When you've looked at all that the website has to offer, make a date to come out to the swamp and VISIT US! The wildlife, the ancient trees, the quiet flow of blackwater as it meanders through the swamp, they all await you on your trip to Beidler Forest.
Located in the heart of the South Carolina low-country between Columbia
and Charleston, Four Holes Swamp is a 45,000-acre matrix of
black water sloughs and lakes, shallow bottomland hardwoods,
and deep Bald cypress and Tupelo Gum flats. Four Holes Swamp
is a major tributary of the Edisto River. Over 15,000 of those
acres are owned by the National Audubon Society and make up
what is known as the Francis Beidler Forest. The Beidler Forest
is located just north of I-26 outside the town of Harleyville,
SC and can be accessed from either I-26 west or east. The
visitor center is open 9am - 5pm, Tuesday - Sunday (closed Mondays and some holidays). No pets, please.
The Beidler Forest was originally established to preserve
1,800 acres of old-growth swamp forest, one of only two stands
of old-growth still left in the state. Most of the huge Bald
cypress in this part of the swamp are in the neighborhood
of 1,000 years old. The oldest known tree on the sanctuary
clocked in at 1,500 years old! A visitor center, 1.75-mile
boardwalk trail, and a canoe trail on which guided trips are
led, provide visitors the chance to explore deep into the
swamp’s interior. The visitor center, restrooms and
boardwalk are all wheelchair accessible. One electric and
one traditional wheelchair are available to borrow.
2nd Annual Horse Trail Ride and Fundraiser at Beidler Forest on January 30, 2010. Click for details and directions.
Take
the time to learn more about our dedication to habitat preservation
and ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION; including the citizen-science opportunities
with Project
PROTHO. The staff at Beidler Forest foster community involvement
through a variety of ACTIVITIES
AND EVENTS
offered throughout the year. Additionally, we host three one-week-long
SUMMER
CAMPS that focus on a different theme each year. Visit
our blog
to see what is happening and what has been seen in the swamp.
Audubon South Carolina Nature Photography
Contest winning images can be seen by selecting the year (2007,
2008 and 2009) here.
Do you have mitigation requirements? Check out our brochure for the Francis Beidler Forest Mitigation Bank.
To check today's weather at Beidler Forest, or to plan ahead for a visit, check our local weather forecast here.
