After the land being acquired in June of 2026, Pocotaligo Station State Forest has officially opened to the public after being dedicated on October 23. The new State Forest comprises 2,821 acres spanning Jasper, Beaufort and Hampton counties.
Six conservation partners – Open Space Institute, SC Forestry Commission, SC Office of Resilience, SC Conservation Bank, Beaufort County Green Space Program and the Open Land Trust – united to secure the state forest as a strategic priority linking the Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin and Port Royal Sound watersheds.
As the property shares more than two miles of frontage with Interstate 95 and more than four miles along a major commercial freight train line, it was at high risk of industrial development.
By keeping the property wild and undeveloped, the land will continue meeting critical purposes: filtering and recharging water as it flows into local water bodies and absorbing excess floodwaters, thereby protecting downstream communities from some of the devastating impacts of extreme weather.
The property also serves as a living archive of indigenous and Revolutionary War history. The property contains historic structures, ruins dating back to the 1700s, and earthworks in the vicinity of Fort Balfour, a Revolutionary War loyalist camp that was captured by patriots in 1781. The first blood shed in the 1715 Yemassee War is believed to have been spilled in or near the site, which was inhabited by the Yemassee Tribe (also referred to as the Yamasee) starting in the late 16th century.
Operations
All the state forests managed by the South Carolina Forestry Commission receive no state appropriations from the General Assembly and are 100% self-sustaining. Operating funds for the forest, as well as salaries, are generated from the sale of timber products, land leases, Wildlife Management Area (WMA) permits and recreational use permits.
Additionally, every state forest pays 25% of its gross income to the local school districts in the counties in which the forests are located.
Permits
Currently no recreational permit is required for hiking and bicycling. Hunting and fishing require a WMA permit through SC Department of Natural Resources.
Hunting
SCFC is in the process of enrolling this property into the WMA program. The property is intended to be available for hunting starting with the 2027-2028 hunting season, which starts in August of 2027. In the meantime, signage will be posted with SCDNR to establishing hunting rules and regulations.
WMA regulations exempt persons hunting for dove, turkey, ducks, geese and other migratory birds, including crow, from the requirement of wearing international orange. All other persons on a WMA during deer season must wear international orange.
Activities NOT allowed on Pocotaligo Station State Forest
- Pets (unless on a leash)
- Altering of trails
- Drugs or alcoholic beverages
- Picking or cutting plants
- Camping
- Fireworks
- Littering
To view all laws and regulation pertaining to SCFC State Forest please see Section 8 of Forest Laws in South Carolina Forest management
All South Carolina state forests are certified to the forest management standards of Sustainable Forestry Initiative™ and American Tree Farm System (ATFM). Committed to promoting and achieving the Principles of Sustainable Forest Management including: practicing sustainable forestry, employing responsible practices, regenerating the forest and maintaining productive capacity, protecting and maintaining long-term forest and soil productivity, evaluating climate smart and fire resilience awareness, protecting water resources, protecting special sites and biological diversity, complying with legal requirements, and continually improving forest practices.
