SC National Heritage Corridor

Audubon Center at Francis Beilder Forest

Located in the heart of the South Carolina low-country between Columbia and Charleston, Four Holes Swamp is a 45,000-acre matrix of black water sloughs and lakes, shallow bottomland hardwoods, and deep Bald cypress and Tupelo Gum flats. Four Holes Swamp is a major tributary of the Edisto River. Over 15,000 of those acres are owned by the National Audubon Society and make up what is known as the Francis Beidler Forest. The Beidler Forest is located just north of I-26 outside the town of Harleyville, SC and can be accessed from either I-26 west or east. The visitor center is open 9am - 5pm, Tuesday - Sunday (closed Mondays and some holidays).

The Beidler Forest was originally established to preserve 1,800 acres of old-growth swamp forest, one of only two stands of old-growth still left in the state. Most of the huge Bald cypress in this part of the swamp are in the neighborhood of 1000 years old. The oldest known tree on the sanctuary clocked in at 1500 years old! A visitor center, 1.75-mile boardwalk trail, several miles of hiking potential on old logging roads, and a canoe trail on which guided trips are led, provide visitors the chance to explore deep into the swamp’s interior. The visitor center, restrooms and boardwalk are all wheelchair accessible. One electric and one traditional wheelchair are available to borrow.