Hampton Plantation & FMNF Hell Hole
May 24 @ 10:30 am - May 27 @ 4:30 pm
Francis Marion National Forest – Hell Hole Swamp
BERKELEY COUNTY, SC
May 24th – 27th, 2024
Hampton Plantation Historic Site
CHARLESTON COUNTY, SC
May 25th, 2024
Thursday – Monday
For the 12th year, SCAN will join the naturalist group Under a Low Country Moon (ULCM) for their annual interpretive weekend. ULCM has been gathering over Memorial Day weekend since 2001. The group focuses on snake, frog, and turtle spotting throughout the Francis Marion National Forest. Teams and individuals slowly travel the dirt roads in vehicles and on bicycles, watching for snakes and other critters. Stops are made at pitcher plant bogs, ponds, pine forests, and cypress swamps for on-foot exploration. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down! Evening road cruises are often the highlight of the weekend. Back at camp, folks gather around the fire to tell tall tales and roast a few marshmallows.
For the folks who wish to camp, follow the directions to the grassy field that serves as home base just off Hwy 41 on Hell Hole Road. This is primitive camping, so plan to “pack it in, pack it out.” The first campers typically set up Thursday evening and the last tents are struck around mid-morning on Monday. For those who prefer hot showers on occasion, there are several hotels in about 30 – 45 minutes away in Moncks Corner or Mount Pleasant.
Restrooms are available at the Circle K / BP in Jamestown, approximately 15 minutes away from camp.
Notes:
– Hell Hole Road has been fixed!!! Which means road cruising is back on the itinerary! Note, a vehicle with high ground clearance or 4×4 is recommended. Bicycles are a good alternative if that’s more your style.
– The mosquitoes will be out in full force. Stock up on Thermacells, bug spray, and long-sleeved shirts.
– The Subway located inside the Circle-K has not been open consistently in recent years. Have a plan B in mind if you usually get sandwiches from this shop.
Saturday: Hampton Plantation – 10:30 am start on 5/25/2024
SCAN’s “official” outing day is Saturday. This year, we’re exploring Hampton Plantation State Historic Site on the Santee River up above McClellanville. We’ll meet at Hampton Plantation at 10:30am. From the SC Parks site:
“Hampton Plantation State Historic Site is home to the final remnants of a colonial-era rice plantation and now serves as an interpretive site for the system of slavery and rice cultivation in the region from the colonial period through the end of the Civil War. The property also tells the story of the freed people who made their homes in the Santee Delta region for generations after emancipation. … The plantation grounds include walking trails through pine forest, views of Wambaw Creek, and the remains of rice fields that once stretched as far as the eye could see. Hampton inspired the works of SC’s first poet laureate, Archibald Rutledge—the last private owner of the house, who lived there until 1969.”
Hampton Plantation Historic Site has free admission. (However, there is a $10 admission fee to enter the house, $6 for SC Seniors.) There are restrooms at the site.
For more information visit: https://southcarolinaparks.com/hampton
Saturday Potluck and Social at Hell Hole Camp Ground: 5/25/2024 at ~4:30pm
After our regularly scheduled SCANning of Hampton Plantation and the FMNF on Saturday, we’ll be reinstating a traditional institution and convening at the Hell Hole campground for a potluck dinner and revelry! So please bring a dish, serving ware, a chair, your smile, and some campfire stories. It’s BYOB, so don’t forget your cooler! There is no power on site, so make sure your dish can either be served cold, kept hot, or heated on a camp stove.
After the potluck, there will be night herping and road cruising. So, plan to stick around late if that’s your jam!
Directions to Hell Hole Campground:
Forest Road 158 / Hell Hole Road
GPS Coordinates: 33.1785, -79.7653
From the Interstate:
1. From 1-26E, take exit 194 towards Road 16 / Jedburg / Pinopolis
2. Turn LEFT on Jedburg Rd and go 5.1 miles.
3. Turn RIGHT on US-176E and go 0.4 miles.
4. Turn LEFT on Black Tom Road / State Road S-8-467 and go 5.7 miles.
5. Keep RIGHT to continue on State Road S-8-413 and go 0.2 miles.
6. Turn LEFT at the 2nd cross street onto US-17 Alt N / South Live Oak Drive and go 5.5 miles.
7. Use the left 2 lanes to turn slightly LEFT onto US-17 Alt N / US-52 W / N US Hwy 52 and go 1.9 miles.
8. Take a slight RIGHT onto US-17 Alt N and go 5.6 miles.
9. Turn RIGHT onto Bethera Road / State Road S-8-48.
10. After 0.2 miles, continue on Bethera Road and go 5.4 miles.
11. Turn RIGHT onto SC-41 S and go 2.5 miles.
12. Turn LEFT onto Hell Hole Road / Forest Road 158. (It sneaks up on you!)
13. Take the first RIGHT into the campground.
From Charleston, SC to Hell Hole Road, Huger, SC
1. Merge onto US-17 N / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge / Septima Clark Pkwy via the ramp to Mt Pleasant
2. At the end of the bridge, stay LEFT to continue on US-17 N / N Hwy 17 and go 7.7 miles.
3. Use the left 2 lanes to turn LEFT onto SC-41 N and go 5.4 miles.
4. Continue onto Clements Ferry Road / State Road S-8-33 for 0.1 miles.
5. Turn right onto SC-41 N and go 17.7 miles.
6. Turn RIGHT onto Hell Hole Road / Forest Road 158. (It sneaks up on you!)
7. Take the first RIGHT into the campground.
Please note that Google Maps will take you to a different part of Hell Hole Road if you simply punch in “Hell Hole Road.” Make sure you’re navigating to the intersection of Hell Hole Road and Hwy 41. (Use the GPS coordinates.) Cell phone coverage is spotty, with lots of dead zones. Texts work better than phone calls most of the time.
Directions to Hampton Plantation State Historic Site:
1950 Rutledge Rd, McClellanville, SC
GPS Coordinates: 33.201, -79.436
From Hell Hole Campground (~45 minutes):
1. Turn LEFT on SC-41 toward Charleston and drive 5.9 miles.
2. Turn LEFT on Steed Creek Road and drive 11.9 miles.
3. Turn LEFT on US-17 N (at the road end) and drive 16.0 miles.
4. Turn LEFT on Rutledge Rd and drive 1.9 miles.
5. Turn RIGHT through the main gate (past the “big brown sign”) and travel ~0.5 miles to the parking lot.