Sumter National Forest

Parson's Mountain Recreation Area
Long Cane Ranger District

Parson's Mountain offers a 28-acre managed lake and a variety of recreational opportunities including camping, swimming, picnicking, fishing, boating, and hiking. A 23-site, heavily-wooded campground in the recreation area makes an excellent base for other activities. Parson's Mountain is open early spring through late autumn.

There are designated swimming and picnic areas, as well as a bath house. The day area, designed to accommodate the fishing enthusiast, has an earthen pier, a pedestrian bridge, and a paved boat ramp for nonmotorized boats. The lake is managed to enhance catfish, bream, and bass populations. Remember, South Carolina fishing and boating regulations apply.

Other amenities include a day-use area accessible to disabled visitors, a paved boat ramp and a centrally-located restroom. The picnic area has toilets, showers, tables, grills, and a shelter that may be reserved. Parson's Mountain also has a sewage dump for recreational vehicles.

Marked trails afford access to the upstate's diverse wildlife habitats. A half-mile easy interpretive trail originates at the swimming area.

Parson's Mountain Hiking Trail begins at the boat ramp and ends at the fire tower 1.4 miles away. This trail climbs from the lake to the top of Parson's Mountain, traversing bottomland and upland hardwoods, through pine, and terminates among dry ride scrub oaks. The trail is moderately difficult. It has a 400-foot elevation change.

Nearby points of interest include the historic town of Abbeville with its antebellum houses, cobblestone square, Burt-Stark Mansion, and renowned Opera House. Fell and Midway Hunt Camps are nearby, as is Candy Branch Rifle Range and Long Cane Scenic Area.

Directions: From Abbeville, take SC route 28 south 2.1 miles. Turn left on route SI-251, drive 1.5 miles to entrance on right.

Fees: There are camping and parking fees. Visitors should use the self-service fee station for day-use and camping. Shelter reservations must be made and fees paid at the Ranger Station. Reservations are first-come, first-served.

Lick Fork Lake
Long Cane Ranger District

Lick Fork Lake's 12 man-made acres are nestled in the southeastern portion of the Long Cane Ranger District. They offer a variety of recreational opportunities including camping, swimming, picnicking, fishing, boating, mountain biking, and hiking.

A heavily wooded campground, Lick Fork has ten campsites and offers easy access for other recreational activities. A camp host is on site during peak seasons. Lick Fork is open April through December 15.

There is a designated picnic area with a bath house, flush toilets, and showers. Other amenities include a handicap-accessible day area and a handicap accessible fishing pier. The picnic area has tables, grills, and a group shelter. Each camp site has a fire ring, a table, and lantern post. Pit toilets and water pumps are located throughout the campground. There is a sewage dump.

The day area accommodates fishing enthusiasts with a pedestrian bridge and boat ramp for nonmotorized boats. The lake is managed to enhance catfish, bream, and bass populations. South Carolina fishing and boating regulations apply.

Five access points of the Horn Creek Trail originate at this site. Although primarily used by mountain bikers, hikers are welcome. This is a moderately difficult 5.7-mile loop trail that winds through the rolling piedmont hills of oak, hickory, and pine.

The Lick Fork Lake Hiking Trail originates at the swimming area and circles around the lake, ending at the boat ramp. Hikers on this east two-mile loop will enjoy seeing distinctive piedmont vegetation.

Nearby points of interest include the town of Edgefield, Furys Ferry Boat Ramp, Strom Thurmond Reservoir, and Hamilton Branch State Park.

Directions: From Edgefield, take SC route 23 south 8.2 miles. Bear left onto SC 230. Drive 0.5 mile to route 219-263, drive 1.9 miles to entrance on right.

Fees: Camping and parking fees apply. Self-service fee station for day and camping use. Shelter reservations must be made and fees paid at the Ranger Station. Reservations are first-come, first-served.

Woods Ferry Recreation Area
Enoree Ranger District

Woods Ferry Recreation Area, in western Chester County, lies within a beautiful wooded flood plain. It is surrounded by upland pine woods and maturing hardwood forests. Attractions include camping, picnicking, and hiking. Woods Ferry has group picnic shelters, access to horse trails, a boat launch on the Broad River, and opportunities for fishing, and wildlife and plant observation. Rangers warn visitors that Broad River is unsafe for swimming or wading due to its strong current.

There are 28 campsites with tables and grills; seven have horse stalls. There are two group sites; one has a horse stall. The 50 picnic units have tables and grills. Other facilities include restrooms with hot showers and centrally-located water faucets. The water is shut off at first frost. Visitors should contact the Ranger District office for information on this campground's opening and closing days.

The recreation area takes its name from Matthew Woods, who acquired the land in 1817 and constructed a ferry for horse and buggy traffic to cross the Broad. Here, Confederate cavalry under General Wade Hampton crossed the river to harass Sherman's flank during the historic march through the South. In later years, the area was heavily logged, farmed, and grazed. In 1936 the Forest Service acquired the land. Extensive erosion control and reforestation work was started at that time and continues today.

Points of interest nearby are Leeds Campground and Rifle Range and Worthy's Bottom Wildlife Area, both in Sumter National Forest.

Directions: From Highway 72, go north on SC secondary route 25 for 2.1 miles to SC secondary route 49; continue north on SC 49 for 3.6 miles to SC secondary route 574; turn left and drive 3.6 miles.

Restrictions: Maximum 14-day camping limit

Fees: There is a modest per-night fee to camp.

Cherry Hill Recreation Area
Andrew Pickens Ranger District

This 29-site campground offers flush toilets, hot showers, and a dump station, but no hook-ups. Large spaces accommodate recreational vehicles, and there are gravel tent pads. The campground is open April to October, weather permitting.

Cherry Hill Recreation Area offers access to the nearby Chattooga River Picnic Area, Walhalla State Fish Hatchery, and Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area. Oconee State Park is a few minutes south of the campground. Visitors can hike part of the Foothills National Recreation Trail, or take a 30-minute drive northeast to Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall in the East. A small park store meets some campers' supply needs.

Directions: Follow SC Highway 28 north of the ranger station, taking the right fork (highway 107). Cherry Hill is located a few miles north on the right.

Restrictions: 14-day limit

Fees: There is a per-site, per-night fee. Pay at self-registration area within 30 minutes of arrival.

Brick House Campground
Enoree Ranger District

Brick House is a year-round camping facility. The surrounding forest environment provides an opportunity for many recreational activities such as wildlife and plant observation, hiking, photography, and boating. Buncombe Horse Trail is nearby. Brick House is in a very popular hunting area, therefore visitors should wear blaze orange during hunting season.

Brick House Campground has 23 campsites with tables, grills, and lantern holders. Some campsites have hitching stalls for horses. Other facilities include centrally located water faucets and restrooms.

Directions: From Whitmire take S.C. Route 66 southwest for 6.2 miles to Forest Service Road 358; turn left (south) and drive for 0.3 mile.

Restrictions: 14-day limit

Fees: First-come, first-served reservations.

Cassidy Bridge Primitive Camp
Andrew Pickens Ranger District

This primitive camp, open year-round, is located in a wooded area along the banks of the Chauga River, a popular fishing stream. During big game and turkey hunting seasons, the campground is open for hunters. During the rest of the year, the camp is available for group reservations two weeks or more in advance. Families like to reserve the camp for reunions, cookouts, and campouts. There is no electricity or running water at the camp. There are pit toilets.

Attractions nearby include Brasstown Falls, about 25 minutes from Cassidy Bridge Primitive Camp. Check with the ranger station staff for specific directions. The Chattooga River and commercial river outfitters are within 15 minutes.

Directions: Drive one-eighth mile north of the Andrew Pickens Ranger District Office (Stumphouse Ranger Station). Turn left onto Whetstone Road. Turn left onto Cassidy Bridge road and follow it all the way to Cassidy Bridge Primitive Camp on the left.

Restrictions: 14-day limit

Safety: Watch out for the usual dangers such as poisonous snakes and stinging insects.

Fees: There is a fee if the camp is reserved; otherwise the area is free during big game and turkey hunting seasons.

Several campgrounds are used primarily by hunters and are open only during hunting season. In Enoree Ranger District, they are Collins Creek, Fairforest, Herbert, Leeds, Poulus Loop, Rocky Branch, Sedalia, Tip Top, and Willow Oak Campgrounds. In Long Cane Ranger District, they are Cyper Creek, Fell, Midway, and Morrow Bridge Hunt Camps.