About: The Francis Marion National Forest is one of two forests in South Carolina that are managed together by the United States Forest Service, the other being the Sumter National Forest.The Francis Marion National Forest is 263,904 acres. The forest is a multiple use area. Recreation opportunities include campsites, rifle ranges, boat ramps, and several trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, as well as off-road motorcycling and atv riding specifically at the Wambaw Cycle Trailhead. The Forest Service also administers wilderness areas, experimental forests, timber production, and protection and management of wildlife and the watershed.
Forest headquarters of both South Carolina forests are located together in Columbia at 4931 Broad River Road, Columbia SC 29212. Telephone is 803-561-4000.
There are four officially designated wilderness areas within Francis Marion National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System: Hell Hole Bay, Little Wambaw Swamp, Wambaw Creek, and Wambaw Swamp.
In 1989, the forest was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Hugo. Today, most trees in the forest do not predate this hurricane.
Hours: The dirt roads in Francis Marion National Forest are open year-round, twenty-four hours a day.
Location: From the intersection of Highway 41 and US Highway 17, drive north on US 17 for 11 miles. Turn left onto the dirt Ion Swamp Road (FS Road 228). This National Forest is contained entirely in the counties of Charleston and Berkeley. The forest contains the towns of Awendaw, Huger, Jamestown, and McClellanville. Forest headquarters are located in Columbia. There are local ranger district offices located in Cordesville.
Links: https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/south-carolina/francis-marion-national-forest
