Manchester State Forest is located on the eastern edge of the COWASEE Basin in western Sumter County. Many Columbians pass through it on the way to the beach. In fact, the white hilly sands of Manchester along Highway 261 south of Wedgefield are reminiscent of the beach. As mentioned in a previous column, the initial impression of Manchester’s “dreary pine barrens” as early explorers called the sandy pinelands, is under whelming. But initial impressions can be deceiving, and Manchester has its own charms as we shall see.

The name comes from the defunct 1800s railroad town of Manchester, which had a rough and tumble reputation for gambling, horse racing, cock fighting, and drinking.

The state forest got its start during the Great Depression as a resettlement project. Farmers and sharecroppers were so poor back then that they couldn’t even afford to pay taxes on their farms and left the countryside in droves. Manchester’s sandy soils were more conducive for growing trees than crops.

This 100-year home provides housing for Manchester State Forest employees and was at one time the residence of former Governor Richard I. Manning The Civilian Conservation Corps initially rehabilitated the cut–over, worn out land, and the South Carolina Forestry Commission, who leased the property from the federal government until 1955, began reforestation and conducting demonstration projects. The forest at that time was called Poinsett State Forest. Their charge was to manage the 28,000 acre property under the multiple– use concept, featuring forestry, wildlife, and outdoor recreation.

For Forest Director Harvey Belser, Manchester is a homecoming of sorts. His great–great–great grandfather, Jacob Belser, acquired a large plantation in the 1800s that later became part of the state forest.

Manchester has a variety of recreational and outdoor opportunities. It has a number of trails and dirt roads suitable for off–trail motorbikes, horses, mountain bikes and hikers. Fishing and hunting are popular and the Forestry Commission, in cooperation with DNR, manages food plots for deer, dove, turkey, and other wildlife. Last year they drew 500 hunters for the opening day of dove season. One of Manchester’s most popular attractions is the rifle and pistol range.

In addition to sandy pinelands, Manchester State Forest also contains extensive acreage in the Wateree Swamp including my favorite section of the Palmetto Trail, the “Wateree Passage.” This wonderful trail, 7.2 miles long, starts near the Forest headquarters and runs along the edge of the Wateree Swamp for the first mile. It then climbs up on a steep bluff overlooking the Wateree Valley with scenic views (more so in the winter) stretching into Richland and even Calhoun County on a clear day. Combined with the views and a beautiful hardwood forest of white oak, beech, and sourwood, this portion of the trail reminds me of the South Carolina mountains.

The trail then drops down into the Wateree River floodplain atop an old abandoned railroad causeway that goes all the way to the river, nearly four miles away (for the last quarter mile to the river the trail is down in the floodplain). This is not a loop trail, and it can take a good bit of the day to complete. There are few hiking trails in South Carolina that can boast the kind of varied terrain and diverse habitats as found on the Wateree Passage.

Mindful of its local community responsibilities, each year Manchester turns over 25% of its receipts from timber, pine straw, and recreational permit sales to the Sumter County School Districts. Last year the figure was an impressive $350,000, roughly equivalent to the property taxes paid by about 500 middle–class homes.

Manchester State Forest has done a good job of meeting its multiple–use goals. The folks from the Sumter area have known this for years, but Columbia–area residents need to get to know it better. For more information, contact the Forest Headquarters, open from 8:30–4:00, Monday–Friday, at 803-494-8196 or see their website at www.state.sc.us/forest/refman.htm

Next week: Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve