Sumter National Forest Andrew Pickens Ranger District Cherokee Foothills Trail

The Andrew Pickens Ranger District contains South Carolina’s only true mountain terrain, where the Blue Ridge foothills rise to 3,560 feet at Sassafras Mountain. This network of Forest Service roads winds through second-growth forests recovering from the Civilian Conservation Corps era, connecting hidden waterfalls like Issaqueena Falls and King Creek Falls with remnant old-growth coves. The main route follows Forest Road 708 and its spurs, passing through areas where Cherokee warriors once traveled and Revolutionary War skirmishes occurred near the North Carolina border.

These are mostly easy to moderate forest roads suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, though a few creek crossings and rocky sections benefit from 4WD capability. Roads can be muddy in spring and icy in winter at higher elevations. Summer brings heavy traffic from hikers accessing the Foothills Trail. Primitive camping is allowed in designated areas along several ridgetops. The payoff is legitimate mountain scenery rare in South Carolina – rushing creeks, mountain laurel thickets, and views toward the high peaks of North Carolina.