Can you name all five of South Carolina’s state forests? Not everyone can do it. In fact, unless you remember your early years in school, you may not even recognize some of the names. Let’s refresh: Harbison, Poe Creek, Wee Tee, Sand Hills, and last, but not least, Manchester. And while they’re all worthy of exploration, it’s the last one that we’ll talk about here.
At 26,675 acres, Manchester State Forest in South Carolina is a an underrated, little-known expanse of flora and fauna found right in the middle of the area between Columbia and Manning.
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We say underrated only because the name is lesser known than, say, the national forests (Sumter and Francis Marion) in the Palmetto State.
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Yet, there is much to see and do within the Manchester State Forest. From lakes to camping, hiking, and more… it’s a wonderland just waiting for discovery.
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Additionally, parts of the forest are drenched in history. From 1935 to 1939, the land was used to resettle South Carolina families from unproductive farms to new locales with better land for farming. It was part of the Federal Resettlement Administration under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
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Today, there are several points of interest within the forest. Namely, Poinsett State Park, which sits perched on the outer rim of Manchester State Forest.
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At Poinsett State Park, visitors can spend the day or even longer enjoying swimming, boating (kayak and canoe rentals), hiking, picnicking, fishing, and more.
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The park’s 10-acre lake is open for swimming from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
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And a campground with 50 sites accommodates any style of camping from tents all the way up to RVs. If you prefer glamping, just reserve one of the one or two-bedroom fully-equipped cabins.
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Of course, there are other points of entry into the forest that are worthy of exploration, like the 10.6-mile segment of the statewide Palmetto Trail that traverses Manchester State Forest.
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If you’ve never hiked through the High Hills of the Santee, then this is a beautiful place to start.
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The trail is called the Palmetto Trail High Hills of Santee Passage.
AllTrails/Dan Bowers The Palmetto Trail is a 500-mile trek that crosses the entire state of South Carolina. It’s divided into segments, making it easy to break it up into day or overnight hikes.
Learn more about the Palmetto Trail High Hills of Santee Passage from our friends at AllTrails.com. Explore your recreation options at Poinsett State Park, or make a camping or cabin reservation, on the official website for South Carolina State Parks. Discover more facts about Manchester State Forest on the South Carolina Forestry Commission’s website. The Palmetto Trail is free to use. Day use visitors to Poinsett State Park pay a nominal entry fee into the park.
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The Palmetto Trail is a 500-mile trek that crosses the entire state of South Carolina. It’s divided into segments, making it easy to break it up into day or overnight hikes.
For some brow-raising South Carolina history, read all about how the capital for the state was almost located in a tiny town in the High Hills of the Santee.
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Address: Poinsett State Park, 6660 Poinsett Park Rd, Wedgefield, SC 29168, USA
