Hell Hole Swamp and Francis Marion National Forest

Berkeley County, SC
May 25, 2019 10:30am (Day Trip)
May 23 – 26/27, 2019 (Car Camping)
Regional Director: Marcus Sizemore

On Saturday May 25, SCAN will visit the Francis Marion National Forest. We’ll gather at the Hell Hole Road campground at 10:30am. From there, we’ll break out into smaller  groups for exploration of this vast and diverse area. Options include road cruising for snakes and herps, visiting pitcher plant bogs, scouting Carolina Bays, bird watching, and seeking out unusual wildflowers. Marcus Sizemore has some leads on a few new interesting locations to examine, depending on recent rainfall and river levels.

Potential locations include:
• Guilliard Lake
• Battery Warren Trail
• Palmetto Trail – Swamp Fox Passage – Wadboo Creek Boardwalk (good spot for herps)
• Florida Bay

This will be SCAN’s seventh year taking part in the annual ‘Under a Low Country Moon’ interpretive weekend. Under a Low Country Moon (ULCM) is comprised of a group of naturalists who have met on Memorial Day weekend annually since 2001. The weekend includes lots of road cruising, with stops for on-foot exploration. There are a few ponds and creeks that can be traversed in a kayak or canoe. Evening activities include road cruising, star gazing, s’more eating contests, and, if we’re very lucky, musical interludes by several of our talented friends.

ULCM members will start setting up camp on Thursday. The last stragglers don’t leave until lunchtime on Monday. Both hotel and rustic camping options are available. The campground is simply a field (mowed by our own Paul Kalbach and Randy McManus (thanks Paul and Randy!), so plan to pack in and pack out everything you need. The closest hotels are approximately 30 minutes away in Moncks Corner. Feel free to join in the fun for as long as you like!

Dinner:
Due to the remote location of this trip, dinner will be potluck at the campground. Paul Kalbach will be making BBQ for the carnivorously inclined. Please plan to contribute sides or additional dishes. Check out our Facebook page or email Kim McManus to indicate what type of items you’d like to contribute.

A few camp stoves will be available for heating items. Don’t forget your coolers as it could be a warm day and we don’t want anything to melt or spoil. Ice for drinks will be available.

There are no facilities at the campground, so please plan accordingly. The nearest restroom is ~15 minutes away in Jamestown at the gas station (BP/Kangaroo).

Directions:
Forest Road 158 / Hell Hole Road
33°10’41.7″N 79°45’59.4″W
33.178249, -79.766493

From the Interstate:
1. From 1-26E, take exit 194 towards Road 16 / Jedburg / Pinopolis
2. Turn LEFT on Jedburg Rd and go 5.1 miles.
3. Turn RIGHT on US-176E and go 0.4 miles.
4. Turn LEFT on Black Tom Road / State Road S-8-467 and go 5.7 miles.
5. Keep RIGHT to continue on State Road S-8-413 and go 0.2 miles.
6. Turn LEFT at the 2nd cross street onto US-17 Alt N / South Live Oak Drive and go 5.5 miles.
7. Use the left 2 lanes to turn slightly LEFT onto US-17 Alt N / US-52 W / N US Hwy 52 and go 1.9 miles.
8. Take a slight RIGHT onto US-17 Alt N and go 5.6 miles.
9. Turn RIGHT onto Bethera Road / State Road S-8-48.
10. After 0.2 miles, continue on Bethera Road and go 5.4 miles.
11. Turn RIGHT onto SC-41 S and go 2.5 miles.
12. Turn LEFT onto Hell Hole Road / Forest Road 158.
13. Take the first RIGHT into the campground.

From Charleston, SC to Hell Hole Road, Huger, SC 29450
1. Merge onto US-17 N / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge / Septima Clark Pkwy via the ramp to Mt Pleasant
2. At the end of the bridge, stay LEFT to continue on US-17 N / N Hwy 17 and go 7.7 miles.
3. Use the left 2 lanes to turn LEFT onto SC-41 N and go 23.2 miles.
4. Turn RIGHT onto Hell Hole Road / Forest Road 158.
5. Take the first RIGHT into the campground.

Refer to the May 2019 newsletter for detailed maps and photos. The road is tricky to find the first time, so if you have never been to the Hell Hole campground, please arm yourself with as many maps and GPS devices as you can!