Hikers Find Pure Wilderness in South Carolina
@DSeymoursLife described bushwhacking overgrown logging roads in South Carolina's Sumter National Forest for "pure, untamed wilderness" views with dogs and no crowds. The post featuring videos of smoky forests received 59 likes as hikers seek alternatives to crowded trails.
Sumter National Forest spans approximately 370,442 acres across western and central South Carolina, a landscape reclaimed from heavily eroded and logged-out farmlands in the 1930s. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the forest in 1936, and the Civilian Conservation Corps undertook the initial work of stabilizing the soil and planting new trees. The forest is not a single contiguous area but is divided into three distinct ranger districts: the Andrew Pickens district in the mountains, and the Enoree and Long Cane districts in the Piedmont region. This geographical separation offers a wide variety of terrains, from rugged mountain trails and waterfalls in the Andrew Pickens district to the rolling hills of the other two districts. For those seeking true solitude, the forest includes the Ellicott Rock Wilderness, a protected area of about 2,859 acres that is unique for being the only wilderness to straddle three states: South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina. The forest is also bordered by the Chattooga River, designated as a Wild and Scenic River. Together, the Sumter and Francis Marion National Forests see about 770,000 visitors annually who come for a variety of activities including hiking, hunting, and fishing. While popular trails exist, the sheer size and history of logging in the area have left a network of old roads, providing opportunities for off-trail exploration away from more frequented paths. For hikers with dogs, the U.S. Forest Service requires that pets be kept under physical restraint at all times on trails. In areas with higher foot traffic, a leash is mandatory to ensure the safety of other visitors, including horseback riders and mountain bikers who also use the forest's extensive trail systems. During hunting seasons, it is recommended that dogs wear hunter orange for visibility.
