| Sumter National Forest | |
|---|---|
 Submarginal private lands inside the Sumter National Forest which should be in trees instead of terraced for cultivation. (April 1941) | |
  | |
| Location | South Carolina, United States |
| Nearest city | Clinton, SC |
| Coordinates | 34°34′06″N81°35′31″W / 34.5683°N 81.5919°W /34.5683; -81.5919 |
| Area | 370,901 acres (1,500.98 km2)[1] |
| Max. elevation | Fork Mountain: 3,294 ft. (1,004 m), 34.9927, -83.0801 |
| Established | July 13, 1936[2] |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | www |
TheSumter National Forest is one of two forests inSouth Carolina that are managed together by theUnited States Forest Service, the other being theFrancis Marion National Forest. The Sumter National Forest consists of 370,442 acres (1,499.13 km2) which are divided into 3 distinct sections in western and central South Carolina. The Enoree Ranger District is the largest, comprising roughly 170,000 acres inChester,Fairfield,Laurens,Newberry, andUnion counties. Next is the Long Cane Ranger District, comprising about 120,000 acres inAbbeville,Edgefield,Greenwood,McCormick, andSaluda counties. The smallest district is the Andrew Pickens Ranger District comprising over 85,000 acres which lies entirely inOconee county and is part of the Appalachian Mountains. Forest headquarters of both South Carolina forests are located together in the state's capital city ofColumbia.
In July 1936, PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed the Sumter a separate National Forest. The Sumter is named forThomas Sumter, a leader of patriot regular and military forces in the South Carolina piedmont during theAmerican Revolution and war hero. The lands that became the Sumter were predominantly eroding old farm fields and gullies or extensively logged forests. Once the lands became part of the Sumter, the process of controlling soil erosion, regulating the flow of streams and the production of timber began. Over time, the land has been slowly restored and has become productive again.
The Andrew Pickens Ranger District is situated in the mountains of northwest South Carolina inOconee County. Local place names and streams attest theCherokee Indian heritage of the area, including theChattooga,Chauga, Cheohee,Tugaloo, Toxaway,Keowee, Oconee, Tamassee, and Jocassee rivers or creeks. The Ranger District is named forAndrew Pickens, commander of South Carolina rebel militia during the American Revolution. The ranger district offices are located nearMountain Rest. The Andrew Pickens Ranger District is home to the Chattooga River, a popular angling and whitewater destination. The Ellicott Rock Wilderness offers opportunities for solitude and primitive camping. The district also has numerous waterfalls and hiking trails.[3]
The ranger district offices are located inWhitmire, just between Union and Newberry. Interstate 26 runs along the southwest side of the district. US Hwy. 176 and SC Hwy. 72 crisscross the district. The Enoree is well-known for its recreation opportunities on the Enoree, Tyger and Broad rivers, as well as a challenging Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) trail. It also offers outstanding hiking, boating, hunting target shooting and equestrian opportunities.[4]
The Long Cane Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest is located in west central South Carolina, along the Georgia border. It is spread around the towns of Greenwood, Abbeville, McCormick and Edgefield. The ranger district offices are located inEdgefield. The Long Cane is home to the Forks Area Trail System, an internationally known biking trail network. Both piedmont districts offer outstanding hiking, boating, hunting, target shooting and equestrian opportunities.[5]
The Sumter National Forest includes approximately 2,859 acres (11.57 km2) of theEllicott Rock Wilderness, the only wilderness to straddle three states (South Carolina,Georgia, andNorth Carolina). The Sumter also has, as its western border, theChattooga River, aWild and Scenic River. The Andrew Pickens District is also home to 15waterfalls with drops ranging from 12 ft (4 m) to 75 ft (23 m).
The Enoree and Long Cane Ranger district supportSoutheastern mixed forests.[6] The Andrew Pickens ranger district hasAppalachian-Blue Ridge forests.[6]
Sumter national Forest offers a wide variety of activities such as hiking, backpacking, canoeing, horse back riding, mountain biking, motorcycle and ATV riding, target shooting, camping, hunting, and fishing.
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