Old Santee Canal State Park / Francis Marion Forest

Francis Marion National Forest – Hell Hole Swamp / Old Santee Canal Park
BERKELEY COUNTY, SC
May 25th – 29th, 2023
Thursday – Monday

For the 11th year, SCAN will join the naturalist group Under a Low Country Moon (ULCM) for their annual interpretive weekend. ULCM has been gathering over Memorial Day weekend since 2001. The group focuses on snake, frog and turtle spotting throughout the Francis Marion National Forest. Teams and individuals slowly travel the dirt roads in vehicles and on bicycles, watching for snakes and other critters. Stops are made at pitcher plant bogs, ponds, pine forests and cypress swamps for on-foot exploration. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down! Evening road cruises are often the highlight of the weekend. Back at camp, folks gather around the fire to tell tall tales and roast a few marshmallows.

For the folks who wish to camp, follow the directions to the grassy field that serves as home base just off Hwy 41 on Hell Hole Road. This is primitive camping, so plan to “pack it in, pack it out.” The first campers typically set up Thursday evening and the last tents are struck around midmorning on Monday. For those who prefer hot showers on occasion, there are several hotels about 30 – 45 minutes away in Moncks Corner or Mount Pleasant.

Restrooms are available at the Circle K / BP in Jamestown, approximately 15 minutes away from camp.

Notes:
• Hell Hole Road has several large mud bog areas and is now impassable unless you’re rolling in a lifted mud-bogger. Plan for on-foot exploration. Bicycles are a good alternative if that’s more your style.
• The mosquitoes will be out in full force. Stock up on Thermacells, bug spray and long-sleeved shirts.
• The Subway located inside the Circle K has not been open consistently in recent years. Have a plan B in mind if you usually get sandwiches from this shop.

Saturday: 10:30 am start
SCAN’s official outing day is Saturday. This year, we’re exploring Old Santee Canal Park/Fort Fair Lawn on the Cooper River up in Moncks Corner. The 195-acre Old Santee Canal Park has a rich history on display, diverse ecosystems atypical of the coastal plain, many trails and boardwalks, kayak access, and an impressive interpretive center. Right next door inside the park is also the Berkeley County Museum and just beyond that is the newly opened 80-acre Fort Fair Lawn which gives us several more habitat types and another more trails to explore.

Old Santee Canal Park has a $5 admission fee ($3 for seniors/military). There are restrooms at the park. Additionally, please note that the park is having a Native Plant Festival the same Saturday from 9am to 1pm. So the parking area of the park will be busier and noisier than normal that morning. Thankfully the park is very long.

For more information visit:
https://www.oldsanteecanalpark.org/Explore/Index.aspx
https://www.berkeleymuseum.org/visit-us
https://www.battlefields.org/visit/battlefields/fort-fair-lawn

Directions to Hell Hole Campground:
Forest Road 158 / Hell Hole Road
33.17825, -79.76649

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
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 5.4 miles.
4. Continue onto Clements Ferry Road / State Road S-8-33 for 0.1 miles.
5. Turn right onto SC-41 N and go 17.7 miles.
6. Turn RIGHT onto Hell Hole Road / Forest Road 158.
7. Take the first RIGHT into the campground.
Please note that Google Maps will take you to a different part of Hell Hole Road if you simply punch in “Hell Hole Road.” Make sure you’re navigating to the intersection of Hell Hole Road and Hwy 41. (Hell Hole Road is impassable from the Farewell Corner Road direction.) There are lots of dead zones and cell phone coverage is spotty. Texts work better than phone calls most of the time.

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Directions to Old Santee Canal Park:
Stoney Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC
33.19399, -79.97365

From Hell Hole Campground (~30 minutes):
1. Turn Right on SC-41 toward Boggy Head Rifle Range and drive 2.5 miles.
2. Turn LEFT on Bethera Road and drive 10.1 miles.
3. Turn LEFT on US-17 Alt S (at the road end) and drive 5.5 miles.
4. Turn LEFT on US-52 S (at the road end) and drive 1.3 miles.
5. Turn LEFT on US-52 Bypass S (at the first light after the canal bridge) and drive 1.1 miles.
6. Turn LEFT sharply onto Stoney Landing Road (at the first light) and travel ~0.7 miles to the gate.
7. Pay the $5 admission fee at the gate and head into the park. Two parking lots are be on the left.