Old Beech Hill State Forest
History
Acquired in March 2026, Old Beech Hill State Forest, named for Beech Hill, an uncharacteristically high and dry part of Dorchester County, comprises 1,643 acres in two parcels containing mostly various-aged pine stands.
Also including about 80 acres of forested wetlands, the forest provides undeveloped headwaters for two tributary streams draining out of the southeast (Fishburne Creek) and southwest (Spooler Swamp) of the tract that drain into the Edisto River just west of the property.
The undeveloped forest provides natural cover for stormwater to flow off through its intermittent drains into the Edisto, which was identified through public feedback as an important recreational resource for the Dorchester County community. At the time of its appraisal in 2024, the value of the property had doubled in the previous 10 years, indicating the very high threat of loss of the land to development.
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.
Recreation
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
Old Beech Hill State Forest is included in the SC Department of Natural Resources’ (SCDNR) Wildlife Management Area (WMA) program as part of a cooperative agreement between SCDNR and the SC Forestry Commission. SCDNR sets and regulates the methods of harvest, bag limits and other requirements for hunting on WMA lands. Please visit the SC Department of Natural Resources’ website for information regarding hunting rules and regulations on Old Beech Hill Tee State Forest.
All persons must wear international orange on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). A law passed in May 2015 requires deer hunters to wear international orange on all South Carolina WMAs. Specifically, the act requires that “all nonexempt persons must wear a hat, coat or vest of solid international orange while on Wildlife Management Area lands during deer hunting season.”
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 Old Beech Hill 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). We are 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.
Acquisition
This state forest would not have been possible without the collaboration of our conservation partners, Open Space Institute, Dorchester County Government and the SC Conservation Bank. OSI led the effort to acquire the property with funding from SCFC, SCCB and Dorchester County, which made the largest commitment of its greenbelt funds to date.