National Forests in the Southern Appalachians

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION.—This forest, located in South Carolina, has its forest supervisor headquarters at Columbia. It includes three separate divisions, two of which, the Enoree and the Long Cane, are in the Piedmont. The third division, with ranger headquarters at Walhalla, is known as the Mountain Ranger District. It is a rough and rugged section on the southeast slopes of the Blue Ridge. Points of interest include Ellicotts Rock where three States join, Issaqueena Falls and Gorge, the Narrows of the Chauga River, and White Water Falls, with a drop of some 325 feet, near the Walhalla-Cashiers Road. At Old Oconee Station a stone house erected as an Indian trading post in 1758 still stands. The Mountain Ranger District has a gross area of 128,000 acres, of which 54,525 acres have been or are in the process of being acquired by the Government. On the land that has been acquired there are more than 100 million board-feet of merchantable timber.

HUNTING AND FISHING.—Wildlife, formerly abundant on this forest, has been depleted, but is now increasing with protection and proper management. Deer have been introduced and are doing well; fur-bearing animals are abundant; turkey, quail, and grouse are increasing. Trout fishing is excellent in many of the mountain streams, and bass can be had at the lower elevations.

A cooperative wildlife management area of 16,000 acres has been established, on which hunting is not yet permitted. The Walhalla Fish Hatchery, built by the Forest Service and operated by the United States Bureau of Fisheries, has an annual capacity of over 1 million trout used for restocking mountain streams. Visitors are welcome at the hatchery.

RECREATION.—The cool uplands of this forest are popular with summer visitors. The Forest Service has developed two recreation areas:

Yellow Branch.—Six miles from Walhalla on Stump House Road. A picnic area especially popular with people from the South Carolina Piedmont section.

Chattooga.—On Chattooga River 24 miles from Walhalla, in a grove of giant white pines and hemlocks. A picnic area with woodland and nature trails. The fish hatchery is just across the stream.

Within the forest boundaries is the Oconee State Park of 1,200 acres, owned and managed by the State of South Carolina. In this park are a 20-acre lake for swimming and boating, picnic grounds, and furnished rental cabins.

A scenic road built and maintained by the U. S. Forest Service on the Sumter National Forest. F—3386663

ROADS AND TRAILS.—Many scenic roads traverse the forest. Among them are U. S. 76 from Westminster to Clayton, Ga., S. C. Route 24 from Walhalla to Highlands, N. C., and a network of roads developed by the Forest Service. Many trails and old woods roads are available for hikers and horseback enthusiasts.