arson's Mountain offers a 28-acre managed lake and a variety of recreational opportunities including camping, swimming, picnicking, fishing, boating, and hiking. A 23-site, heavily-wooded campground in the recreation area makes an excellent base for other activities. Parson's Mountain is open early spring through late autumn.

There are designated swimming and picnic areas, as well as a bath house. The day area, designed to accommodate the fishing enthusiast, has an earthen pier, a pedestrian bridge, and a paved boat ramp for nonmotorized boats. The lake is managed to enhance catfish, bream, and bass populations. Remember, South Carolina fishing and boating regulations apply.

Other amenities include a day-use area accessible to disabled visitors, a paved boat ramp and a centrally-located restroom. The picnic area has toilets, showers, tables, grills, and a shelter that may be reserved. Parson's Mountain also has a sewage dump for recreational vehicles.

Marked trails afford access to the upstate's diverse wildlife habitats. A half-mile easy interpretive trail originates at the swimming area.

Parson's Mountain Hiking Trail begins at the boat ramp and ends at the fire tower 1.4 miles away. This trail climbs from the lake to the top of Parson's Mountain, traversing bottomland and upland hardwoods, through pine, and terminates among dry ride scrub oaks. The trail is moderately difficult. It has a 400 foot elevation change.

Nearby points of interest include the historic town of Abbeville with its antebellum houses, cobblestone square, Burt-Stark Mansion and renowned Opera House. Fell and Midway Hunt Camps are nearby, as is Candy Branch Rifle Range and Long Cane Scenic Area.

Directions: From Abbeville, take SC route 28 south 2.1 miles. Turn left on route SI-251, drive 1.5 miles to entrance on right.

Fees: There are camping and parking fees. Visitors should use the self-service fee station for day-use and camping. Shelter reservations must be made and fees paid at the Ranger Station. Reservations are first come, first served.

Lick Fork Lake
Long Cane Ranger District

Lick Fork Lake's 12 man-made acres are nestled in the southeastern portion of the Long Cane Ranger District. It offers a variety of recreational opportunities including camping, swimming, picnicking, fishing, boating, mountain biking, and hiking.

A heavily wooded campground, Lick Fork has 10 campsites and offers easy access for other recreational activities. A camp host is on site during peak seasons. Lick Fork is open April through December 15

There is a designated picnic area with a bath house, flush toilets and showers. Other amenities include a handicap-accessible day area and a handicap accessible fishing pier. The picnic area has tables, grills, and a group shelter. Each camp site has a fire ring, a table, and lantern post. Pit toilets and water pumps are located throughout the campground. There is a sewage dump.

The day area accommodates fishing enthusiasts with a pedestrian bridge and boat ramp for nonmotorized boats. The lake is managed to enhance catfish, bream, and bass populations. South Carolina fishing and boating regulations apply.

Five access points of the Horn Creek Trail originate at this site. Although primarily used by mountain bikes, hikers are welcome. This is a moderately difficult 5.7-mile loop trail that winds through the rolling piedmont hills of oak, hickory, and pine.

The Lick Fork Lake Hiking Trail originates at the swimming area and circles around the lake, ending at the boat ramp. Hikers on this east 2-mile loop will enjoy seeing distinctive piedmont vegetation.

Nearby points of interest include the town of Edgefield, Furys Ferry Boat Ramp, Strom Thurmond Reservoir, and Hamilton Branch State Park.

Directions: From Edgefield, take SC route 23 south 8.2 miles. Bear left onto SC 230. Drive 0.5 mile to route 219-263, drive 1.9 miles to entrance on right.

Fees: Camping and parking fees apply. Self-service fee station for day and camping use. Shelter reservations must be made and fees paid at the Ranger Station. Reservations are first come, first served.

Firepit at Woods Ferry Campground US Nat'l Forest Campground Guide

Woods Ferry Recreation Area
Enoree Ranger District

Woods Ferry Recreation Area, in western Chester County, lies within a beautiful wooded flood plain. It is surrounded by upland pine woods and maturing hardwood forests. Attractions include camping, picnicking and hiking. Woods Ferry has group picnic shelters, access to horse trails, a boat launch on the Broad River, and opportunities for fishing, and wildlife and plant observation. Rangers warn visitors that Broad River is unsafe for swimming or wading due to its strong current.

There are 28 campsites with tables and grills; seven have horse stalls. There are two group sites; one has a horse stall. The 50 picnic units have tables and grills. Other facilities include restrooms with hot showers and centrally-located water faucets. The water is shut off at first frost. Visitors should contact the Ranger District office for information on this campground's opening and closing days.

The recreation area takes it name from Matthew Woods, who acquired the land in 1817 and constructed a ferry for horse and buggy traffic to cross the Broad. Here, Confederate cavalry under General Wade Hampton crossed the river to harass Sherman's flank during the historic march through the South. In later years, the area was heavily logged, farmed, and grazed. In 1936 the Forest Service acquired the land. Extensive erosion control and reforestation work was started at that time and continues today.

Points of interest nearby are Leeds Campground and Rifle Range and Worthy's Bottom Wildlife Area, both in Sumter National Forest.

Directions: From highway 72, go north on SC secondary route 25 for 2.1 miles to SC secondary route 49; continue north on SC 49 for 3.6 miles to SC secondary route 574; turn left and drive 3.6 miles.

Restrictions: Maximum 14 day camping limit.

Fees: There is a modest per-night fee to camp.