The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold butterfly walks on Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17, 2025, at the 123,360-acre Long Cane District of the Sumter National Forest in the Lick Fork Lake and Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve areas. Our target species are Tawny-edged Skipper and Twin-spotted Skipper, as well as other early-season butterflies. Prunella vulgaris should be blooming.

On Saturday, meet at the Lick Fork Creek parking lot on Lick Fork Creek Road, GPS coordinates 33.7298, -82.0407. There is a $3 per day self-pay parking fee for the area but this is only if you leave your car. We do not plan to start here so do not pay the fee. The fee is waived if you have the Federal “America the Beautiful” Pass as that covers Federal Recreation Areas as well as National Parks. The Sunday meeting location will be determined after the Saturday walk.

DIRECTIONS:

• From I-20 get off at Exit 1 to Martintown Road (SC-230) and head north until you see the sign to turn right for Lick Fork Creek Recreation Area. If you get to the SC 23 intersection with SC 230 you have gone just a tad too far (less than 0.5 miles).
• If you are coming up SC 125 from the south, take it to Martintown Road (SC-230) and head north. You will go over I-20 and then follow the directions above.
• From the square in downtown Edgefield, travel south on Hwy-23 for 8.3 miles. Bear left onto Hwy-230 and travel for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto Lick Fork Lake Road (S 19-263) and travel 1.9 miles. The entrance is on the right.

There are bathrooms near the meeting area. There is no cell service in the areas we will be exploring. John Demko will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to John at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.