Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Surfside Beach, South Carolina

Mill Branch is a single-lane, mostly gravel road running north/south through Francis Marion National Forest. Caution should be taken when getting up to speed due to sparsely scattered but deep potholes that tend to hide in the shade. This route is an easy drive that can be made in any vehicle and pa...
Learn more about Mill Branch

Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area was established by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources due to the purchase and donation of the property by The Nature Conservancy in 1974. This unique property represents a variety of habitats found in South Carolina, including diverse u...
Learn more about Santee Coastal WMA

The Francis Marion National Forest, situated north of Charleston, South Carolina, pays homage to the Revolutionary War hero known as the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. Encompassing the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and the Subtropical coniferous forest, this park offers a diverse rang...
Learn more about Chicken Creek Access - FSR 204B

The Francis Marion National Forest, situated north of Charleston, South Carolina, pays homage to the Revolutionary War hero known as the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. Encompassing the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and the Subtropical coniferous forest, this park offers a diverse rang...
Learn more about McConnell Landing - FSR 204F

The Francis Marion National Forest, situated north of Charleston, South Carolina, pays homage to the Revolutionary War hero known as the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. Encompassing the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and the Subtropical coniferous forest, this park offers a diverse rang...
Learn more about Battery Warren Historic Fort - FSR204A

The Francis Marion National Forest, situated just north of Charleston, South Carolina, pays homage to the renowned Revolutionary War hero, the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. Spanning the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and encompassing the Subtropical coniferous forest, this park offers...
Learn more about Wardfield B - FSR212B

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. It lies entirely within the Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion. The park is also entirely in the Subtropical...
Learn more about Stills Landing - FSR 211B

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. It lies entirely within the Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion. The park is also entirely in the Subtropical...
Learn more about Santee Bluff - FSR 150

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. It lies entirely within the Middle Atlantic Coastal Forests Ecoregion. The park is also entirely in the Subtropical...
Learn more about Pitch Landing - FSR 192

This trail loops through the northeast portion of Francis Marion National Forest and offers visitors a look into the Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion. Because it's a low-lying forest surrounded by rivers, it is prone to flooding and sometimes impassable. Check conditions before attempting. ...
Learn more about Francis Marion NF - SCAR Alternate

The Francis Marion National Forest, just north of Charleston, South Carolina, is a tribute to the famous Revolutionary War hero, the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. This park covers the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and the Subtropical coniferous forest, and it has a ton of different t...
Learn more about Wardfield Spur A - FSR212A

The Francis Marion National Forest, situated north of Charleston, South Carolina, honors the Revolutionary War hero known as the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. Encompassing the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and the Subtropical coniferous forest, this park provides a diverse array of t...
Learn more about Wardfield - FSR 212

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. It lies entirely within the Middle Atlantic Coastal Forests Ecoregion. The park is also entirely in the Subtropical...
Learn more about Guilliard Lake - FSR 150

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. It lies entirely within the Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion. The park is also entirely in the Subtropical...
Learn more about Francis Marion Forest - FSR 151

This is an easy scenic drive for those looking for more trails and less mud. The trail is mostly compacted sand and well-maintained, with plenty of room for passing traffic in most sections. You can access this trail via Mercy Lane or Peacemaker's Way. There are also several cut-throughs from Barnhi...
Learn more about Jamey's Swamp Road

This trail is a ride around the pasture with no challenge in between. The trail is mostly used as an access to other trails in the system, so some sections have well-worn tire tracks, and other areas are just grass. Do watch for traffic as you approach the highly-used Restoration Trail.
Learn more about Graham's Circle

If you enjoy high berm turns and a little challenge, then you'll love this trail that is surprisingly whoopty-free. Betty's Whoopties is a one-way, single-lane trail that leaves from Fox Hollow. At the bottom of the hill, Fox Hollow makes a hard left turn, and this trail is immediately to your right...
Learn more about Betty's Whoopties

This single-lane path is comprised of compacted sand; however, it is a little grown in, so expect some roof knocking on taller vehicles. The trail takes a sharp left and widens out at the intersection with Betty's Whoopties. There are a couple of small mud holes that have a narrow bypass around them...
Learn more about Fox Hollow

Mama's Branch is a beautiful trail into a bald cypress swamp land. The trail is subject to flooding, but when it's accessible, this is a highly recommended stop. The trail is mostly soft sand as it meanders through the trees, with several small areas of mud that are easily bypassed. Once at the rive...
Learn more about Mama's Branch

This trail is a great cut-through to use to get back to camp or head deeper into the trail system. It's comprised of compact sand with a section of loose sand near the top of the hill where Gail's Trail meets Graham's Circle. There is a mudhole that forms at the base of this hill that could be trick...
Learn more about Gail's Trail

Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area was established by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources due to the purchase and donation of the property by The Nature Conservancy in 1974. This unique property represents a variety of habitats found in South Carolina, including diverse u...
Learn more about Santee Coastal WMA

The Francis Marion National Forest, situated north of Charleston, South Carolina, pays homage to the Revolutionary War hero known as the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. Encompassing the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and the Subtropical coniferous forest, this park offers a diverse rang...
Learn more about Chicken Creek Access - FSR 204B

The Francis Marion National Forest, situated north of Charleston, South Carolina, pays homage to the Revolutionary War hero known as the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. Encompassing the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and the Subtropical coniferous forest, this park offers a diverse rang...
Learn more about McConnell Landing - FSR 204F

The Francis Marion National Forest, situated north of Charleston, South Carolina, pays homage to the Revolutionary War hero known as the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. Encompassing the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and the Subtropical coniferous forest, this park offers a diverse rang...
Learn more about Battery Warren Historic Fort - FSR204A

Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area was established by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources due to the purchase and donation of the property by The Nature Conservancy in 1974. This unique property represents a variety of habitats found in South Carolina, including diverse u...
Learn more about Santee Coastal WMA

The Francis Marion National Forest, situated north of Charleston, South Carolina, pays homage to the Revolutionary War hero known as the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. Encompassing the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and the Subtropical coniferous forest, this park offers a diverse rang...
Learn more about Chicken Creek Access - FSR 204B

The Francis Marion National Forest, situated north of Charleston, South Carolina, pays homage to the Revolutionary War hero known as the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. Encompassing the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and the Subtropical coniferous forest, this park offers a diverse rang...
Learn more about McConnell Landing - FSR 204F

The Francis Marion National Forest, situated north of Charleston, South Carolina, pays homage to the Revolutionary War hero known as the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion. Encompassing the entire Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion and the Subtropical coniferous forest, this park offers a diverse rang...
Learn more about Battery Warren Historic Fort - FSR204A