Francis Marion National Forest Buck Hall Landing Mosquito Circuit

Deep in the Francis Marion, this 8.7-mile circuit follows a network of abandoned rice plantation dikes dating to the 1750s, now reclaimed by blackwater swamps and towering bald cypress. The route begins at Buck Hall Recreation Area and immediately plunges into what locals call the Mosquito Flats — a labyrinth of flooded timber roads where Spanish moss hangs so thick it blocks satellite signals. The technical crux hits at mile 4.2 where Hurricane Hugo’s legacy forces a committed water crossing through Quinby Creek’s cypress knees and submerged stumps.

This is expert-level swamp running requiring waterproofed ignition, snorkel, and serious mud tires. Summer is brutal with bugs and heat; late fall through early spring offers the only reasonable conditions. No permits required, but notify rangers of your route plan. Expect multiple water crossings up to 30 inches deep and zero cell coverage once you’re committed. The reward is pure Lowcountry solitude — ancient rice fields, gator-filled ponds, and some of the most pristine coastal wilderness left in South Carolina.