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Fork Swamp Trail, Congaree National Park
November 10, 2018 @ 10:30 am - 6:00 pm
Fork Swamp Trail, Congaree National Park
Richland County, SC
Regional Director: Caroline Eastman
Fork Swamp Trail (#9) [From the National Park website]
Distance: 0.6 miles
The park’s newest trail, which was opened in late 2017, provides access to the Fork Swamp area of the park. The trail runs alongside a narrow section of Bates Old River, a large oxbow lake created by a hurricane in 1852.
Our November trip will take us to back to Congaree National Park. However, we will get to explore another of the new trails in recently acquired land: Fork Swamp. The area has a relatively short trail and an old logging road. As is true of most of Congaree Swamp, there are lots of interesting areas to explore off the trail. If we’re lucky, the trail and road will be mostly dry. But, if you want to fully explore the area, be prepared to get your feet wet. There are otters in the area; November should be a good time to see them.
Meet at 10:30 at the small parking area at the entrance. A few cars can park in this lot; most will need to park on the entrance road. Be sure to allow space for cars to turn around and possibly leave early as needed. Be prepared for lunch on the trail; there are no convenient picnic areas. There are no restrooms.
Participants will select a restaurant for dinner. Big T in Gadsden has great BBQ and limited other options. It’s convenient for Columbia participants. Calhoun House of Pizza has a more varied menu and is probably more convenient for coastal folks.
James Wilson posted a nice description and map on GaiaGPS for a spring visit:
https://www.gaiagps.com/public/Rw7CbDd78PHR5p3wnrwPySA5/?layer=CalTopo
Directions to Fork Swamp Trail:
The trail entrance is on US 601 just north of the Congaree River. Select your favorite route to get to US 601.
From Charleston Interstate 26 to the 601 north exit would work.
From Columbia, take Sumter Highway [US 378] to 601 south.
The trail access road is just north of the Congaree River Bridge and boat ramp. Unfortunately, there is no marker for the trail on US 601. The dirt access road is directly across 601 from the parking area for the Congaree River Ferries historical marker. Take the road down to a small parking lot and park along the access road or in the lot.
There is a sign once you have reached the trailhead. Lat/long for the historical marker is at the end of this description if you want to use that location.
If you turn at the nice trail marker on 601 you will get to the trailhead for the Bates Ferry Trail. This is a great trail but not the one SCAN has selected for this month’s trip.
Directions to Big T Bar-B-Que [2520 Congaree Rd, Gadsden, SC 29052]:
Get on US 601 North. Go north. Turn left at SC 48, Bluff Road. Drive about 6 miles.
Turn right at Congaree Rd in Gadsden. Drive about 3 miles. Big T is on the left.
Directions to Calhoun House of Pizza [721 Harry C Raysor Dr, St Matthews, SC
29135]:
Get on US 601 South. Go south. Go through St. Matthews past SC 6. Calhoun House of
Pizza is on the left.
Information about the Historical Marker:
Congaree River Ferries
Marker ID: SCHM 40-185
Location: on U.S. 601
County: Richland
Coordinates:
N 33° 45.781 W 080° 38.533
33.76301666 -80.64221666