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Ride of Nation's Trails I

by Georgia Brown

From the mountains to the sea, outdoor lovers in South Carolina can choose between miles of secluded hiking and riding trails. The Sumter and Francis Marion National Forests offer routes as diverse as the mountain gorges of the Appalachians and the sandy, sub tropical plains of the coast. The rewards of a wilderness trek may be a glimpse of a black bear in the forest or a rare species of bird in a remote swamp.

South Carolina serves up short, level trails for beginners and arduous treks to find hidden waterfalls for the adventurous. The Palmetto Trail, a cross-state trail still in the growing stage, will span 425 miles from the mountains to the sea. When completed, it will become one of only a handful of cross-state trails in the nation. Segments already completed pass through the state's national forests.
Sumter National Forest

The largest region of the Sumter National Forest is located in the heart of the piedmont north of Newberry. Trails predominately follow the pine ridges and meander through hardwood forests of oak and hickory. The forest is home to many species of songbirds, wild turkeys and white-tailed deer.

Long Cane Horse Trail (1)
Pine, oak and hickory trees shade the hiking and horse trails on the Long Cane Trail. The 24-mile loop trail is strewn with pine needles over red clay and has many dips and climbs. It crosses several creeks that meander through the forest to the Savannah River.
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Two riders head out on the Buncombe Trail for an afternoon ride. Photo by Amber Heintzberger.
Riders who venture deep into the woods will be rewarded by historic points of interest like the Charleston Road, built in 1825 for a stagecoach service that carried people to the coast. Another must-see segment is an old wood forest area that was protected from loggers.

For those wishing to camp with their horse, the Fell Hunt campground is located at the trail head and has 40 sites with hitching posts and tie rails. There is water available for the horses and ample parking at the trail head. The trail is open year-round and there is a $3.00 parking fee per day. For more information contact the Long Cane Ranger District, Edgefield, SC at (803) 637-5396

Buncombe Horse Trail (2)
The Brick House Recreation Area was heavily logged and farmed, but in the 21st century the hardwood canopy of poplars, maples, and sweet gums has returned. The Buncombe Horse Trail has been a popular with hikers and trail riders. At the present time, the well is not functional and you have to bring in all the water you need. However, there is a stream near the trail where the water is safe for horses to drink.

The official map of the area shows 31.5 miles of trails designed by color-coded loops and various connectors that enable you to lengthen or shorten your ride. "The trails in the Enoree Ranger District are located in the rolling hills of the piedmont. They wind through upland pine and bottomland hardwoods with terrain that is mostly easy for the beginner rider," Ranger Alice Riddle said. "There are various trail lengths and riders can choose between a short three-hour ride or a full day ride."

There are several points of interest, including old cemeteries, creek crossings, wagon roads, and plantation sites. Wildflowers dot portions of the trail and in the springtime dogwoods offer brilliant displays of color in spring.

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Signs at the Buncombe Trailhead welcome hikers and riders and have free maps available. There is a drop box for your parking fee and hiker/rider registration form. Photo by Amber Heintzberger.

The trail is open all year, but a blaze orange vest should be worn during fall big game season. No hunting is allowed on Sundays in South Carolina. For more information contact the Enoree Ranger District Office, Union, SC, (864) 427-9858.

Woods Ferry Horse Trail (3)
On the east side of the forest near Chester, the Woods Ferry Trail consists of 9-miles of looped riding trails. The area is abundant in wildlife because of the proximity to the Broad River. There's a chance of seeing deer and wild turkey, in addition to red-tail hawks, quail, blue heron, and even a rare osprey.

The Woods Ferry Recreation Area has a campground offering a few horse sites with 10 x 20 corrals. The trails are open year-round and with a good source of water and trails, it makes a good one-night expedition. There are no parking or day fees, but it is required that horses are shod. To learn more about the Woods Ferry Recreation Area, contact Enoree Ranger District, Whitmire, SC, (803) 276-4810.

Andrew Pickens Ranger District (4)
This part of the Sumter National Forest is a slice of the Appalachians in the northwest corner of the state. Stretching along the Georgia state line, this forest is known for the lengthy blooming season of mountain laurel in the spring. Hardwoods such as hemlocks, white oaks and the glossy leafed evergreen galax thrive here.

Rocky Gap/Willis Knob Horse Trail (4)
The Rocky Gap Trail in South Carolina connects with the Willis Knob Horse Trail in Georgia to offer some of the most scenic horseback riding in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Like the early settlers, you will likely encounter deer and wild turkey in the woods. Deep pink rhododendron, yellow and white daisies and blue iris put on a seasonal show on the forest floor. 		1
There is plenty of room for horse trailer parking at the Buncombe Trailhead. Photo by Amber Heintzberger.


The historic Chattooga River, a nationally designated Wild and Scenic River, forms the state line. The rugged terrain and swift water provides exciting white water rafting. Moviegoers will remember river scenes from the movie "Deliverance" starring Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight. The horse trails in the valley climb to spectacular overlooks of the river canyon and wide vistas of surrounding farmlands.

The Rocky Gap Trail and the Willis Knob Loop hop back and forth along the Chattooga River and have three fords suitable for horses. The Adline Branch crossing is wide and shallow and open all year. Big Island and Moss Mill crossings may be difficult when the water is high. A forest service road connects with the trail allowing you to lengthen or shorten your ride according to your needs.

The nearby Whetstone horse camp offers sites with hitching posts, cooking grills and centrally located drinking water. There are no fees for day-use or parking, but there is a fee to camp. Advanced reservations are recommended. For details, contact the Andrew Pickens Ranger District, Mountain Rest, SC, at (864) 638-9568

Francis Marion National Forest
Hikers and riders will experience a seamless transition from National Forest to National Wildlife Refuge in this coastal recreation area. Some trails offer unique vistas of the unspoiled maritime forests along the coastal marsh. Others are shaded by magnolia, live oaks, loblolly pine and American holly. In northern region, the rolling topography creates bluffs where you can see for miles.

"It's surprising how quickly you can get away from populated areas and into a wetland wilderness of bottomland hardwoods," Ranger John Dupre said. "In dry seasons the water levels in rivers decrease and the footing becomes firm on many trails." The fact that some low areas flood several times a year keeps the undergrowth light.		 1
Many trails in the forests are well marked for easy navigation. Photo by Amber Heintzberger.


Jericho Horse/Hiking Trail (5)
In the vast tracts of forest and marsh along the coast, the Jericho Trail carves a path through an array of different habitats. On the 19-mile loop riders encounter bottomland hardwoods and stands of longleaf pine. Bird watching is a popular diversion. For nearly five miles it overlaps the Palmetto Trail where you may encounter mountain bicycles.
The best months to ride or hike are during dry spells from September through May. There is a primitive camping area near the trailhead off SC Rt. 41. There is no fee to camp, but a permit is required. For more information contact the district ranger office, Cordesville, SC (843) 336-3248.

Tuxbury Horse Trail (5)
Trails meander through a variety of habitat types, at times following narrow gauge rail beds built by loggers. Shaded is less available in mature longleaf pine forest. The bottomland hardwoods include sycamore, red and white oaks. The 14-mile trail is known for sightings of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers and songbirds. Primitive camping is available but a free camping permit is required. For details contact the district ranger office in McClellanville, SC at (843) 887-325

Future
Increased population in the South is drawing more people to the peace and quiet of National Forests. In the future towns along the Palmetto Trail will be linked to existing federal, state and county greenways. Ironically in some places it may resemble the rough tracts that the Indians and early settlers followed from the coast to the mountains.

What draws you to the wilderness? Sometimes it is the scent of oak trees after rain. Or the moment when your ears pick up background noise that turns out to be a trout stream or blackwater river flowing to the Atlantic. That's your reward for venturing so far from the hum of Interstates

 


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