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 āAmerica the Beautifulā 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 āRegisterā 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,Ā long pantsĀ andĀ close-toed shoesĀ areĀ highly recommended.
We will walk Lick Fork Road, FS-634 to Horn Creek, and possibly Miller Branch Road. These are dirt roads with Prunella vulgaris and in some spots there are some relatives of Black-eyed Susans. Weāll meet in the Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area at the parking lot near the boat ramp. The GPS coordinates are 33.72642, -82.04029. 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.
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.
John Demko will lead. Please let him know in advance if you are coming. There is no cell service in the areas we will be exploring. Call him at 803-761-3047 or email at [email protected] if you plan on attending.
SAVE THE DATES
This is a full CBS walk. Exact locations for butterflying within the FMNF (Francis Marion National Forest) will be determined after the NABA count the weekend before this scheduled CBS walk. We will go to the most productive areas in the FMNF based on NABA count results.
On Saturday, we will meet at the Circle K convenience store at the intersection of Highway 17 and Route 45 in McClellanville, SC (GPS coordinates 33.09514, -79.47558). Restrooms are available at this location. From there we will drive to the areas within the FMNF to butterfly. We will be on forest roads within the national forest. There is a fairly large area to explore so we will be driving to specific sites, parking and walking along the roadside, then driving to other areas to explore on foot. There are no facilities within the FMNF. The meeting location for Sunday will be determined at the end of the walk on Saturday.
Make sure to bring plenty of water, bug repellant and a lunch. You can attend either or both days. Please contact Alison Smith at the email address below if you plan to participate.
POSTPONED (originally scheduled for April 16)
Due to predicted rain at or near 100%, this walk, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2022, has been POSTPONED and rescheduled for Sunday, April 24, 2022. The meeting time and place will be the same as listed below
On Sunday, April 24, 2022, the Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at the Sumter National Forest, Enoree District, near Clinton, South Carolina, to look for the Harvester (found last year) and other early butterflies. There will be some driving on unpaved roads to get to locations of interest.
Meet at the BP Gas Station, 3536 Whitmire Highway, Clinton, SC 29325 (GPS coordinates 34.43873, -81.76258). The BP station is just to the southwest of I-26 at exit 60 (which is for Highway 66). Although there is a restroom at the BP station, it has been suggested we NOT use it unless something has been purchased. If traveling on westbound I-26 (heading northwest from the southeast), there is a rest stop approximately 1.4 miles before reaching exit 60.
Refer to the SCNFS (South Carolina National Forest Service) website link below for additional information about and maps of the Sumter National Forest Enoree District. Please RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you plan to participate.
The first CBS butterfly walk of the year will be held on March 5 at South Tibwin Trail in the Francis Marion National Forest. Target species will be the Falcate Orangetip. South Tibwin (both the trail and a road) is directly off Highway 17 approximately 3 miles southwest of McClellanville, South Carolina. The entrance is well marked by a forest service sign. There is a parking area, GPS coordinates 33.07048, -79.52006, just off the highway. The entrance to the trail is gated so the entire area must be explored on foot. There are no restroom facilities on site. The terrain is fairly even and consists mostly of dirt roads or mowed paths. Full length of the trail(s) is approximately 5 miles and includes several loops. Refer to the website below for a map and additional information. There are a variety of habitats ā marsh, pine forests and fields. Bring hydration, insect repellant, binoculars, cameras and lunch. Contact Alison Smith at the email address below if you plan on attending.
CANCELLED
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and out of an abundance of caution, this walk has been CANCELLED. We will explore areas of the Sumter National Forest.Ā Meet in the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly in Whitmire.Ā The address is 26490 SC-121, Whitmire, SC 29170.Ā GPS is 34.507138, -81.601602.Ā Dennis Forsythe will be our leader.Ā [email protected]
POSTPONED DUE TO PREDICTED WEATHER (was May 11)
NEW DATE – Monday, May 13
The Midlands Chapter walk to Sumter National Forest previously scheduled for May 11 has been postponed due to predicted rain. Dennis Forsythe who is leading has rescheduled the walk for Monday, May 13. Be sure to let Dennis know if you will be attending.
Please meet at the BP gas station on Hwy. 66 right off of I-26 near Joanna, SC. We will then drive to various parts of the forest. Walking will be minimal. There are bathrooms in the camping area, but we may not be near them until the afternoon. There are no restaurants nearby. Our targeted species are Pepper and Salt Skipper, Common Roadside-Skipper and Dusted Skipper. Dennis Forsythe will lead.
We will meet at the BP gas station on Hwy. 66 right off of I-26 near Joanna, SC. We will then drive to various parts of the forest. Walking will be minimal. There are bathrooms in the camping area, but we may not be near them until the afternoon. There are no restaurants nearby.
Our targeted species are Pepper and Salt Skipper, Common Roadside-Skipper and Dusted Skipper.
