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SCROLL DOWN FOR A LISTING OF
MONTHLY EVENTS
Bonneau Ferry Plantation
When: Saturday May 2, 2009
Reservations Required -
Call 843-567-4480 or email
hellholecenter@palmettoconservation.org
Outing Fee: $5.00
Where to Meet: Palmetto
Trail’s Hell Hole Outdoor Center at St. Stephen, SC
Time: 10:00 am
Details:
Here is the outing you have been asking about and looking forward to
enjoying. It’s a leisurely morning visit to one of South Carolina’s
newest acquired properties. Purchased in 2004, the more than 10,000
acre plantation has pine savannas, bottomland hardwoods, wetlands,
reservoirs, wildlife openings and much more for the visitor to enjoy.
The area is rich in cultural history with the ruins of the Comingtee
Plantation house, the rice mill and the nearby early town of Childsbury
Wildlife abounds with deer, turkey, quail, waterfowl along with bald
eagles and red-cockaded woodpeckers. It’s a driving/walking tour and
suitable for all to enjoy. Rated easy
Directions: Hell Hole
Outdoor center is located on SC 45 at the railroad track in St. Stephen,
SC. From there participants will travel by caravan to Bonneau Ferry
Plantation near Cordesville.
Moon Light Kayak trip – Spires Landing
When: Saturday May 9, 2009
Reservations Required -
Call 843-567-4480 or email
hellholecenter@palmettoconservation.org
An Outing Fee Charge
Includes Professional Guides
Outfitted Kayak
Hors d’oeuvres
Hear Tales of Folklore from the Past
Contact Betty Delk for Details
Where to Meet: Spires
Landing off SC Hwy 6 in Cross
Time:
Evening
Details: Here
is a chance to enjoy kayaking at its best. It’s a full moon and in fact
it’s the “Flower Moon”. Experience the lake at dusk as the day fades
and the softness of the moon light highlights the cypress trees and the
islands. The night brings a totally different set of sounds as birds
call, fish splash and the mystery of the dark envelopes the kayaker.
The full moon rises in the east and is magnified on the horizon as it
rises. Your guides are experience night kayakers and make the trip one
to remember. The Spires Landing site is bordered by small islands and
the trip will go out to Church Island with its ancient cemetery and a
chance to listen for sounds and see if anything moves. Your evening
begins with heavy hors d’oeuvres and tales of folklore from long ago.
Rated easy; estimated 3 mile round trip
Directions: Spires
Landing is located off Hwy 45 in Cross, 16 miles west of St Stephen off
SC Hwy 45 or 8 miles east of Eutawville off SC Hwy 45.
Hell Hole - The Big Opening
When: Saturday May 9, 2009
Reservations Required -
Call 843-567-4480 or email
hellholecenter@palmettoconservation.org
Where to Meet: Palmetto
Trail’s Hell Hole Outdoor Center at St. Stephen, SC
Time: 10:00 am
Details: Okay,
you have heard about Hell Hole, now is the chance to see for yourself.
Hell Hole Bay is a 2,000 acre swamp in the heart of the Francis Marion
National Forest. Designated by the US Congress as a true wilderness,
the wildness of the area captures ones interest. This is a driving
tour with stops along the Hell Hole and Farewell Corner Roads. Hear the
story of the strange names, of folk tales, and talk of the long tailed
cats. There is always a chance to see a white-tailed deer, bob cat,
turkey, plenty of snakes, turtles and water birds. Your guide is Ollie
Buckles who has many years experience in the area.
Directions: Hell Hole
Outdoor center is located on SC 45 at the railroad track in St. Stephen,
SC. From there participants will travel by caravan to the Old Santee
Canal off Sandy Beach Road.
Old Santee Canal
When: Saturday May 16, 2009
Reservations Required -
Call 843-567-4480 or email
hellholecenter@palmettoconservation.org
Outing Fee: $5.00
Where
to Meet: Palmetto
Trail’s Hell Hole Outdoor Center at St. Stephen, SC
Time: 10:00 am
Details: Here
is the hike you have been looking for to enjoy. It’s a leisurely stroll
along the Old Santee Canal on the Palmetto Trail. History abounds where
a transportation canal connected the Santee and Cooper Rivers in the
early nineteenth century. The trail is level, well maintained open
ground with dense forest on one side and the old canal on the other.
Often alligators can be seen basking in the far side of the canal. The
trail leads to the lake edge where there is great exploring. Your guide
is Jose Stephens, an experienced hike leader with years of experience.
This is a great relaxing hike to take part in and enjoy.
Rated
easy; estimated 3 mile round trip
Directions: Hell Hole
Outdoor center is located on SC 45 at the railroad track in St. Stephen,
SC. From there participants will travel by caravan to the Old Santee
Canal off Sandy Beach Road.
Flesh Eating Plants
When: Saturday May 23, 2009
Reservations Required -
Call 843-567-4480 or email
hellholecenter@palmettoconservation.org
Where to Meet: Palmetto
Trail’s Hell Hole Outdoor Center at St. Stephen, SC
Time: 10:00 am
Details:
No, the plants are not the man eating plants of Madagascar that have
been known to eat a small child. We guarantee you will return with all
your limbs intact. These are the plants of the South Carolina
Lowcountry that lure small insects to digest and supplement the plant’s
nutrient requirement. Locally there are four. Two flesh eating plants
will be seen on your hike along the Palmetto Trail. The hooded pitcher
plants and the sundew can be found in abundant numbers. These longleaf
pine savannas have a wide diversity of plants; all with a story. Your
guide is Marie Butler forest technician with the national forest. Those
who have hiked with Marie in the past, know she is an avid outdoors
woman with great energy and enthusiasm.
Rated easy;
estimated 3 mile round trip
Directions: Hell Hole
Outdoor center is located on SC 45 at the railroad track in St. Stephen,
SC. From there participants will travel by caravan to the Cordesville
are in the Francis Marion National Forest.
National Trails Day
Wadboo Creek Paddle
When: Saturday June 6, 2009
Reservations Required -
Call 843-567-4480 or email
hellholecenter@palmettoconservation.org
Bring your own watercraft - Outing Fee
$5.00
OR
Rent a canoe or kayak from the Center
Rental Rates: Canoe $45.00 Kayak
$35.00
Outing Fee included
Where
to Meet: Palmetto
Trail’s Hell Hole Outdoor Center at St. Stephen, SC
Time: 9:00 am
Details:
The upper section of Wadboo Creek from the SC 402 bridge offers the
paddler a chance to experience a true cypress swamp that is much like it
was over two centuries ago when Francis Marion and his brigade of men
frequented the area. The creek is narrow and the water is the color of
strong tea from the tanins and the trees in the swamp. Often the creek
opens to what locals call lakes. Remnants of dikes and canals from the
rice era are present. Under the stewardship of Santee Cooper this
corridor has been placed in a conservation trust to preserve its
pristine beauty. Your professional guide for the trip is Eddie Stroman.
Typical wildlife sightings on this trail include white tailed deer,
turkey, and small alligators. However; the spider lilly will be blooming
and is a rare treat.
Rated moderately easy: estimated 6 mile round trip
Directions: Hell Hole
Outdoor center is located on SC 45 at the railroad track in St. Stephen,
SC. From there participants will travel by caravan to the Wadboo Boat
Landing on SC 402 near Moncks Corner.
National Trails Day
An Orchid Hike
When: Saturday June 6, 2009
Reservations Required -
Call 843-567-4480 or email
hellholecenter@palmettoconservation.org
Where to Meet: Palmetto
Trail’s Hell Hole Outdoor Center at St. Stephen, SC
Time: 9:00 am
Details:
Little would one know that the local woods harbor 38 different species
of orchids. Many orchids are small and inconspicuous. Orchids can be
found in the highest parts of the tallest trees, some only appear once
in a century. Some of the flowers are strange but upon examination are
quite beautiful, while others are showy and delicate. The grass pinks
will be in bloom and the unusual mechanism for luring insects into the
orchid to pollinate the flower can be seen. The spreading pogonia can
be found hiding in the grass. The longleaf pine ecosystem is rich with
plants and this section of the Palmetto Trail passes through some of the
most beautiful stands of trees. Your guide is Ollie Buckles with the
Palmetto Trail who will entertain you with stories of the forest.
Rated easy; estimated 3 mile round trip
Directions: Hell Hole
Outdoor center is located on SC 45 at the railroad track in St. Stephen,
SC. From there participants will travel by caravan to the Cordesville
area of the Francis Marion National Forest.
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