Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness
Another of the four Wildernesses within Francis Marion National Forest, Little Wambaw Swamp is a river-bottom land of hardwoods and sloughs. Bald cypress and tupelo grow impressively large, and about 60 acres of forest in the southwestern portion of the swamp are believed to be virgin timber. The dense understory consists primarily of wild orchids, bladderwort, and pickerel weed. Old, earthen railroad trams cross the area and provide high ground for foot traffic and possible spots to camp. Bridges where the trams spanned the many sluggish waterways are long gone; prepare to wade in the water. Camping is available at bordering Buck Hall Recreation Area, where the earthen tram system can be accessed.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | South Carolina |
| Size | 4,967 acres |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.07° N, 79.58° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 13) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 3 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedC-163 Fm Rx
6 mi from the center point · 222 acres
- WildfireHewitt Lane Fire
20 mi from the center point · 109 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 6.5 miSt. James Episcopal Church, Santee ↗National Historic Landmark
- 9.3 miWedge, The ↗McClellanville, SC
- 9.5 miFairfield Plantation ↗McClellanville, SC
- 9.7 miOld Georgetown Road ↗McClellanville, SC
- 10.6 miCape Romain Lighthouses ↗McClellanville, SC
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for South Carolina
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness?
4,967 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness in?
South Carolina.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1980.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.071° N, 79.579° W. Charles Pinckney National Historic Site is 19 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest C-163 Fm Rx at 6 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness?
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site (19 mi) and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park (25 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Little Wambaw Swamp Wilderness?
The National Register has 5 listings within 15 miles, including St. James Episcopal Church, Santee and Wedge, The.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.