Wateree Passage of the Palmetto Trail

Wateree Passage of the Palmetto Trail
Meet at the Campbell Creek Road Parking Area
Intersection of Campbell Creek Road and Evenwood Lane
GPS Coordinates: 33.8177, -80.5510
Saturday, October 28, 2023, 10:30 AM to ~ 4:30 PM

The Wateree Passage is one of the most diverse sections of the Palmetto Trail, traversing a variety of landscapes, from high hills on the east end of the trail down to a magnificent river swamp in the middle section of the trail. Also on the east end, the trail climbs to Molly’s Bluff (elevation 260 feet), one of the higher elevations in Sumter County, which, after leaves have fallen off the trees, offers excellent vistas across Wateree Swamp to Richland County. The middle section of the trail passes through part of Manchester State Forest, traveling along and on the remnants of an old SC Railroad line that crosses the Wateree River. The full length of the Wateree Passage is 11.4 miles.

This trip will explore the eastern section of the Wateree Passage (which is outlined with a dashed yellow line shown at the right side of the map included below). This section also connects to the river swamp region of Manchester State Forest, but it takes a little more effort to get to the swamp than it would from the western section.
We will meet at the Campbell Creek Road Parking Area (near mile marker 1 on the lower right side of the map included below) where there is plenty of parking. All the roads leading to the meeting area are dirt, but the conditions are not too bad if the directions below are followed (which is via Campbell Creek Road by way of Headquarters Road). Access to the meeting area using Evenwood Lane is also possible but it’s significantly rougher and a high ground clearance vehicle is recommended.

There are several options for exploration. From our meeting location, attendees can take the Palmetto Trail south for about 1 mile to Poinsett State Park recreation area or north for about 2.0 miles to Molly’s Bluff. Beyond Molly’s Bluff, the trail continues for about 0.3 miles before reaching a fairly steep descent down to the river swamp area which continues for about 6 more miles to the west side of the Palmetto Trail along US 601. Attendees can also drive up to the Foxville Road parking area (which has very limited parking) that provides access to the river swamp section of the Palmetto Trail via a 1.3 mile walk down the Parking Lot Trail on an old rail bed. Attendees can walk as far as they want but remember that you will need to backtrack along the same route (and distance) you already traveled to return to the starting parking area. There are no loop trails.

Trail to Poinsett State Park Recreation Area (south for 1.0 mile from the meeting area)
This section of the Palmetto Trail passes through Poinsett State Park and the habitat is mostly wooded. About 0.2 miles from the meeting area, there is a low area with a bridge that crosses Campbell Creek. About 1.0 miles from the meeting area is Poinsett State Park recreation area with access to restrooms, picnic tables, a large pond and, if you are so inclined, a playground. If you wish to drive down to this area, follow the directions for “Poinsett State Park Trailhead” on the information page following the map below.

Trail to steep descent past Molly’s Bluff (north for 2.3 miles from the meeting area)
This section of the Palmetto Trail starts out as a 2-track dirt road for a distance of about 1.2 miles beyond the gate to a covered waystation. It then transitions into a hiking trail beyond the waystation. The “road” section starts out with about 10 feet of low vegetation bordering both sides of the road with fairly open woods beyond that. After about 0.6 miles, the low vegetation eventually closes in on the road to become more dense woods. Just beyond the waystation, the trail rises about 130 feet to where the habitat is fully wooded but a little more open. The remaining trail to Molly’s Bluff and the steep descent is pretty much open woods. For those hearty individuals, the trail continues down a fairly steep slope that will eventually take them to the river swamp area where the habitat is mixed vegetation and stands of trees.

To Wateree Swamp or Molly’s Bluff via Parking Lot Trail (accessible from Foxville Road)
This route requires driving to the trailhead at Parking Lot Trail; the trailhead location is shown in the extreme upper right corner of the map included below. The Palmetto Trail is accessed using an old rail bed (there are no rails or crossties) by walking south for 1.3 miles to meet up with the “official” trail. At an information sign, hikers have the choice of continuing straight ahead to the swamp area (identified on the sign as FARMSTEAD 601 TRAILHEAD 8M) or turning east and ascending a fairly steep incline to get to Molly’s Bluff (identified on the sign as MOLLY’S BLUFF TO POINSETT PARK 3.4M). The “rail bed” section has about 15-20 feet of low vegetation bordering both sides of the rail bed with woods beyond that. The river swamp area habitat starts with mixed vegetation and stands of trees and eventually becomes a “swamp environment.” The trail habitat to Molly’s Bluff and beyond is fully wooded and, for the most part, open woods. If you wish to drive up to this area, follow the directions for “Foxville Rd. Parking Area” on the information page following the map below.

Directions to: Campbell Creek Road Parking Area of the Wateree Passage Trail (east side)
The location to meet is at the intersection of Campbell Creek Road and Eastwood Lane.

Parking Area GPS Coordinates (meeting location) = Latitude 33.8177, Longitude -80.5510

From the north – From US 378 near Sumter, take SC 261 (S Kings Hwy) south through Wedgefield for 9.2 miles. At the Manchester State Forest sign on SC 261 (GPS coordinates 33.8201, -80.5123), turn right (to the west) onto Headquarters Road. After 1 mile, turn left (to the south) onto Campbell Creek Road (which is unmarked). There are 2 crossroads on Headquarters Road before reaching Campbell Creek Road. For reference, they are Big Bay Road and River Road; if you get to the Campbell Pond Pier, you have gone too far and missed the turn. After turning onto Campbell Creek Road, travel 1.6 miles to the intersection with Evenwood Lane (which is also unmarked). This wide intersection at the above parking area GPS coordinates is the meeting location.

From the south – From Summerton, take US 15 north to Paxville for 9.3 miles. In Paxville, turn left (to the west) onto SC 261 through Pinewood for 13.4 miles. Note that after Pinewood, SC 261 curves around to the north. At the Manchester State Forest sign on SC 261 (GPS coordinates 33.8201, -80.5123), turn left (to the west) onto Headquarters Road. After 1 mile, turn left (to the south) onto Campbell Creek Road (which is unmarked). There are 2 crossroads on Headquarters Road before reaching Campbell Creek Road. For reference, they are Big Bay Road and River Road; if you get to the Campbell Pond Pier, you have gone too far and missed the turn. After turning onto Campbell Creek Road, travel 1.6 miles to the intersection with Evenwood Lane (which is also unmarked). This wide intersection at the above parking area GPS coordinates is the meeting location.

Dinner: Unfortunately, we do not know of any “nearby” places to eat. If anyone is familiar with the area and can make a dining location suggestion, please let everyone know when we meet before splitting up to explore.