Francis Marion National Forest

Wambaw Office
PO Box 788
McClellanville, SC 29458
Phone: (843) 887-3257
Fax: (843) 887-3848

Witherbee Office
2421 Witherbee Road
Cordesville, SC 29434
Phone: (843) 336-3248
Fax: (843) 336-4789 Hours: Monday—Friday, 8 a.m.—4:30 p.m.

Sewee Visitor & Environmental Education Center
5821 Highway 17 North
Awendaw, SC 29429
Phone: (843) 928-3368
Fax: (843) 928-3828
Hours: Tuesday—Saturday, 9 a.m.— 5 p.m.

The Francis Marion National Forest is located north of Charleston, South Carolina. It is named for revolutionary war hero Francis Marion, who was known to the British as the Swamp Fox.

This National Forest is contained entirely in the counties of Charleston and Berkeley and is 252,368 acres in size. The forest contains the towns of Avendaw, Huger, Jamestown, and McClellanville. Charleston provides emergency services to the southeastern portions of the forest. Forest headquarters are located in Columbia, together with those of Sumter National Forest. There are local ranger district offices located in Cordesville.

In 1989, the forest was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Hugo; only the young growth survived the storm and its aftermath. Today, most trees in the forest do not predate this hurricane.

The forest is a multiple use area. Recreation opportunities include campsites, rifle ranges, boat ramps, and several trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, including the Palmetto Trail. The Forest Service also administers wilderness areas, experimental forests, timber production, and protection and management of wildlife and the watershed.

• Picnicking
  • Buck Hall Recreation Area
  • Canal and Huger Recreation Areas
  • Honey Hill Recreation Area

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