely no trash at all! Anywhere!
And nothing was broken or in disrepair.
Awesome job he/she/they are doing.
Major history of South Carolina - My dad used to take us on to this park several times a year. It is a location rich in southern and American history. Well worth a visit. Take along a picnic lunch and good walking shoes.
Favorite National Wildlife Refuge - I never tire of visiting one of the most unique places in eastern S.C.. Whether you like to hike, fish, hunt, observe wildlife and wildflowers, plants, etc., SHWR is a wonderful place to visit. I always treasure my visits because I truly feel like I step back in time whenever I enter the refuge.
Poinsett St Park (equestrian trails) - The equestrian trails have always been a favorite of ours. We were told diturbing news tonight that the trails are no longer to be used by horses. If not horses what??? The message was that the campground is closed and horses are not welcomed. Is this true or did the Ranger relaying this info make a mistake? Mistake I hope.
great trails but no swimming - After searching online ,which stated there was swimming, that there was no swimming in the lake. highly disappointed but found out there was a creek to go to so i tried there not great for swimming either just wading but the scenery was great.
- Great park to make a day of it. We brought a picnic lunch to eat before hitting the trails. There are educational signs along the way that tell about the history of the canal. Bring your cameras and comfortable walking shoes. Really enjoyed it!

I have been spending some time down along the South Carolina coast photographing several properties for a project that I'm currently involved with. One of my absolute favorite places to visit is the Francis Beilder Forest which is a very accessible portion of the Four-Hole Swamp; the largest remaining tract of virgin bald-cypress/tupelo gum swamp in the world. Some of the trees at the preserve are estimated to be around 1,000 years old which means that they were standing long before Columbus arrived in the New World. Incredible when you consider how much has changed since some of these old giants were just seedlings.The swamp is a haven for bird life, reptiles, amphibians and some really great plants. During my 4 hour visit I saw and heard several birds including prothonotary warblers and a barred owl. Four-Hole Swamp is an amazing place to photograph snakes and I was pleased to have an opportunity to photograph this little red-bellied watersnake. I also saw several five-lined skinks sunning themselves on uprooted trees.
One nice surprise was this fairly large fawn sitting quietly just beyond the trail's edge. You really never know what you'll see there; especially if you arrive early.

|Big Creek Landing to Rockhill-to-Brooklyn Rd. (Rt. 335) (2.9 miles): The trail follows Black Creek closely through mature loblolly pines and southern magnolias.|
|Rockhill-to-Brooklyn Rd. (Rt. 335) to Point Where Trail Leaves FS 319F-I (6.5 miles): Here the trail turns south away from the creek, taking you through loblolly and longleaf pine forests with hardwood bottoms between Rt. 335 and U.S. Hwy 49. You can explore the site of an abandoned Civilian Conservation Corps camp and find old roads and concrete foundations. This is the least wild section of the trail. It goes around the edges of several recently logged areas, and follows a road (FS 319F- 1) for 0.4 mile.|
|FS 319F-I to FS 319G (7.0 miles): This segment begins with a delightful walk along an entrenched meandering stream lined with impressively large trees (southern magnolia, beech, water oak, etc.) until you reach the edge of Black Creek. East of the next tributary creek crossing, you walk through the lower edge of a recently logged area. Much of this portion of the trail is on higher ground through pines. Overall, it's a pretty segment.|
|FS 319G to State Hwy 29 (6.8 miles): You start down a grassy lane through pines and descend to a wild section along Black Creek until you reach some recent logging. Then the trail goes through more pines and descends to a flat area with dense understory. A long part of the trail is on split-log "stepping stones." Nonetheless, plan on getting your feet wet, because shallow water may also stand in other portions that lack stepping stones or boardwalks. Next, the longest boardwalk on the trail takes you over a pretty swamp that is not shown on the map.|
Finally the trail returns to the creek. Near this point, perhaps on the sharp bend of Black Creek, Joseph Mimm had a ferry in the early 1800s for travelers on the long-abandoned Old Federal Road. It went from Fort Stoddert on the Tombigbee River in Alabama west to the John Ford house in Marion County and on to Natchez.

|A view of the 'trail' along the way. This trail doesn't see much use|
so the markings and trail maintenance are lacking in certain areas.
Keep a keen eye out for 90 degree turns and disappearing track.
|There was a lot of sandy gravel jeep trail in the lowcountry.|
Not particularly exciting but you make great time on it.
Hard-packed and fast.
|This is Turkey Creek. I filtered water here because it can be a little|
difficult to find along the way. This tannin rich black water is pretty
common in the lowcountry and gives filters a fit. I used my
MSR Hyperflow on this trip with decent luck.
|A nice bridge shot over the creek. I tested a Brooks on this trip.|
Yeah, I know its moronic to test a new seat on a long ride like this
and I knew that going in. It worked out fine but I
did learn that I prefer my Selle Italia Flite.
|There was a long run of this built up trail out in the middle of|
nowhere, SC. I can't muster a guess of why you'd do this but
it was a welcome change to the hidden pot holes I'd been
grinding through for the previous 20 miles.
|Sand sloppy enough that 2.4" tires aren't enough.|
It probably was only a couple of miles but it felt like 30.
|There was a lot of overgrown brush in the trail as well.|
Funny enough I was glad that it still had dew on it and it was
relatively stiff brush. It did a fantastic job cleaning the spider
web crud off of me and the bike. Its the little things.
|Taking a break along the way. The elevated walkway was|
in rough shape and in some cases completely rotted.
Lots & lots & lots of jeep trail.
|I remember thinking how pretty these clouds were.|
|Slight change of plans... no more pothole trails. I grabbed the map and picked some secondary roads.|
Miles and miles of secondary roads as it turns out.
I stumbled on the ruins of an old church and the cemetery along the way. Beautiful & peaceful site.

Looking for the perfect gift? Shop the Bike Shed for fun Swamp Rabbity gifts!
Check out our new property in Travelers Rest, SC
Take a Tour of the Swamp Rabbit Inn with owner Wendy Lynam
The Blessing of the Bikes in Greenville, SC
May 6, 2017, Greenville, SC M Judson Booksellers and the Swamp Rabbit Inn present the second annual Blessing of the Bikes will take plac
Here is a great opportunity to experience what it’s like to go on a Trek Travel bike trip with a free guided ride this Sunday, April 9, 2017 departing from Hotel Domestique i
This week we had the pleasure of talking with reporter Rudolph Bell with the Upstate Business Journal and appreciate the mention on their website!
Swamp Rabbit Inn opening sister
Please consider joining us on Thursday, January 26, 2017 for a very special evening with Chef Michael Kramer about to open the much anticipated – Jianna Restaurant –
For Immediate Release
January 16, 2017, Travelers Rest, SC – The Swamp Rabbit Inn and Properties buys the Magnolia Inn in downtown Travelers Rest, SC to
This Fall these dudes stayed at the Swamp Rabbit Lodge and rode Paris Mountain #Cranksgiving
An Autumn Adventure in the Southeast – Video – Pinkbike

Hampton was a Columbia native, and an avid outdoorsmen and wildlife enthusiast. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center at Congaree National Park is named after him, as is the Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund, dedicated to raising funds for the research, education, and management of game and fish laws to benefit wildlife conservation in South Carolina. His interest in conservation issues and consequent quest to preserve the Beidler Tract originated in his hobby of hunting. After hunting on the Beidler Tract and becoming familiar with the floodplain, Hampton decided that this forest was exceptional in its species diversity and large trees, and began lobbying to set the land aside as a national park.
His lobbying was lost amongst those opposed to creation of a park, until the Beidler family prepared to begin logging again in 1969. In turn, conservationists took up Hampton’s cause under the umbrella of the Congaree Swamp National Preserve Association, and began an intensive lobbying campaign for federal legislation protecting the land. In 1976, Congaree Swamp National Monument was established. The Beidlers logged approximately 2500 acres of land before it fell under federal protection, and then sold their land to the federal government for tens of millions of dollars.
Once estimated to cover 30-50 million acres of the southeastern U.S., old-growth bottomland forests have been greatly diminished. However, largely due to the conservation efforts started by Harry Hampton, Congaree National Park is the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest left in America. Congaree has only been a national park since 2003—before that, it was a national monument. With the title of a national park has come many benefits, including greater recognition and enhanced efforts to increase the park’s visibility and outreach.
Site 19: Freedmen and Slaves
This trail marker is surrounded by a variety of undergrowth, trees, and shrubs. Included is a beautiful downed loblolly pine, sweetgum, and holly trees. The twisted tree roots, natural debris, and thick muck made it more difficult for slave owners and slave catchers to traverse the unknown terrain, and the dense vegetation promoted concealment. As such, some runaway slaves established settlements in the river floodplains, and created communities amongst the forest. The park was frequented further as an area of temporary refuge, for slaves on the run or freedmen avoiding capture.

Summerset Trail – Stretching almost 12 miles through rolling hills, river bottom wetlands, and remnant prairies, this rail-trail allows for hiking, biking, or cross-country skiing through some of the best of central Iowa’s natural scenery.
Musketawa Trail – Providing a handicapped-accessible connection between Marne and Muskegon, Michigan, this 24.7-mile rail-trail and greenway allows a variety of trail users to enjoy a range of landscapes while biking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, or simply taking a stroll.
Funk Peterson Wildlife Trail – Situated in Funk Waterfowl Production Area, this 3-mile backcountry loop trail is a bird watcher’s paradise, providing habitat for millions of birds, including endangered whooping cranes and least terns that migrate biannually through the area.
Canyon Trail – Located in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, this 2.2-mile interpretive trail offers school groups and visitors year-round the ability to study tracks in the shifting sands, evidence of kangaroo rats, box turtles, and a host of other wildlife that call the refuge home.
Chupadera Wilderness Trail – Traversing the Chupadera Wilderness Area of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, this 9.5-mile backcountry trail is rich in wildlife and wildflowers, and takes hikers through a range of landscapes culminating in a 360-degree view of several mountain ranges.
Dismal Swamp Canal Trail – Recognized as part of the East Coast Greenway, this 4.5-mile multi-use trail features a variety of historic sites, abundant wildlife, and opportunities for biking, fishing, canoeing, and more.
Little Tennessee River Greenway – This 4.5-mile hiking and biking trail parallels the Little Tennessee River and Cartoogechaye Creek and features three different bridges and a variety of recreational facilities for visitors of all ages.
Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge Leg of the Historic Fort Totten Trail – This 9-mile backcountry trail is undergoing improvements to provide enhanced wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities and allows for a variety of uses, including hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Scout’s Trail – Situated within Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, this 4.6-mile multi-use trail offers environmental education and interpretive opportunities on Native American culture amid scenic vistas and native prairie.
Sullys Hill Nature Trail – Located in one of only four units of the U.S.

Elephant Swamp Trail – Elmer to Elk Township, Gloucester and Salem Counties, NJ
Distance – 6 miles
Type – One way (12 miles out-and-back)
Difficulty: 1 of 10
Total score: 8 of 10
Website – Elk Township Website
Open – Sunrise to Sunset.
Terrain – Large open fields and farmland, large sections of swamp.
Frank Stewart Memorial Park, Elk Township – 39°40’1.82″N, 75° 8’26.58″W
Rt 538 and Railroad Ave, Elk Township – 39°39’9.06″N, 75° 8’55.45″W
Baseball Fields in Elmer, NJ – 39°35’55.22″N, 75°10’4.66″W
Beginning of trail – Located at the very back of the Stewart Park on Recreation Drive (Just off of Whig Lane) in Elk Township, NJ
End of trail – located at the back left corner of the baseball fields off of Harding Highway (Rt 40) (near the intersection with Main Street) in Elmer
Parking – Parking located at Frank Stewart Memorial Park in Elk (Recreation Ave) and the baseball fields off Harding Highway in Elmer
Markings – None, but impossible to get off of once you start because of its location atop an old railroad bed.
Trail brochure for nature trail section of trail – Elk Township Website
“Legend has it that in the 1800’s, while the circus was traveling by train through Elk Township along the rail line from Monroeville, an elephant got loose in the swamp, and was never seen again.” ~ Kevin Callahan, Courier-Post
When this prestigious blog began oh so many years ago (like, 2 1/2 years ago), one of the first suggestions that I received was to hike the Elephant Swamp Trail. I knew this was a good suggestion, because the fella that suggested it (jbracciante) had a blog solely dedicated to pizza in Glassboro.
When I heard the story about the escaped circus elephant in the swamp, I knew I just had to go. Then I found out it was six miles long in a straight line (12 miles out-and-back). This hike obviously required some planning and forethought, something I’m pretty terrible at.

Hiking is one of our favorite pass-times, but since we've moved to South Carolina we haven't really had a successful hike. We tried a couple of trails near Charleston, but they turned out to actually be flat sand paths through really low branches covered in pine straw....not my favorite scene.
So we decided to jump in the car and drive a few hours west to the central part of the state and see if the hiking improved with some miles and elevation. I can't say it was quite as fantastic as the northeastern mountains.....but it sure was better than beach trails.
The first adventure of our day - DETOUR. We figured the "Road Closed Ahead, Local Traffic Only" signs just meant they had pavement torn up or something...well...or something.
SO...we couldn't quite jump that gap...we thought about it though.
The trailhead for the section of the Palmetto Trail that we hiked was not well marked, so honestly we're not sure what section we ended up on, but we were trying to be close to the Lake Marion Passage.
The first half of the hike it rained, so I had my camera wrapped up under the rain guard on my bag...these photos are all on the way back. (It wasn't a loop trail). Megan did her usual few handstands in the field before the woods.
Aside from the spiders the hike was actually pretty entertaining. We saw snakes, bugs galore, dead snakes and possums, inch worms and ants, and three-legged dogs. It was quite the nature scene. Also we saw a deer for about 1/30th of a second.
The turtle wasn't phased by our paparazzi, he just chilled.
The wildlife was fantastic, and the trail actually had a few "hills" here and there, so it wasn't quite as boring as the coastal trail was. Gotta be honest, our buns were missing the burn of the New England mountains! We'll have to roadtrip there in the summer for real climbs.
The boardwalk on the way back was much less slippery, but still a bit treacherous...Dave decided bouncing on the semi-rotted boards while we were crossing was a good idea...
After nearly 10 miles of hiking we were definitely ready to make it back to our cars and take our soggy hiking shoes off...but when we got back I had to grab these few photos of the amazing trail head (once we finally found it).

Roadwalk from Three Lakes to Green Swamp, Green Swamp East & West (includes Bigfoot BSA camp and other loops), Richloam, Croom, Citrus (including loops), Withlacoochee State Trail, Cross Florida Greenway, and Ocala West. 240 miles.
OCALA NORTHEAST: Includes the Ocala and Northeast Florida sections, from Clearwater Lake north to Deep Creek trailhead at the north end of Osceola National Forest. 185 miles.
SUWANNEE BIG BEND: Includes the Suwannee River section, private timberlands, Aucilla, and St. Marks NWR. 190 miles.
EASTERN PANHANDLE: Includes the Apalachicola National Forest, Altha Trail, Econfina, Pine Log, Nokuse, and connecting roadwalks. 178 miles.
WESTERN PANHANDLE: Includes Eglin Air Force Base, Yellow River Ravines, and Seashore. 131 miles.
BLACKWATER: The official connector trail of the Florida Trail to the Alabama border, part of the larger Eastern Continental Trail. 45 miles.

Nevertheless, local and county histories along that trail may reveal pioneer settlers who arrived after 1765 and who were candidates to have travelled the Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail from the Charleston area.
For partial lists of early settlers who may have used the Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail, see histories like:
in McCormick County:
- Bobby F. Edmonds, The Huguenots of New Bordeaux (McCormick, SC: Cedar Hill, 2005) ((FHL Book 975.736 F2e) WorldCat entry.
- Bobby F. Edmonds, The Making of McCormick County [South Carolina] (McCormick, SC: Cedar Hill, 1999) (FHL Book 975.736 H2e) WorldCat entry.
- [Willie Mae Wood], Old Families of McCormick County, South Carolina and Dorn families of Edgefield, Greenwood and McCormick counties ([S.l. : s.n.], 1982) (FHL Book 975.736 D2w) WorldCat entry.
in Edgefield County:
in Aiken County:
in Orangeburg County:
- "The First Families of Orangeburgh District, South Carolina" in Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogy Society at http://www.ogsgs.org/ffam/ff-intro.htm (accessed 23 March 2011).
in Dorchester County:
- Fort Charlotte (South Carolina) in Wikipedia
- Fort Charlotte historical marker in Mt. Carmel at junction of SC Hwy 81 and Road 91.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 848. (FHL Book 973 D27e 2002). WorldCat entry.
- ↑ "McCormick County" in South Carolina State Library at http://www.statelibrary.sc.gov/mccormick-county (accessed 24 March 2011).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Fort Charlotte (South Carolina)," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fort_Charlotte_(South_Carolina) (accessed 24 March 2011).
- ↑ South Carolina - The Counties, http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/sc_counties_alphabetical_order.html (accessed 22 March 2011).
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Our pool is closed for the season, but come spring, after a day of exploring adventure you'll be ready to unwind in our new 4 acre Rec Area. Our 35ft x 65ft swimming pool was constructed by Shotcrete Pools of SC, LLC There are 12 ft decks surrounding the pool for your relaxation, comfort, and enjoyment. There is an adjacent Recreation Hall that can accommodate 200 people for cookouts and live music or entertainment.
Join in Horseshoes, Volleyball, ping pong, billiards, and other activities.
425 miles of hiking and bicycling paths are a series of “passages" that make up the Palmetto Trail. The Palmetto Trail is the state’s largest bicycle and pedestrian project that spands from the mountains to the sea.If your a hiking , biking, running enthusiast or horseback riding the Lake Moultrie Passage of the Palmetto Trail, we're located 100 yards from the Palmetto Trail Marker on the Diversion Canal. A perfect camping location. These are the woods of Francis Marion, "Swamp Fox". The day trip Eutaw Springs Passage is home to the famous Battle of Eutaw Springs Revolutionary War Battlefield. Here is a Map of the Palmetto Trail.
One of the most fascinating
phenomenons is the annual migration of the fish spawning. Santee
Cooper's Anadromous Fish Passage & Restoration- St. Stephen Fish
Lift is one of only 2 of it's kind on the East Coast. This incredible
facility provides you a window with a view as the fish pass through the
fishlift. See American Shad swimming through in the Video of Fish Lift and
then Read more about the St. Stephen Fishlift
Loaded with comforts and amenities, Angel's Landing is not only the finest choice in Santee Cooper Campgrounds because of the waterfront sites, docking, and recreational sports, it is an outstanding value.
For your comfort our restrooms with
showers have been completely remodeled. We maintain the high standard
that Angel's Landing is known for. We also offer laundry and a dump
station. Here is a map to our landing.
Since 1979, Angel's Landing has been the perfect destination or
affordable getaway- an hour from Charleston and Columbia, for travelers
looking for relaxation and comfort, or travelers looking for outdoor
recreational adventure and fun with your family.

At the head of the Little Tennessee River Greenway is Big Bear Park, which is easily accessed via a large parking lot just to the right of McDonalds in Downtown Franklin off of Main Street right before you get downtown. There is a full picnic and play area for adults and children of all ages to enjoy here. In addition, there is a sheltered area which may accomodate large groups wanting to have a cookout or birthday party, please call the contact information provided below for reservations.
Friends of the Greenway
357 E. Main Street
Franklin, NC 28734
Macon County public schools do not need to pay any fee, but reservations are necessary. All other schools, local and out of county are expected to comply with the new fee schedule
Map of Bartam Trail
Bartram Trail is multi-state National Recreation Trail in WNC and GA. The trail stretches from the North Carolina-Georgia border southwest over the summit of Rabun Bald (Georgia's second highest peak), turns south-southeast to the Chattooga River and then heads northeast paralleling the river to the GA 28 bridge.
In North Georgia, the portion of the trail that winds through the Tallulah Ranger District is well maintained. About 37 miles long, this trail retraces a portion of the naturalist's path. Bartram actually traversed a significant portion of North Georgia from Savannah to Ellicott Rock. The trail begins at the North Carolina-Georgia border and passes over Rabun Bald, the second tallest peak in Georgia.
Just south of the North Carolina border the Bartram Trail crosses Hale Ridge Road, running southwest. It continues generally southwest to just past Raven Knob, where it turns almost due south. The route rises and falls until the base of Rabun Bald. Here, about 3 miles into the trail, the path begins to rise to the bald. This forest has been repeatedly harvested, so it does not look as Bartram describes it. A lookout tower at the top provides a great 360 degree view for hikers to enjoy (please see photo below), experienced hikers can go to Rabun Bald and return in a day.
View from Bartam Trail lookout tower
The trail approximates the route of 18th century naturalist and explorer William Bartram through North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Fish and Wildlife Service managed to preserve bison, this 1.5-mile scenic loop trail provides visitors the opportunity to observe a diverse sampling of native wildlife whether jogging or snowshoeing.
Congressman Ralph Regula Towpath Trail – Also known as the Ohio and Erie Canalway Towpath Trail, this 25-mile multi-use trail serves as the western spine of a planned 300-mile trail system throughout Stark County and offers a variety of recreational activities along a pathway rich in State history.
Heritage Rail Trail County Park – Traversing York County to the Maryland border, this 19-mile multi-use trail provides an integral link in a statewide trails system and epitomizes the concept of a close-to-home trail experience, but has regional, State, and national significance as well.
Susquehanna River Water Trail – Middle and Lower Sections – Flowing from Sunbury to the Maryland border, this 103-mile segment offers paddlers an exciting array of experiences, from observing great blue herons to learning about the Underground Railroad.
Congaree River Blue Trail – Starting near Columbia, this 50-mile water trail and greenway offers an urban adventure featuring prehistoric Native American sites, sandbars, high bluffs, and Congaree National Park, home of the largest continuous tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States.
Heritage Trail Loop – Serving as the backbone of the city’s trail system, this 3.1-mile rail-trail and bikeway links area residents to numerous recreational facilities, historical sites, and a local renewable energy demonstration project.
Lions Park Nature Trail – Given its artistic features, hilltop vistas, and recreational facilities, it is easy to see why this 2-mile walking trail is so popular with Temple residents of all ages.
Canaan Valley Institute Trail System – Located near the town of Davis, this 6.5-mile privately-owned
multi-use trail system offers the public a variety of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, with additional connections planned to link to neighboring State and Federal lands.

posted Nov 2, 2019
Continuing the conversation from the 2019 International Trails Symposium (ITS) and Training Institute and our TRAILSLead™ Multi-use Trails and Conflict Forum, this webinar will build upon the concepts brought up during the panel discussion.
published Apr 1, 2003
The purpose of this study was to provide an extensive description of the use of trails in South Carolina.
posted Apr 3, 2019
The Southern Mountain Bike Summit is a not-to-be-missed event. Nowhere else will you see such a passionate group of mountain bikers in the Southeast meet and work together to create better trail opportunities for all. And, you get to ride your bike on the finest trails in the Southeast! On the schedule, Chainsaw Certification, Trail Crew Leader Training, Women’s Trail Maintenance & Construction, Land Manager Day and MTB Advocates Day.
Page 37 of 49
Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, Washington
Routed and painted wood sign; Arches National Monument, Moab, Utah
Sign helps users find trail beyond point of interest; Arches National Monument, Moab, Utah
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The Palmetto Trail - The Awendaw Passage
The Second Leg
In some previous hubs, I told of my goal to hike the Palmetto Trail. After completing the first leg, The Capital City Passage, I decided to tackle The Awendaw Passage as the second leg. The Awendaw Passage would be the first leg of your journey if you were going to hike from one end to the other of the Palmetto Trail and you started at the South Carolina coast. It would be the last leg if you started in the mountains of South Carolina.
Choosing The Awendaw Passage was really nothing more than a choice of convenience. This hike took place on July 21, 2010 while vacationing at Litchfield Beach with my family. I somehow managed to talk seven other family members into going with me. This included both of my sisters and their husbands, my youngest child, and my youngest sister's two oldest children. This means that we were hiking with an 11 year old, a 10 year old, and a 7 year old!
We left our beach place at 7:15 that morning and it was 82 degrees. We drove from Litchfield to northern Charleston County. With one stop for a fast food breakfast, we were at the start of the trail one hour later. At that point we left one brother-in-law and three kids. They were to start hiking so that shorter legs could take a more leisurely pace and have additional time to rest. Our intent was to drive both cars to the end of the passage and leave one there and drive the other back to the starting point and catch up with the others.
The journey to the ending point was not uneventful. The map seemed to indicate that we could take Whitten Road to its end and then make two turns and end up where we needed to be to drop off the one vehicle and then return to the starting point in the other vehicle. THIS DID NOT WORK! We found ourselves on dirt roads that were not on the map and traveled a great number of miles out of our way on these dirt roads seeing almost nothing but the road and pine trees. We finally ended up in McClellanville, a considerable distance away from where we needed to be.

By Marilyn Turk
A place of fear for some, the Great Dismal Swamp was a place of refuge for others.
Col. William Byrd II, an 18th century planter, is credited with giving the swamp its name on maps during his 1728 expedition to survey the border line between Virginia and North Carolina.
When colonists began invading their land, Native Americans moved into the secluded forests of the swamp. Later, they were joined by runaway slaves and indentured servants seeking freedom.
Trackers tried to use dogs to find these runaways, but the scent was soon lost in the water of the swamp, and horses couldn’t walk through the muck. Even canoes couldn’t navigate the water, so pursuers weren’t able to catch the fugitives and gave up the chase, considering them lost to the dense, tangled vegetation and ooze, teeming with poisonous snakes, clouds of mosquitoes and other hostile creatures. Surely, the runaways became victims of the treacherous environment into which they’d run.
Indeed it was because of the swamp’s hostility and its vast size covering thousands of acres of southern Virginia and North Carolina that enable hundreds, if not thousands of slaves to escape to freedom, many through the Underground Railroad, popularized by Harriet Beecher Stowe. But only in recent history has evidence been discovered of communities where inhabitants lived with little help from the outside world.
Even archaeologists got lost trying to research the swamp’s interior. But in 2004, Dan Sayers, historical archaeologist and chair of the anthropology department at American University in Washington, D.C. was taken to a 20-acre island inside the swamp by one of the biologists who study the area.
Today the swamp, now a wildlife refuge, has dwindled to 112,000 acres due to drainage and encroaching civilization. Since the end of the Civil War, no communities have existed within its deep interior.
The very idea that people could have survived in the midst of such a hostile environment boggles the mind. But to the swamp’s inhabitants, freedom was worth the price of the hardships of the Great Dismal Swamp.
Award-winning author Marilyn Turk lives in and writes about the coast – past and present. A multi-published author, she writes a weekly lighthouse blog at http://marilynturk.com. Her latest release, Rebel Light, Book 1 in the Coastal Lights Legacy series, is now available along with A Gilded Curse, and Lighthouse Devotions on amazon.com.

As you are walking, we ask that you stay to the right of the road/trail so faster runner/walkers can pass. If your child is in a stroller, you do not need to register them for the event.
Q: I am walking the course, can my child walk with me?
A: Yes, but he or she must register, as well. Anyone who enters and wears a race bib and chip may participate in the event.
Q: Will you capture chip and gun time?
A: Yes. We have timing mats at the start line to capture the time in which you crossed the line. We post both the chip and gun times at the end of the event. Please note that gun times will be used for awards.
Q: What is the timing system used by Set Up Events?
A: Set Up Events, who is handling the online registration and race timing for the GHS Swamp Rabbit 5K, is an official ChampionChip licensed timing company and uses the ChampionChip timing system. All participants wear a small chip on their bibs during the entire event, which Set Up Events uses to capture times at key locations (i.e., start and finish). Participants are given a timing chip at the event, which is disposable, but may be returned after the event for recycling.
Q: What do I do with the timing chip if I drop out of the event and I don’t cross the finish line?
A: Disposable timing chips are used in the GHS Swamp Rabbit 5K, and they do not need to be returned.
Q: Will the course be closed to traffic?
A: Much of the course is closed to traffic, while other sections are coned off for runners, with City of Travelers Rest Police Officers and course volunteers monitoring those areas. Traffic is controlled at major intersections by City of Travelers Rest Police Officers.

This scenic byway connects several US and SC routes to create a 66 mile journey through the historic and picturesque countryside of western York County.
The starting point is just 30 miles southwest of Charlotte. The Scenic Byway begins at Kings Mountain National Military Park and runs south through the historic Town of York, to Historic Brattonsville, then west through the Town of McConnells to the Bullock Creek community, where it turns northerly toward the towns of Sharon, Hickory Grove, and Smyrna. The byway features numerous historical buildings, museums, markers, and beautiful rolling countryside.
Whether you are looking for a quiet lunch in York, a visit to the pre-revolutionary community of Brattonsville, a visit to the historic W.L. Hill Store or the Museum of Western York County in Sharon, this is sure to be a memorable ride.
Bohicket Road - Cowpens Battlefield - Edisto Beach - Falling Waters - Fort Johnson Road - Hilton Head - Hilton Head Island - Long Point Road - Mathis Ferry Road - May River - McTeer Bridge - Old Sheldon Church - Plantersville - Riverland Drive - SC 170 - US 21 - Western York
For more information about South Carolina Scenic Byways, please contact SCDOT at (803) 737-1952.

Remain on Glen Ave for 8.8 miles before turning right onto CR 127. After 10 miles, you will reach Florida SR 2. Turn right, then immediately left back onto CR127. After another 0.5 miles turn right at John Burnsed Rd and Maple Set Campground. The parking area is just ahead after 0.3 miles.
From the northeast corner of the parking lot, the upper loop trail passes through the gate to the Maple Set Campground, then passes several numbered tent sites on the right.
Just after you pass the water pump between tent sites #4 and #5, the trail turns right toward the river, which you’ll come to after only a short distance.
Turn right and follow the yellow-blazed trail at the river’s edge. Be careful not to trip over the many saw palmetto trunks lying on and around the trail.
In less than a quarter mile, the trail turns right and comes to a picnic area overlooking a lovely swimming hole.
It is quite deep in the middle and, though the Florida Forest Service says that jumping into the water from river banks or trees is not allowed, local residents have attached two rope swings.
At the end of the picnic area a short boardwalk leads back to the parking area.
The lower loop begins at the southwest corner of the parking area and is marked with a small hiking sign, at which you veer left to again follow the trail along the river’s edge.
The trail here is beautiful, easy to follow, and well-blazed. At about 0.4 miles there is a double-blaze that marks the bottom of the lower loop, which turns right here.
The spur trails, also blazed yellow, continue south along the river.
Turning right at the double blaze, the trail goes through river bottom filled with cypress and their knees.
During dry season, this area is merely soggy and soft, but judging from the water marks this area can turn into a shin-deep swamp during rainy months.
The yellow blazes are faded here and poorly placed so be careful navigating your way.
After just a few hundred feet the trail passes through this low-lying area and comes to a grassy service road.
Turn right and after 0.3 miles, you will come to a “T” with another grassy service road. Turn right and follow this service road a final 0.1 mile back to the parking area.

The South River was originally the Black River back in the 1700's according to the book by John Oates "The Story of Fayetteville". The book described two Black Rivers almost running several miles apart and surveyors had a bad time so named the southern Black the South Black, then it eventually became the South.
It begins as the Black River below Angier, NC and flows into Rhodes Mill Pond between Dunn, NC and Fayetteville, NC, leaves this pond as the Black River under I-95 and joins Mingo Swamp and becomes the South River north of Falcon, NC and above Green Path Road. From Green Path Road near Falcon, which is section 1 in "Paddling Eastern North Carolina with Paul Ferguson", until it runs into the Black River below Ivanhoe, NC approximately 79.8 miles, however the next take out point on this river is Beatty's Bridge on the Black River.
A paddle trip was held Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013 by the Lumber River Canoe Club with some members from Friends of Sampson County Waterways. This was both clubs first trip of the New Year.
The section we paddled was Section 10 of Ferguson's book referenced above. We covered 13.5 miles and averaged about 3.4 miles per hour with the takeout being at the Corbett House, made famous in the movie Rambling Rose starring Robert Duval some years back.
There is no water gauge on the South River and I believe the gauge on the Black River was 5.55 ft with a cfs of 600.
There were no portages and plenty of current with only one tree to bump over. The weather was cool and stayed in the 40s with an on and off light rain and mist all day. Beautiful section but can be braided and swampy prior to running into the Black River. There were 3 canoes and 7 kayaks that made this trip and no wildlife was reported other than bird life. Development on this river is at a minimum with a few cabins.
No accommodations near river but plenty on I-95 and in Clinton, NC and Fayetteville, NC
No fees or permits
The put in at Ennis Bridge is off Hwy 210.
From I-95 get off exit 49 and follow Hwy 210. After crossing Hwy 41 about 40 miles down 210, look for Ennis Bridge Rd, landing is on left before crossing the South River
Paddling Eastern NC with Paul Ferguson

Catawba Indian Reservation is a 1 mile out and back trail located near Rock Hill, South Carolina and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from September until May. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
a fantastic view of the free flowing Catawba River !! This particular trail is the Yehasuri trail. It's a scenic trail that is a part of an old wagon trail that dates back to 1810 with several interpretative signs along the way. You will end at one of the most beautiful sections of the Catawba River that exists today. There are only two free-flowing sections remaining and this area is one of them. If you linger long enough by the rivers edge you'll most likely see a Great Blue Heron skimming the water. There is a rock shelf that extends across the river and the sounds of the rushing water is worth the hike !!

Warning:   This data is out-of-date. Trails, roads, and landmarks change.
You should obtain current information before attempting any hike.
Date Hiked: 4/14/91
Length: 7.0 miles
Main Features: views from overlooks, Governor's Rock, and Table Rock, as well as small cascades and falls
Animals: hawks, pileated woodpeckers, chickadees, ruffed grouse, crows, vultures, cardinals, garter snake, vole, snails, millipedes, red eft (newt), gray squirrels
Location: Table Rock State Park, South Carolina
From the intersection of highways 178 and 11, go northeast on 11. Drive 4.2 miles and turn left at the sign indicating Table Rock State Park, West Gate. Drive 0.4 miles and turn right at the toll booth. Drive 0.8 miles and park in the parking lot on the right across the street from the Carrick Creek Interpretive Center. The trail starts from the back deck of the interpretive center.
Note: This is an extremely popular trail. I've passed over a hundred hikers on this trail.
Approximate Altitude Changes
Ascend 1,950 feet to high point about a half mile from end
Descend 250 feet to the end of the trail
Total Ascent: 2,200 feet
0.0 parking area
paved walk with waterfalls, stairs, and a bridge
0.2 bear right at fork
0.4 bear right at fork
1.6 rain shelter on left (almost halfway to end)
just beyond shelter is overlook to southeast, south, and southwest
1.8 turn right at junction
2.4 view from Governor's Rock (elevation 2,920 feet)
(The peak to the west is Pinnacle Mountain, the highest mountain entirely in South Carolina.)
2.7 sign Table Rock Mountain elevation 3,157 feet, with spring on right
3.0 overlook on right
(On a clear day you can see downtown Greenville to the east by southeast.)

West Ashley Bikeway
Trail Activities: t
Trail Features: t
- No Fee
- No Camping
This paved 2.5-mile path located in West Ashley is nice for an afternoon ride and is also perfect for walkers and runners.
Although the paved, flat 2.5-mile West Ashley Bikeway is too short for serious bicyclists, it’s a great area for walkers and runners. Once part of a five-mile stretch of rail owned by Seaboard Coastline Railroad Company, the route was abandoned in 1976. Before long, weeds and rats took over and it became a collection point for old mattresses, rusting appliances, and other refuse. Eventually the corridor’s right-of-way passed to the S.C. Department of Transportation, who hoped to turn the area into an expressway. This didn’t happen, so in 1978 the agency agreed to lease the property for $1 a year to the city. After several years of bureaucratic red tape, the park officially opened in 1983. Today, what was once a dumping ground, the asphalt pathway serves a real need in the community.
Hours: Dawn to duskDirections:
To the western trailhead: From downtown Charleston, drive west on US 17 and cross the Ashley River. Turn right onto Wappoo Road and the trailhead sign is on the right immediately after the turn.
To the eastern trailhead: From downtown Charleston, drive west on US 17 and cross the Ashley River. After you cross the bridge, turn right onto SC 61/SC 171. Shortly before SC 61 and SC 171 split, there is a trailhead sign on the left.
City of Charleston Recreation Department | 823 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29403 | (843) 724-7321
|Trail Segments (Paths)||Lat: 32.79105312225165

In many places the Bartram Trail is unmarked and poorly maintained or completely obliterated by modern construction.
John Bartram visited the Southeast in 1765 and 1766 in his role as Botanist Royal in America. Appointed by King George III, the elder Bartram took his son William Bartram on these trips. So enamored was William of the life his father led that he left his Quaker roots in Philadelphia to explore the Southeast when he was offered financial support from a friend in England.
William Bartam began his journey in March of 1773 at the age of 35. He followed what is now called the Bartram Trail. This trail, which runs from the northeast corner of Georgia to Augusta and the Savannah River, is only partially maintained by local communities along the way.
Directions from Franklin, NC:
View From HWY 106 between Highlands, NC and 106 to GA
You can drive to Bartam Trail by taking Hwy 106 west for 7.3 miles from Highlands or head down 441S in Franklin to Georgia and take 106 off of 441 and head up Scaly Mtn, N.C until you come to the village of Scaly Mtn, NC. Then take a left onto Hale Ridge Rd for 2 miles until it bears left, while Bald Mtn Rd curves right. Continue on Hale Ridge Road until the road becomes gravel and in less than a half a mile you will see the Bartram Trail sign on the right.
Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness was created in 1975 and covers 17,394 acres (70 km2) in the Nantahala National Forest in western North Carolina and the Cherokee National Forest in eastern Tennessee, in the watersheds of the Slickrock and Little Santeetlah Creeks. It is named after Joyce Kilmer, author of "Trees." The Little Santeetlah and Slickrock watersheds contain 5,926 acres (23.98 km2) of old growth forest, one of the largest tracts in the United States east of the Mississippi River.
The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest along Little Santeetlah Creek is a rare example of an old growth cove hardwood forest, an extremely diverse forest type unique to the Appalachian Mountains.

Directions: Take the Natchez Trace north from Ridgeland to
the West Florida Boundary parking area (2nd parking area after the Reservoir
Overlook). Trailhead starts at this parking area.
Trail Information: This trail starts at the West Florida Boundary and follows the Natchez Trace till at least the River Bend Camp Ground approximately 14-15 miles north. It covers rolling hills and crosses creeks, wetlands, and inlets from the Reservoir.
The trail is open to only hikers/runners and horseback riders. Unfortunately, due to the abundance of clayey soils, there are several areas that are severely pitted due to the horses. Walking is sometimes the safest option in these areas
Miscellaneous Information: There is water available at the Highway 43 trailhead (spigot for the horse watering trough) and there is water and restrooms at the River Bend parking area.
The trail is well marked with blazes. However, there are a few locations where one must leave the trees, run along the Trace to get over a few inlets to the Reservoir, then leave the Trace to get back onto the Trail. Pay attention to the trail signs and blazes during these times.

[Fig. 32(25), Fig. 35] The Ellicott Rock Wilderness encompasses one of the Southeast's premiere river gorges and includes national forests from three different statesNorth Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. It also harbors one of the oldest trails in the East and a wonderful variety of plants and animals.
The Ellicott Rock Wilderness straddles the 15,000-acre Chattooga Wild and Scenic River corridor known for its high rocky cliffs, powerful cascades, and luxuriant mixed evergreen-deciduous forests. The area contains old-growth white pine, hemlock, tulip poplar, and other hardwood specimens. Thick, impassable tangles of great rhododendron understory form over creeks and on slopes, giving the colloquial term "rhododendron hell" true meaning. At times, these shrubs form a tunnel over the well-maintained trails.
For those interested in day hiking or primitive camping, the area offers excellent trails free of motorized vehicles, horses, and bicycles, making it as much of a true wilderness experience as possible. Campsites must be located at least 50 feet from water courses or designated trails.
The Ellicott Rock Wilderness was expanded from a much smaller scenic area first created in 1966. This 1975 expansion brought the area under the protection of the 1960 Wilderness Protection Act and increased the area to 9,012 acres. Nearly half (3,900 acres) of the tract lies in North Carolina. The Chattooga River was given Wild and Scenic River status in May 1974. Since then, the U.S. Forest Service has proposed acquiring an additional 2,000 acres to the south and east of the present boundaries.
The area is reached from North Carolina via the Ellicott Rock Trail or the Bad Creek/Fowler Creek Trail [Fig. 35(3)], the latter joining with the former just before crossing into South Carolina. The trail and wilderness area get their name from a rock on the east bank of the Chattooga River that was inscribed with the letters "NC" by a surveyor named Ellicott. Ellicott Rock was marked erroneously as the point at which the three states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia meet.

But it was also the home of Francis Marion, a hero of Revolution who earned the nickname “the Swamp Fox” for assembling a rag-tag band of local fighters and launching successful guerrilla raids on British forces. (His legend was the basis for the less-than-historically-accurate film The Patriot, which was, appropriately, filmed largely in South Carolina) Thomas Sumter, another famous guerrilla fighter, also achieved acclaim for his attacks on the Redcoats, and was eventually dubbed the “Carolina Gamecock” because of his ferocity in battle — a term that lives on as the mascot of the University of South Carolina to this day.
2) Electing the first African American to the U.S. House of Representatives.
South Carolina has a long, sordid history of race relations, but nestled within this lengthy canon of oppression is a series of less-discussed triumphs for people of color.
In December of 1870, during the early years of Reconstruction, Joseph Rainey of Charleston, South Carolina won a special election to become the first African American House member in U.S. history, representing South Carolina’s 1st District. He served four terms in that position, during which time he supported the Civil Rights Act of 1875, even as African Americans in his state were repeatedly attacked by the Ku Klux Klan and roving militant gangs known as the Red Shirts. Although he was forced relocate his family to Connecticut to keep them safe, he maintained his residency in Charleston, defying the racists with his continued presence and support for equality. In addition, Rainey, who was born into slavery, became the first African American to preside over the House of Representatives as Speaker pro tempore in May 1874.
Several South Carolina African Americans have been elected to national office since that time, including James Clyburn (D), who served as the House Majority Whip from 2007 to 2011. And while Republican policy positions are rightly challenged by those on the Left, one of South Carolina’s U.S. Senators and its current governor are both people of color: Tim Scott (R) is the first African-American senator from the state of South Carolina (and the first elected in the South since reconstruction), and Governor Nikki Haley (R) is both the first female governor in the state’s history and one of two Indian-American governors in the country.
3) Hootie and the Blowfish/Darius Rucker (yes, seriously).

It jogs left into Conservation Park through a main gate at the southern boundary of the preserve, and continues north, paralelling the paved bike trail, to a loop through the trailhead area.
After taking the time to learn about the park and its history at the trailhead, turn with your back to the building and walk across the parking lot to the T intersection where the trails begin. Turn right and cross the park road. You come to the first intersection of trails. All four major trails – red, blue, yellow, and green – start here. To begin your hike on the green trail, turn slightly right and go straight ahead, following the pea gravel path into the woods, passing by nicely shaded picnic tables and an outdoor classroom. The trail is rather broad as it meanders through the pines. You can see a cypress dome off to your left, obvious in its cloak of rust, orange, and yellow as the cypress needles react to the cooler temperatures of fall, shedding into the swamp below. Gallberry, grapevines, and saw palmetto make up the understory of the pine plantation.
Part of the reason for taking the Green Trail is it ushers you through two cypress domes. You reach the first boardwalk by 0.2 mile. Tannic water flows sluggishly below. Wax myrtles are in flower. The islands in the swamp look like ideal places for pitcher plants to cluster, and perhaps, when the hydrology of the landscape has been restored, they will do so. This region along the Gulf Coast, where wet flawoods edge right up to Choctawhatchee Bay, is where I’ve seen white-topped pitcher plants in the acidic soils of the wet flatwoods.
At the end of the boardwalk, turn right. The broad wood-chipped path leads the Green Trail around the cypress dome, beneath the lines of slash pine. Fortunately, the trail does not go straight down the rows but across them, so you get an illusion of natural forest amid the plantation, bolstered by the cypress domes that break up the landscape. Bark chips are not the easiest surface to gain traction. You pass a confirmation blaze and head down a straightaway, then curves to the right to zigzag through scrubby flatwoods towards denser forest in the distance, turning towards the east.

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Built alongside the busy Interstate-520 (known as the Palmetto Parkway along this stretch), North Augusta's Palmetto Parkway Bike Path offers a trail experience much more pleasant and scenic than its namesake suggests. While the trail does follow the route of the interstate and does require several local road crossings, much of the pathway is sheltered from the sight of the adjoining traffic by rows of trees and sculpted terrain - you won't exactly feel lost in nature, but you won't feel exposed to vehicles either.
The trail travels for almost five miles on the eastern outskirts of North Augusta and the community of Belvedere, passing over enough rolling hills to make sure that cyclists get in a workout. The southern end of the trail lies just under two miles from the start of the North Augusta Greeneway Trail, which allows ambitious trail users to create a rough loop throughout the entire area on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River.
Parking for the trail is located at the northern trailhead off of Ascauga Lake Road by the North Augusta DMV, a short distance north from I-520/Palmetto Parkway via Exit 22.
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Chattooga River - Burrells Ford Bridge & Chattooga River Trail - Sumter NF, SC
Posted by: crackergals
N 34° 58.468 W 083° 06.968
17S E 306824 N 3872256
Quick Description: Burrells Ford Bridge marks the border between Sumter National Forest in South Carolina and Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia.
Location: South Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 4/16/2009 6:20:14 PM
Waymark Code: WM67AE
The coordinates are for the S. Carolina side of the bridge where you can also find the Chatooga River Trail Head. It is currently illegal to float this section of the River, upstream of Hwy 28.
The designated section of the Chattooga River flows through three states and the Ellicott Rock Wilderness for a total of 56.9 miles.
The Chattooga River Trail is a forty mile route that borders the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia and follows the banks of the Chattooga National Wild And Scenic River from Burrell's Ford to US 76. (visit link

Several other trails in the park can be used to create the 12-mile loop Naturaland Trust Loop, which is not only among South Carolina's top hikes but also a very strenuous one. An added bonus for hiking the full loop, however, is optional access to two more gorgeous waterfalls on the property of Asbury Hills Camp: Moonshine Falls and Confusion Falls. This hike occurred on Saturday, January 20th, 2018. My plan was to hike the Naturaland Trust Loop clockwise from the Raven Cliff Falls parking area, although I came away with the feeling that hiking the loop counter-clockwise is better.
Most hikers of the Tallahassee area have heard of or even been to Leon Sinks. How many have heard of Wakulla River Sinks though? Along with adjacent Apalachicola National Forest, the River Sinks Tract - a lesser-known parcel of Wakulla Springs State Park - holds nearly two dozen water-filled sinkholes. The sinks serve as a portal to the mysterious underground water-filled cave system that eventually connects to the Wakulla River to the southeast. An official trail called the Wakulla River Sinks Trail passes by several small sinks, including the photogenic Clearcut Sink. If one extends their hike along the unofficial pathway that splits off and leads to a series of bigger sinks, including Promise Sink and Upper River Sink, they are bound to be astounded! This hike occurred on Saturday, January 6th, 2018. My plan was to hike the official Wakulla River Sinks Trail clockwise. Along the way, I would make out-and-back side trips to Clearcut Sink and along an unofficial trail to a series of sinks to the south.
Cumberland Trail: Edwards Point Loop via Mushroom Rock, Blue Trail, Orange Trail, and Bee Branch Trail, Signal Mountain, Tennessee
The Cumberland Trail, a work in progress that will be a 300-mile trail when completed, has its southern terminus at Signal Point in the Chattanooga metro area. One of the Cumberland Trail's most spectacular sections is its very first one as it traces the rim of the Tennessee River Gorge, visiting outstanding views at Signal Point and Edwards Point as well as a unique geological formation known as Mushroom Rock at the edge of the Suck Creek Gorge. Beside the Cumberland Trail, several lesser-used trails give hikers the option to turn a hike to Edwards Point into a full-day loop with additional sights.

Bartram Trail (GA), Feb 26-27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
I had been sick earlier in the week, but I had been planning for to hike the first 19 miles of the Bartram Trail before Spring break this year, so I could finish the remaining 90 miles at a more leisurely pace over my break in late March.
So my wife dropped me off around 10:30 on this Saturday morning at the Russell Bridge Trailhead. This small parking lot is on Highway 28, just north of the Chattooga River bridge that leads into South Carolina. There, Dewey posed for a picture with one of the many engraved boulders that mark key points along the Bartram Trail.
Then we crossed the highway heading west, following the general course of the Chattooga River. Shortly into the walk, I passed the first of the plastic yellow diamond blazes that mark the Bartram Trail.
I was surprised at how well the BT is maintained and blazed. The guidebook mentions several blazes where blazes and cross-trails could be confusing. But the folks who maintain the BT have clearly spent some quality time taking care of this corridor. There was never a confusing point during the entire weekend.
The area along the trail had once been a road bed and reminders of the folks who lived there remained. An old hay baler stood out as evidence this path once catered to vehicles.
Just after, the foundation and chimney of a vanished home gave witness to the past.
The trail was relatively level, and despite some mild weakness from the previous week’s illness, I ambled on with relative ease. Occasional glimpses of the Chattooga greeted me as I wandered on. As I approached Warwoman Creek, I was happy to see one of the longer bridges along this section of trail, preventing the need for a ford.
Shortly after, I passed by the Earls Ford area, I eased around a car campsite and moved along swiftly. On the other side of the camp, I encountered a couple of dayhikers wandering along. They were the first people I had seen in 6 ½ miles of trail. I continued on, planning to make my way to a campsite around mile 9 near Dicks Creek Falls.

The park and the USDA cooperate in an ongoing effort to monitor the incidence of disease in the population, to keep the park safe for both humans and other animals. Since 2014, the USDA has tried to curtail the population by trapping and shooting in designated target areas. These measures have been relatively successful, and efforts have been expanded to control hog populations around the periphery of the park to limit crop damage and soil erosion and improve water quality for the park’s neighbors.
The Sims Trail crosses directly through the center of the Boardwalk Trail, bifurcating it lengthwise between sites 9 and 18. The trail is named after Booker T. Sims, a park neighbor who assisted the park in its early years. The former road near site 9 and the Weston Lake Loop Trail provided access to the clubhouse of Cedar Creek Hunt Club, of which Harry Hampton (see Site 18) was a member. The trail is accessible via the Visitor Center and a short walk along the Bluff Trail.
Because the Sims Trail has a more open canopy layer, one can observe many different species of butterflies along the trail. You can find common butterfly species like the Carolina Satyr and Red-spotted Purple here. There are also many small puddles and ponds surrounding the trail, which attract not only butterflies, but dragonflies, frogs, toads, and insects lke the metallic green six-spotted tiger beetle. Five-lined skinks can also be found here, the juveniles of which are easily distinguishable by their electric blue tails.
Site 11: Loblolly Pines and Champion Trees
Congaree National Park is a bottomland hardwood forest, which makes the existence of pine trees in this ecosystem somewhat unusual. Many species of pine trees are unable to grow in wetland areas, due to their inability to tolerate anaerobic conditions produced by periodic flooding. However, the loblolly pine is unique in that it can thrive in wet environments, and the word loblolly fittingly means “muddy puddle.” The loblolly pine is an essential feature of the park—it is home to many bird species, and its seeds provide food for small rodents. Loblollies are also prized sources of lumber, as they can grow up to 2 feet in one year.

Where Can I Register?
Online Registration is currently closed.
You can register in person on the Thursday before the race at the Crowne Plaza Hotel from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. or at Gateway Park on Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Registration is $15 and can be paid by cash or card.
Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (View Map). ***Packet pickup is also Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. AT GATEWAY PARK***.
Now Hare This
To save paper, pre-registration is online only (except day-of registration). The low $6 fee ($15 starting 4/28) includes processing fees, and the site is 100% secure. All online registrants receive a FREE GHS Swamp Rabbit 5K T-shirt!
Electronic scoring is used for all runners and walkers to capture start and end times. Awards will be given for top finishers in each age group afterward.
After the race, enjoy FREE food, drinks and music. We also feature many children’s activities.
Race Director is Chad Carlson (firstname.lastname@example.org)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the race policy in the instance of bad weather?
A: The race will be held rain or shine. In the instance of extremely dangerous weather such as lightning, the GHS Swamp Rabbit race committee, in cooperation with the City of Travelers Rest, will make a decision about the appropriate course of action. Check our website for updates. Race entry fees are non-refundable.
Q: Can I get a refund if I do not race?
A: Race entry fees are non-refundable
Q: Can I register on race day?
A: Yes! However, we do encourage you to pre-register to minimize the rush at the event. We will also offer registration at all packet pickup locations as well as at the event.
Q: I am coming in from out of town and do not arrive until race day, how do I get my bib and chip?
A: You may pick up your packet at the event from 11:30 a.m.-6:15 p.m. The location for the packet pick up will be on the basketball courts at Gateway Park.
Q: Can we pick up our packets before race day?

Wade Batson; catching big bass on Bulls Island; how to remove a fishhook from your hand; and a nice painting of saw-whet owls by Anne Worsham Richardson.
Excerpts from May-June 1972 Issue
This issue had a great article on Indian oyster shell middens, a unique feature found on only in the coastal southeast; also a photo and report on the second-largest largemouth bass ever caught-from a lake in Fort Jackson.
Excerpts from July-August 1972 Issue
Beautiful cover photo of fishermen in a cypress pond by SCWMRD photographer Ted Borg.
Lois Green MacKay (March-April 1974)
Lois Green MacKay was an artist living in Charlotte who loved to paint watercolors of South Carolina's beautiful coastal scenes. This documents better economic times when one could earn a living as an artist. (Note: the colors on the scanned pages are slightly brighter than the original.)
Excerpts from May-June 1974 Issue
This issue contains a wonderful article and artwork of Daufuskie Island.
Excerpts from March-April 1975 Issue
A wonderful piece on John James Audobom and his visits to Charleston, along with an article on farm pond management. Also, there is a tribute to the recently-deceased founder of S.C. Wildlife, Eddie Finlay.
Excerpts from July-August 1975 Issue
There is a good article on no-pesticide gardening and a picture of a 15 lb. largemouth bass caught in Hampton County.
Excerpts from March-April 1980 Issue
There is an interesting article about the Haile Gold mine and gold mining in general in SC, along with a look at SC mountain life.
Excerpts from May-June 1980 Issue
This issue contains a detailed account of the world record tiger shark caught from the Cherry Grove pier in 1964, and an informative article on Rev. John Bachman of Charleston, friend of John James Audubon and discoverer of Bachman's Warbler.
Excerpts from November-December 1980 Issue
There is a great article by famous SC meterologist John Purvis about SC snow, along with a historical overview of Dr. Robert Lunz's pioneering mariculture work on the SC coast.

Our Country's Newest "Blue Trail" — The Congaree River In South Carolina
As President of American Rivers, the nation’s leading river conservation organization, I get to enjoy our nation’s rivers more than most people. After all, it’s my job! But, I don’t come to work everyday just because I love rivers and want to protect them so our communities can continue to thrive. I come to work everyday because I want everyone to love and appreciate rivers. I want all Americans to have a stake in the future of our rivers and the best way to do that is to connect people with their local rivers and streams. To engage individuals with rivers and allow people to truly see what they have to offer. To many people, a river is just something to look at as they cross a bridge – if they even notice it at all. In order to change this, we need to give people the opportunity to personally experience a river - to witness its beauty, behold its grace and respect its power.Most people believe they have to go long and far out of their way to enjoy a river, but many of these jewels are right in their own backyards. So, at American Rivers, we make it a priority to not only connect people with their local rivers, but to cultivate the recreational and cultural opportunities rivers provide. That’s why American Rivers is working to establish blue trails through our Blue Trails Initiative TM — a great way to connect people to their hometown rivers while boosting tourism, civic pride and a conservation ethic.
Blue trails, also known as water trails, are the river equivalent of hiking trails. They are corridors developed to facilitate recreation in and along rivers and other water bodies. Blue trails are found in urban settings as well as in remote environments. They come in all shapes and sizes and are used by paddlers, anglers, hikers, runners, picnickers, and those just seeking a bit of solitude.
One of our country’s newest blue trails is South Carolina’s Congaree River Blue Trail.
This past Friday, American Rivers and its local partners hosted a celebration of the Congaree River Blue Trail and its recent designation as a National Recreation Trail. The celebration included a ceremonial paddle from West Columbia across the river to Columbia, South Carolina.

My grandmother’s family settled here in the 1700’s, in places with names like Gum Neck and Frying Pan, and I grew up on stories of ancestors hunting black bear and wildcats deep in the swamp, and of ghost stories, and people disappearing in a black water wilderness. This was a chance to pass on some of those stories, and to see where they actually took place.
We brought the boat and the stealthy electric motor, so the three mile cruise along the canals and “ditches” from the boat ramp into the middle of the swamp was a quiet glide.
The boat launch is on the eastern side of Dismal Swamp Canal, which connects the Chesapeake Bay with Albemarle Sound down in North Carolina, separating the easternmost counties of both states from the mainland, making them all essentially a big island. This presents a problem for people who live on the west side of the Canal, because the road is on the east side. We saw one farmer’s solution in action: He had built a small ferry of oil drums and plywood and, with a cable running slack along the bottom from one side to the other, we saw him pull himself across, hand over hand, to where he kept his car on the other side.
From the Canal, the Feeder Ditch strikes a rhumb line due West for two miles into the heart of the swamp to Lake Drummond. It’s a strangly euclidian path through a completely chaotic canyon of wilderness, confusing your perception of time and distance. The experience is more than a little surreal.

Coldwater River Nature Trail System
North Outlet Trails
The North Outlet Channel Recreation Area provides access to the Coldwater River Nature Trail System. This network of trails encompasses two hiking trails (one trail is 3 miles in length and the other is 5 miles in length) and the Big Oak Nature Trail which is a self-guided interpretive trail. The area includes pristine bottomland hardwood and pine forests where an abundance of wildlife and native plant species can be found throughout. A self-guided interpretive booklet is available at the trailhead located on the north side of the Outlet Channel, or the booklet is available for download by selecting the link below.
South Outlet Trails – Swinging Bridge Nature Trail
The South Outlet Channel Recreation Area offers a unique trail experience. The Swinging Bridge Nature Trail is a self-guided trail that includes an old section of the Coldwater Riverprior to the construction of the dam. The Coldwater Riverwas once flowing through this very trail area! Please enjoy a walk through this historic trail and learn about the history of the Arkabutla community or how the Corps of Engineers redirected the Coldwater River. Maybe you would like to learn how to identify native plants and wildlife, or just enjoy the tranquility of the trail’s azalea garden. Information panels are placed throughout the trail to help guide you along your walk.

Look up the terrain difficulty, potential weather conditions, and places to stop for water and supplies on a longer trip. Get an estimate on how long your trip will take you. Park and National Forest rangers and PCF staff are available to help answer these questions.
South Carolina is an awesome state! We are fortunate to be able to enjoy so many different ecosystems on the Palmetto Trail.
- Suzette Anderson
Palmetto Conservation Office Manager
DOWNHILL HIKERS YIELD to uphill hikers.

Congaree National Park South Carolina
A trail through the wilderness
A beautiful forest you can explore by boat
Comprising nearly 11,000 hectares, Congaree National Park is the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. Located in central South Carolina near the state’s capital of Columbia, this National Park is home to an incredible range of biodiversity.
One of the most popular activities in Congaree is walking along its nearly 4 kilometers of boardwalks or 40 kilometers of hiking trails. Along the trails, keep your eyes peeled for the animals that find sanctuary here, such as wild boars and box turtles. If you’re interested in learning more about the park’s rich biodiversity, tag along on a guided ranger walk. Another way to experience this marshy park is to kayak or canoe through its swamps or fish along its rivers.

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Additional race information can be found at http://www.swamprabbitrace.com.
The Prisma Health Half Marathon & 5K is a net downhill half marathon and 5K run. The half marathon starts in Travelers Rest, SC and ends on the TD Stage at the Peace Center in downtown Greenville, SC. The 5K starts at the Swamp Rabbit Cafe and follows the Swamp Rabbit Trail to the same finish line on the TD Stage at the Peace Center.
*Note for 2020 - The race will end once again at the TD Stage at the Peace Center. This is subject to change based on construction timelines.*
4/10/2019: 2020 Registration to Open May 1, 2019 (Race Date is February 29, 2020)
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.Questions?
Make sure you download the RaceJoy mobile app for live phone tracking at the Prisma Health Half Marathon & 5K.
Carry your phone and use RaceJoy to add to your race experience with these key features:
The Prisma Health Half Marathon & 5K is sponsoring RaceJoy to provide participants and spectators these features for free (normally a 99 cents upgrade fee for both the participant and spectator).
The Prisma Health Half Marathon & 5K has course maps available.
NOTE: Shirt deadline is 3 weeks prior to event. Anyone registering after this date will not be guaranteed a t-shirt. We will do our best to estimate quantity and sizing needs but can not guarantee correct sizes to anyone registering after this date.

If you look at the map of the passage (see capsule), you might think that you would be walking along waterways much of the time but the fact of the matter is that much of the passage is heavily wooded with what I would consider to be some semi-tropical vegetation mixed in. In many areas, unless you knew you were near coastal waterways and marshes, you would swear that you nowhere near any water. The forested areas were shaded, breezeless, and very humid. After several miles of hiking through areas like this, we finally came upon the marsh. It was absolutely beautiful. I had never seen such vast untouched areas areas of coastal marsh. It was a collection of spartina grass, blue sky, black water, and pluff mud. There were also lots of little crabs - LOTS of them. In some places there were so many that you could actually hear them scattering through the grass. We eventually came upon the canoe launch at Awendaw Creek. There were no canoes so we used it as a place to rest. We were hot. We were tired. We had snacks and water but a big meal would have been welcomed by all at that point in time. It was here that I had my near mirage experience. My brother-in-law handed my niece a cattail he had found. Every one had a good laugh when I looked at him and seriously wanted to know where he had gotten that corn dog from.
The kids enjoyed finding some old animal bones and we saw the biggest pine cones I have ever seen. These went into the polka dotted man bag my brother-in-law and nephew were carrying. However, after reminding them that you really were not supposed to take anything tangible from the trail, the items were left behind. Generally speaking, the kids were good. They all whined at one time or another. They all stated that they would never do such a thing again but I had heard this from mine when we did the first passage and he was there for the second. I am hopeful to see them all hike some more with me. I hope that if nothing else it gave them all a sense of accomplishment.
There is still something that I would like an explanation for. At about the 3-4 mile mark of the 7 mile trail map, there is a dotted square with a cross in the middle.

Even locals who have spent years on the Ashley River don’t realize that it doesn’t start right around the Highway 17A area in Dorchester County.”
But over 200 years ago, far upriver from the plantations that famously represent the Lowcountry, the community of Ridgeville, SC, and the rough-hewn cabins of Cypress Methodist Campground were strategically built on a ridge alongside Cypress Swamp – the highest point in the Ashley River’s headwaters. Berkeley County’s Wassamassaw Swamp and Dorchester County’s Cypress Swamp were both essential to early life in this region. Settlers here employed inland swamp rice-growing technology, a method largely overlooked in contrast to tidewater rice production. Remnants of dikes built to facilitate the grain’s growth are still evident in many areas.
Through the centuries, when asked, the river answered and served its people well. In addition to providing wild game and fish as a food source, the Ashley River also fed the fields where rice was cultivated, and provided access for barges and other vessels to carry the crop to world markets. As rice production declined in the years following the Civil War, the needs of the region changed. The Ashley once again answered, offering up the resources of its watershed.
Large tracts along the river were consolidated for commercial timber production. Vast deposits of phosphate-laden marl were discovered nearby, and docks began to dot the shoreline. At one time, the land along the Ashley River produced one-half of the world’s mined phosphate. But by 1938, the phosphate boom was over, and in its wake, a dramatic environmental bill was left to be paid. With devastatingly high phosphorus levels left behind, the generous river that had given us our identity was in danger of losing its own.
By mid-century, rather than surrender to the residual pollution, those who would see the river restored and revered for its historical, natural, and cultural contributions took note. More importantly, they began to take action. In 1976, under the South Carolina Scenic Rivers Act of 1974, the portion of the Ashley River from Summerville’s Bacon’s Bridge downstream to Bull’s Creek was declared eligible for designation as a State Scenic River.
The tide continued to turn in the years just before the new millennium with the establishment of the Ashley Scenic River Council, and implementation of the Ashley River Management Plan.

This time, WWALS is acknowledging more long-used access points upstream and downstream into Florida, where the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) has long included the Alapaha River in Florida as part of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail.
Lakes, Ponds, and Swamps
Plus the Alapaha River Watershed contains lakes, ponds, and swamps such as Banks Lake in Lanier County, Grand Bay in Lowndes County, and the Carolina Bays in Atkinson County, renowned for their fishing, alligators, turtles, birds, cypresses, and pines, and streams including the Alapahoochee River. Existing hiking and biking trails can be linked to the Water Trail to encourage more multi-purpose participation.
The Alapaha River is not readily boatable upstream in Tift, Turner, Crisp, and Dooly Counties, nor on the Willacoochee River in Irwin, Ben Hill, and Wilcox Counties.
202 miles: Alapaha River from its source in Dooly County, Georgia, to its confluence with the Suwannee River in Hamilton County, Florida.
129 miles: Alapaha River Water Trail from US 82 to the Suwannee River, plus many lakes, ponds, and swamps to the side.
A dozen public access points, and another boat ramp being built. See the ARWT Access web page.
- Atkinson County, GA: access at Willacoochee Landing at GA 135 plus Carolina Bays;
- Berrien County, GA: Sheboggy Boat Ramp at US 82, Berrien Beach Boat Ramp at GA 168, and canoe launches at Nashville Landing at GA 135 and at Rowetown Church Cemetery (this one is private, so ask first);
- Lanier County, GA: at Lakeland Boat Ramp (GA 122), Pafford’s Landing, Burnt Church Landing, and Hotchkiss Road;
- Lowndes County, GA: funded and in process Naylor Boat Ramp at US 84;
- Echols County, GA: a boat launch at Mayday at Howell Road and the GA-DNR Statenville Boat Ramp at GA 94;
- Hamilton County, FL: Sasser Landing (aka Alapahoochee Launch), Jennings Bluff Launch with its stairs, and Gibson Park Ramp.

You can see a wide variety of different wildlife using this mode of travel. Racoons fishing a crayfish from the creek side, yes, they fish to, or a variety of water fowl and other birds. Squirrels playfully chasing each other around a tree or fearlessly jumping from limb to limb high up in the tree tops. I have even been so lucky as to manage to drift up on two beautiful bucks locked in combat. We stopped on the creek bank and quietly watched them settle their dispute, it was quite surreal. The other things that have to be watched out for is the reptilian life. Alligators and snakes are quite plentiful as one would imagine, but they generally leave you alone as long as you give them room. I never had any problems with any of the wild creatures sharing these magnificent wetlands area.
The swamp isn’t the only waterways in the area of Islandton. The Big and Little Salkehatchie Rivers join together to form the Combahee River. This river eventually ends up in Beaufort SC and dumps into the ocean. In its many miles of travel, it switches from fresh to brackish to, as you can guess, salt water. During this time, the variety and types of fish and wildlife change. One of the areas that I always frequented is called Sugar Hill Landing. It is located in Yemassee, SC. The varieties of fish remain pretty consistent to this point with a few additions. In this area, we start to see Shell Crackers and just a little further towards the coast we pick up Spot Tail Bass and the Occasional Striper. I can remember many times almost losing my rod and reel, and a couple of times actually having them yanked right out of the boat while fishing for Spot Tail Bass. They are a wonderful fish to hook into. Great fighters and also another great tasting variety of fish. One of the things I enjoy about this area is the Bald Eagles. One of my favorite fishing holes is right behind a small island. The trees on this particular island have always housed at least one Eagles nest. While sitting in this area fishing I would usually have the pleasure of watching an Eagle fish. Now you haven’t seen fishing until you see this.

WeHuntSC.com noticed considerable growth in site traffic this past week with the welcoming of several rabbit hunters from all over South Carolina. If you are into hunting rabbits and you?re in South Carolina, then you need to get in the loop with the rabbit hunters on our site. These guys are from all different corners of the state and are very passionate about rabbit hunting and the dogs they use to hunt them!
I don?t know much about rabbit hunting, but I?m learning slowly over time. Though, I can tell you from going hunting with Hoot and watching the message board that rabbit hunting is just as much about the dogs as it is about rabbits. I would venture to say that you won?t find many rabbit hunters who aren?t also dog lovers. Now it makes sense to me why Hoot didn?t even carry a gun when he took us rabbit hunting last winter.
It seems that the dogs must be trained year round and I will say that these ?bunn brothers? talk about the breed of dogs and where they descend from like they just researched someone?s family tree and wrote a report on their heritage. They know this stuff inside and out. If you?re not on the inside of the rabbit hunting world then the language they speak when it comes to blood lines can be a little hard to follow. I find it neat and interesting that these guys know all this information about their dog?s lineage and pedigree and discuss it so frequently. I guess it is necessary though if you want to have the best dogs trailing some rabbits!
We?re happy to have all the new site members aboard and welcome any others that may wish to join in on the fun!
We just rounded out our Thermacell Give-Away campaign and now a lot of WeHuntSC.com registered site members will be mosquito free this coming hunting season! A big thanks to Thermacell for partnering with us on this campaign to drive site registration and promote Thermacell in South Carolina.
So if you know any of these people, you may want to sit with them during the upcoming hunting season!
You may ask why I went to Inman to the True Timber headquarters earlier today? well it was for a reason? and we?re excited to announce that True Timber has gotten on board with WeHuntSC.com to sponsor not 1, but 2 competitions this year! True Timber Camo will be the title sponsor for the ?Youth Buck of the Year Competition?

While the briefest of walks, the trail at John Muir Ecological Park connects you to an important and mostly forgotten chapter of Florida history: our role in John Muir’s “Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf.”
Muir reached Cedar Key on October 23, 1867, after crossing Florida from the Atlantic Coast. This is one of the places he walked through, and the only such park in the state that commemorates this accomplishment.
Resources for exploring the area
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.
Length: 1/4 mile round-trip
Restroom: at the trailhead
Land Manager: City of Yulee
The park is along SR 200 just west of US 17 in Yulee.
It was not an easy thing to walk across Florida in 1867. It still isn’t today. At least now there are roads and trails. Muir wrote “it was the army of cat-briers that I most dreaded,” and he was no stranger to Florida’s swamp walks by the time he was done.
“Had the water that I was forced to wade been transparent it would have lost much of its difficulty. But as it was, I constantly expected to plant my feet on an alligator, and therefore proceeded with strained caution.”
Fortunately, the kind folks of Nassau County don’t expect you to wade into this floodplain forest as John Muir did. Starting at the parking area, follow the boardwalks.
They zigzag through through this forested swamp, connecting a series of picnic shelters together. Songbirds sing from the boughs of sweetgums and red maples. Ferns thickly carpet the forest floor. Mosquitoes hum.
It’s a short walk. Trail’s end is at an elevated berm, a railroad embankment. This was the main line of the historic Florida Railroad, one of Florida’s first railroads, which connected Fernandina Beach to Cedar Key.
As the eastern terminus of the Florida Railroad, this region is steeped in railroad history. Responsible for bringing the railroad to Fernandina Beach, Senator David Yulee – for whom the town was named – also was one of people fleeing the city by rail as the Union Blockading Squadron bombed the trestles between there and here.

Smoke from the fires was reported as far away as Atlanta and Orlando. The landscape is fluid and vividly detailed, with a dense variety of often caricatured flora and fauna. These tantalizing tidbits are seemingly all that remain of the ride's original concept.
She speaks with a heavy burlesque French dialect and tends to be overdramatic. Choo Choo Curtis a. Once a permit is obtained, the trip will be advertised so that others may join. The interior mechanism inside one of the vegetables became stuck, making its interior coil become hotter and hotter.
A natural-born mail carrier duck. The swamp's version of EeyorePorkypine is grumpy and The okefenokee swamp by nature, and sometimes speaks of his "annual suicide attempt".
Aquatic species include otters, minks, and beavers. All dogs must have rabies certificates and health records. Perhaps the least sensible of the major players, Churchy is superstitious to a fault, for example, panicking when he discovers that Friday the 13th falls on a Wednesday that month.
A bear ; a flamboyant impresario and traveling circus operator named after P.
Pig frogs and river frogs are similar in appearance to bullfrogs, which are absent from the swamp. This will help your eyes, and those of your The okefenokee swamp observers, adjust to the darkness.
Several species of large pitcher plants as well as smaller sundews and butterworts, which capture insects with a gluelike surface film on their leaves, are scattered throughout the swamp.
Rabbit has been rescued by the friendly owls, who are circling overhead carrying a white bed sheet that, from below, might give the impression of being a ghost. They wear identical black derby hats and perpetual 5 o'clock shadows. The Monster Plantation had to be completed in record time in order to open with the beginning of Six Flags' season in the spring ofbut the workmen made the deadline.
Again his face was covered, this time by his speech balloons as he stood on a soapbox shouting to general uninterest. In fact, the Kroffts' version of Tales of the Okefenokee seems to have been patterned quite heavily after Walt Disney's treatment of the Uncle Remus stories as created for the movie Song of the South and its related storybooks.

After logging ended in the 1940s, the tram fell into disrepair. The federal government purchased the property in 1979 to create the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. The bridges and roads were repaired for public use in 1998 and provide an unforgettable journey through the heart of tidal swamplands. Stop by Salt Creek for a short hike to a pier overlooking the creek and salt marsh. Don’t forget your binoculars and camera. Look for bald eagles and other species soaring overhead. Visit Fishbone Creek’s observation tower to scan the sky for the signature silhouettes of swallow-tailed kites from March until August. Popular Shired Island, at the end of County Road 357, is surrounded by salt marshes and tidal creeks. Visitors will find a short nature trail, a county campground and an improved boat launch.
Fanning Springs is both the name of a town and a significant spring that releases between 40 and 60 million gallons of clear, cool water every day, year-round. Particularly in winter, manatees glide up the short spring run from the Suwannee River to shelter in the relative warmth of the 72-degree water. This sparkling gem has attracted people for thousands of years. First inhabited by Native Americans, it became a stop for steamboats in the 1800s through the early 1900s. It remains a delightful swimming destination on a steamy summer day and was designated as a state park in 1997. The park is a hub of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail and also offers a short nature trail, shady picnic area, volleyball courts and comfortable rental cabins. The 31-mile paved Nature Coast Trail has been built along a historic rail line that passed through Fanning Springs and other small towns. Equestrians may enjoy a 4.5-mile segment that parallels the paved trail between Old Town and Fanning Springs. A historic railroad bridge near the Old Town Trailhead offers a lofty view over the iconic Suwannee River where sturgeon may be seen leaping during the summer and fall months. Additionally, visitors can access the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. This trail begins at the town of High Springs near the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. The river coils through the heart of north central Florida, ending in the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf of Mexico.
13.

Surface of black top made for an extreemly smooth riding through fields and swamps with good foliage shade. The surface was clean and tree debris from the storms were sawed away from the trail and removed. Grassy sides of the pathway were mowed and clean. This is a great path for viewing assorted wildlife including a huge cottonmouth moccasin sun bathing on the asphault (we didn't stop to visit). Deer, cows, chickens, hawks and occasional eagles abound as well as goats and the usual Florida native wildlife. If you plan to stop at one of the many benches thoughtfully set along the trail you should bring a good mosquito repellant during warm weather due to the swamp nature of much of the locale. Porta-potties are located at each of the three trailheads and midway is a first class his and hers pine panalled rest facility complete with stainless steel fixtures and diaper changing station. Quite impressive! All in all, this is the best longer ride in northeast Florida and similar in many ways to the Siver Comet trail in Atlanta. Go do it! You'll be glad you did. "
"This is the fourth trail we have reviewed and it is the best so far. We started at the Baldwin Brandy Branch Road trailhead where the trail is mostly flat and well shaded. It is extremely well maintained with grassy banks on both sides that had been recently mowed. Most of the trail is shaded by a canopy of trees. As you get nearer to the Jacksonville end, the trail is less shaded and there are several cross roads. The trail is well travled by other bikers, joggers and in-line skaters and is apparently used by horses also. The Jacksonville and Baldwin trailheads feature ample parking lots. The Jax parking lot was full by the time we arrived there attesting to the number of users of this trail. "
"This trail is perfect for everyone regardless of thier experience level. Ride, jog, walk or skate -- whatever your pleasure this trail will far exceed your expectations.
The 10-foot wide trail allows for plenty of room for couple and group rides. It's mostly shaded and provides plenty of livestock viewing. Just make sure you don't run over any chickens and you will have a blast. "

But when I called my associates 30 miles south at Pack's Landing, a supply store and boat landing on Lake Marion where I had left my car days before, I found that nobody was prepared at that moment to come get me, and though someone certainly would come and get me, exactly when wasn't entirely certain, nor at that moment easy to predict.
The house Bubba had emerged from was built in 1954, and Bubba told me the story of its predecessor, built in 1760, burning on Thanksgiving morning, 1953: "Daddy said 'Don't grab nothing, just get out,'" he recalled. "The whole house was built out of fat lighter" -- pitch pine, which burns like a candle. "We just did get out." Bubba stopped at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, to which he had the keys, and we explored the cemetery and the church itself, established in 1757 and currently in a building, created of local clay, built a century later.
Anyhow, between the Richardsons and the Lenoirs and the abandoned railroad I had camped near I got to feeling I had really managed to learn a bit about Sumter County, to say nothing of the route Lawson would have trod. The Lenoir Store only stood where it did because the old Mississippian Indian trail to the Santee Indian Mound ran by there, and that trail had become the dirt road along which I had walked, and that had given rise to the railroad -- since abandoned -- and the asphalt Horatio-Hagood Road I'd finished my trek segment on.
Bubba and I cheerfully conversed until we pulled into Pack's Landing, where talk instantly turned to the kind of good natured foolery that makes places like Pack's Landing -- and the Lenoir Store, and for that matter Sumter County -- the wonderful places they are. "What's the population of Horatio?" needled a fellow named Duck, who would have come to pick me up had I been more patient. He pronounced it HO-ratio. "Well, this morning it's about 25, since I'm down here," Bubba said, and off they went.

Vereen Memorial Gardens are located in Little River, near the NC state-line in Horry County, SC. The Gardens are home to a variety of wildlife and local history. Along the trails, you can find a variety of tree species, view wetlands and the inter-coastal waterway. You can also find a variety of birds that call the woodlands and wetlands home.
The TRACK Trail materials at Vereen Memorial Gardens were designed for use on any of the park’s trails. Starting at the CB Berry Community & Historical Center rear parking lot, the trails at Vereen Memorial Gardens make their way through a variety of woodlands and continue through to the wetlands. Boardwalks and bridges bring you through the wetlands and to the Atlantic Inter-coastal Waterway.
The trail from the trail-head to the wetlands and back is approximately 3 miles long.
Adventures for Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens
Birds of the CoastDifficulty:
Nature's Hide & SeekDifficulty:
Vereen Need For TreesDifficulty:
From Myrtle Beach. Drive North on Hwy 17. Vereen Memorial Gardens is located on the right, about ½ mile before the NC border.
From Wilmington. Drive South on Hwy 17. Vereen Memorial Gardens is located on the left, about ½ mile after the border for SC.
The TRACK Trail program is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.
The Vereen Memorial Garden TRACK Trail was made possible through a partnership formed with the Horry County Parks and Rec Department.

The Greenway Program will connect more than 70 miles of multi-use trails in Columbia, Richmond and Aiken counties. The project encompasses Euchee Creek Greenway, Savannah Rapids Pavilion and the Augusta Canal Trail in Columbia County, and the trails will connect to downtown Augusta, south Augusta, Fort Gordon and North Augusta, South Carolina. The Greystone Preserve project includes the construction of a new outdoor educational campus on the preserve, which has more than 260 acres of running or hiking nature trails, in North Augusta.
Through the neighborhood conservation initiative, the Land Trust is working with Columbia County neighborhoods such as Farmington, Sumter Landing and River Island to preserve greenspace. So far, more than 300 acres have been preserved in and around Columbia County neighborhoods. As part of its farmland conservation efforts, the Land Trust has preserved 2,300-plus acres of farms in and around Columbia County and Clarks Hill Lake.
If You Go:
What: Bash on the Banks on the Savannah River
When: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Thursday, October 27 for ages 21 and older
Where: River Island Clubhouse
How Much: $50 per person; cash bar available
More Info: csrlt.org

This weekend’s paddling trip to Lake Marion was nearly perfect. There was fantastic weather, beautiful scenery, excellent food, good company, and a venue with interesting history. Unfortunately, that history has been somewhat tainted and full of controversy.
Names like “Santee” and “Congaree” give indication that the original inhabitants of the area were Native Americans. Colonists also found the Santee River Basin a fertile ground for plantations and farming. Unfortunately, they also brought smallpox, which wiped out the Congaree tribes by the 1700’s. Francis Marion carried out his raids during the Revolutionary War from the dense cypress forests, earning him the name “Swamp Fox.” Lake Marion now bears his name.
As for the town of Ferguson itself, the story starts with two Chicago businessmen, Francis Beidler and Benjamin Ferguson. Post Civil War South Carolina was impoverished, and Beidler and Benjamin were able to purchase huge tracts of forest land at bargain prices. Their holdings included most of the Congaree-Wateree-Santee (Cowasee) Basin. According to an article in the Columbia Star…
In 1881, two lumber magnates from Chicago, Francis Beidler and B.F. Ferguson formed the Santee River Cypress Lumber Company and purchased over 165,000 acres of land along the Congaree, Wateree, and Santee Rivers in South Carolina.
Beidler and Ferguson, realizing the forests of the Northeast and Midwest had been exhausted, meant to capitalize on the bald cypress trees they discovered in the virgin Santee floodplain. They built a lumber mill on the Santee River and constructed a “town” in which the workers could live. The new town was called Ferguson.
The town grew quickly, and was one of the first towns in South Carolina to have indoor plumbing and gas lighting in the streets. It was a self-contained community that remained somewhat isolated from the other towns. Logs were sent by rail over to Eutawville and Cross for transfer to other parts of the state, but its residents did not interact much with those villages. Workers were paid in scrip rather than cash, and were forced to purchase from the company business located in the town. Examples of Ferguson scrip coins can still be found on eBay and at antique coin vendors.

Located between Osceola National Forest and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, John Bethea State Forest protects nearly 40,000 acres.
It exists to establish a continuous wildlife corridor for many threatened and endangered species in this vast swampy landscape along the Florida-Georgia border.
It protects the waterways and aquifers that sustain the Okefenokee Swamp, the Suwannee River and St. Marys River. And it is helping to accelerate the restoration of the great longleaf pine forests of the Southeastern United States.
Maple Set Recreation Area is in the far northeast corner of the forest, adjoining the headwaters of the St. Marys River. It is home to Maple Set Campground, a primitive tent camping area.
The Maple Set Trail is made up of several blazed segments that total 2.5 miles. A quarter mile upper loop provides access from the campground to a short boardwalk, picnic area and swimming hole on the river.
The 0.9-mile lower loop starts from the same spot, leading through the wet river bottom and its cypress knees before following grassy service roads back to the parking area.
Another 1.3 miles of spur trails are accessible from the southern end of the lower loop.
The trail along the river is quite beautiful and well-marked, while the return portion of the southern loop can be a bit tricky to follow through the river bottom.
The spur south along the river is likewise very nice and well-marked, while the east-west spurs between the river and CR 127 are less so.
Resources for exploring the area
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.
Length: 2.5 miles in loops and spur trails
Trailhead: 30.524425, -82.231083
Land manager: Florida Forestry Service
Day use is allowed 1-1/2 hours before sunrise until 1-1/2 hours after sunset. Overnight parking is not allowed without a campsite reservation.
Leashed dogs welcome. Bring bug spray, sunscreen and plenty of water.
Primitive camping (temporarily closed) is available by reservation.
Heading west on Interstate 10 from Jacksonville, take exit 333 and follow signs for Glen St. Mary. You will pass through Glen St Mary in 1 mile.

As I stood there watching the wading birds in the ponds, a pair of bald eagles circled overhead.
Just up the road at 40 Acre Park, I was delighted by the bird life and the quiet. This small city park has recreational facilities, but the hidden gem is the old ponds that the hatchery abandoned decades ago. They’ve become rectangles of swamp, with worn paths between them. As I walked down the causeway, two sandhill cranes looked up, curious.
We tend to pack as much research as we can into our trips. So during our “unscheduled” time, John and I slipped away with Robert and Laura for a ride on the newest portion of the Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. This paved extension from Carraway into the edge of Palatka, ending not far from St. Johns Water Management District headquarters, meant a radical change at Rice Creek. I’d hiked over the beautiful old railroad trestle there more than once, as it was part of the Florida Trail. We found it replaced by a long-span bridge that a truck could drive across, with a new causeway supporting it. Remembering the beauty of the creek crossing, I wasn’t fond of the “progress” to make the bike trail happen. The trail had officially opened the weekend before we arrived.
Another trail, heading in the opposite direction from Palatka to St. Augustine, was close to completion and we’d expected to ride it as a group before we all departed the next morning. Nasty weather that morning made our plans change. Mike Adams, who assumes the persona of William Bartram at special events, invited us out to his riverfront plantation instead. In full Bartram regalia, he led us on a hike out to the St. Johns River.
We stepped out onto a boardwalk and surveyed the sweeping view. Progress, it seems, has left the St. Johns River alone for much of its length. While cypress logging and the building of towns, farms, and bridges have changed the landscape forever from what the Bartrams saw and documented, there are still long stretches of the river that are wild. The Bartram National Recreation Trail lets you experience the river through the eyes of William and John, our earliest explorers who left a trail for us to follow.

ABOUT THE TOUR: Guests that visit Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross, Georgia can step back in time aboard “The Lady Suwannee” the Okefenokee Railroad. The train tour will take you on the adventure of a lifetime. Many points of interest will be featured on your journey including a stop at Pioneer Island which is rich in history (will be one of the main attractions of the tour).
The 1.5 mile railroad system at the Okefenokee Swamp Park serves as a mode of transportation for the park, circling part of the Great Okefenokee Swamp. The railroad track was completed in January of 1999 and train tours began in the Spring of 1999.
ABOUT THE TRACK: The track was installed by B.R. Moore Construction Company. This company has over 30 years experience in track construction.
MATERIAL USED: 13,500 track spikes – L.B. Foster Co., Norcross, GA; 15,000 feet of 30 lb. rail; 808 rail joint bars; 3,200-5′ crossties – B&M wood products, Manor, GA; 1,800 tons of ballast stone – Dixie Roadbuilders, Waycross, GA
ABOUT THE TRAIN:The train is a 36-gauge replica steam engine with three coaches built by Cummings Locomotive of New Brunswick, Canada. The train is powered by a Perkins Turbo Diesel (108 HP). Seating capacity is 80 adults or 95 children.

West Columbia Mayor Horton and City Council Member Elect Belinda Gergel and Tracy Swartout, Congaree National Park Superintendent joined us and spoke about the importance of the Congaree River to South Carolina and the region. American Rivers also released a new waterproof map and interpretative guide of the Congaree River Blue Trail.
The Congaree River Blue Trail is a real asset for local communities, and the trail map and online interpretive guide will make it even easier for people to get out and enjoy the river with their family and friends. As demonstrated by the many partners and civic leaders attending the paddle and celebration, The Congaree River brings all the surrounding communities together and fosters a sense of civic pride.
American Rivers is working hard to enhance communities’ access to and opportunity for recreation and the enjoyment of these valuable assets. We are rekindling the public’s appreciation for America’s rich river heritage. As more people learn to appreciate the gift of rivers, they will want to protect them. That’s what blue trails are all about.

(All Images Photographed by Brad Bates)
One thing a Back Road Warrior hopes for when they are out exploring is an adventure. And folks, today this Back Road Warrior was not disappointed.
I began the day by trekking south off of Alternate Highway 17 in Cottageville SC via Jacksonboro Rd to Charleston Highway (aka Hwy 64), to about a mile shy of Jacksonboro, SC.
You see, I live in what is known as the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and we are known for three things: food, beautiful scenery, and history….LOTS of history. The Charleston area has been host to everything from the American Revolution, to the American Civil War, and beyond.
Every building, beach, field, and stream has a story.
And in the case of Charleston, a well documented story.
But some things, though documented, still manage to get lost along the road side of life and the road side of history. And several notable and historical American events are chronicled right here in this Podunk little community called Jacksonboro, SC.
How do I know? Because I take the back roads silly!
Oh, and I don’t let those little brown signs that say things like “Historical Marker 1/2 Mile” go by without me stopping to check out what it says. And more times than not, it leads me to something so spectacular, and so off the beaten path…that had I not stopped to check out that little road side marker, I might have driven right on by…and like so many others in America, let this little gold nugget of history get further lost by the wayside.
First stop…the Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery right there on Highway 64. (coordinates are 32.7974255, -80.4910373, ya know…in case you want to visit). For me this was about a 15 to 20 minute ride from home. From Charleston you’re looking at more like a 30 to 45 minute ride. But totally worth it in my opinion.
This cemetery (along with the now long gone accompanying church) was founded back in 1728 by the Reverend Archibald Stobo (what a name!). It was also known as Pon Pon Church. Later in the 19th century the church took up residence in the nearby town of Walterboro, SC. Sadly, the original building burned down in 1886.
I LOVE having history right in my back yard.

They now are most often seen in the river. As time goes on, the beavers may return. But even so, this area is an important wetland habitat. Birding opportunities abound on all trails, but especially on the trails on the north side of the river. This trail is for hiking, biking, and jogging. At the head of where the beaver ponds once began, there is a short rocky section and the entire trail is under shaded canopy.
RIDGE LOOP TRAIL
This six feet wide .75 mile trail begins in sight of the covered bridge where Beaver Creek dumps into the South Fork River. If you look carefully, to the right of the trail as it begins to climb up the ridge, old wheel ruts from “buggy days” can be seen when a horse and wagon was the mode of transportation. Ferns can now be seen growing in the old ruts. While heavily wooded with big trees providing a shaded canopy, the top of the ridge was once planted in cotton in the late 1800s. Much of the park was once in agricultural use whether planted in cotton or fenced for livestock. While this loop is just under a mile, it is also part of the overall trail system that accommodates hikers, mountain bikers, and joggers.
Presently, there are 12 miles of horse trails in the park. These trails are designed for equestrians. Bicycles are not allowed on these trails. Dogs are also not allowed on horse trails. These trails go through a variety of environments. While almost unnoticeable, there are remains of old home sites from the 1800s. An agriculture society once occupied this area and, as the years have gone by, nature is taking back what had been altered by man. The state park was established in 1970. However, until the state park acquired additional land in the mid 1990s, private companies were managing portions of the properties for timber production. The overall state park management plan is to help provide sound resource perservation and conservation. However, due to the various uses of the land before it was acquired by the state park, there are numerous environments from “natural” forested areas to formerly “timber” managed areas. Along the creeks, large hardwoods with high canopies will be seen.

We were looking for anything that moved, particularly a pair of slit-pupiled eyes staring at us just above the water's surface in a place where the unstable, quivering peat earned the Native American name meaning ''Land of the Trembling Earth.''
We came out cold, wet and tired, but with an eagerness to return.
We were up against temperatures in the 40s and rain - as if the eight miles over flat, nearly motionless water wasn't enough. But we had driven six hours from Athens the afternoon of Feb. 7 to get here. Despite the weather, we were not stopping.
Kingfisher Landing, off U.S. Highway 1 on the swamp's east side, was our spot to put in. At 10 a.m. Feb. 8 we began unloading the boats from the trailer. We would be paddling on a man-made paddling trail through marshes and lakes within the swamp to a 20-foot-by-20-foot sheltered platform built above the water.
We slid four canoes and a single and a double sea kayak into the water. I was paired in the double sea kayak with Stephanie Haas, a horticulture student.
Once in the water, there was no turning back. With many miles worth of dense reeds and mud to the east, west and south, there was no practical way out except the way we came.
In search of something wild
We figured our chances were pretty good that we'd catch a glimpse of something wild, especially a toothy-smiled alligator. But when we arrived and took the weather into account we realized those odds were a little longer so, with each stroke, each of us had our eyes locked on the banks.
The trail ranged in width from about 50 feet to less than 10. The thin parts were a challenge to navigate due to the brush clawing at your face and the mud on the bottom impeding your momentum. We had to take our first break less than two miles in. It wasn't long after that Mother Nature teased us.
It was about 11 a.m. and the sky was beginning to clear as we came upon one of the swamp's many ''wet prairies.'' The trail was still bordered by golden reeds standing about four feet high, but the taller brush cleared away. Out of nowhere came a sound like a car alarm gone haywire in a tunnel.