Horse Trail

Horse Trail
Rocky Gap/Willis Knob Horse
(Sumter National Forest)

Description: Linked by the Chattooga Wild and Scenic Corridor, the rugged Rocky Gap and Willis Knob loop trails hop back and forth across this famous river for roughly 28 miles. The 13-mile Rocky Gap Trail tackles the South Carolina side of the river, leaving another 15 miles to the Willis Knob trail on the Georgia side. Much of the Rocky Gap trail offers wide vistas overlooking farmlands and the Chattooga, occasionally fording the water at points such as Adline Branch, Big Island, or Moss Mill. Adline Branch might be the best crossing since it’s both wide and shallow. The trail also offers some of the most beautiful color you’ll see anywhere, including deep pink rhododendron and blue iris in the fall or daises in the summer. Be sure to look out for sensitive plants such as ginseng, sun-facing cornflower, mountain camellia, and piedmont strawberry. Deer and wild turkey also frequent the area, perhaps bedding down in the foundations of buildings left by early settlers. The trail network connects with a forest service road, allowing you to lengthen or shorten the trail according to your needs.

Horses must be shod. Insect repellent is recommended during warm months.

Length: Approximately 28 total miles, including nearly 13 miles for Rocky Gap (on the SC side) and 15 miles for the Willis Knob Trail (on the Georgia side).

Fees: There is no fee for equestrian day use. Nearby Whetstone Horse Camp charges $12 per night for walk-up campers ($15 for reserved sites). On the Georgia side, Willis Knob Horse Camp requires reservations and allows group-only camping on the weekends. Individuals may use the camp during the week. The small group campsite (15 person maximum) fee is $36 and the large group campsite (25 person maximum) is $60. There is also a $10 reservation fee for either site.

Directions: From Walhalla, follow SC 28 north for six miles. Turn left a quarter-mile past the U.S. Forest Service Office onto Whetstone Road (Oconee County Road S-37-193). Go straight through the four-way stop. When the pavement ends, continue on a gravel road for approximately three-quarters of a mile. There is a sign for Whetstone Horse Camp on the left and day-use parking on the right.

Hours: Open year-round

Camping: In South Carolina, Whetstone Horse Camp has 20 sites, with 14 available for reservations and six first-come, first-served. Amenities include centrally located drinking water, wheelchair accessible chemical toilets, cooking grills, hitching rails, tables and lantern posts. In Georgia, camping is available at the Willis Knob Horse Camp. There are two group campsites: The small loop has three sites that can accommodate six people each. A large loop has six sites that can accommodate six people each. Sites must be reserved in advance. Amenities include tie stalls, hand pump, lanterns, fire-rings and picnic tables.

Information: Sumter National Forest, Andrew Pickens Ranger District, 112 Andrew Pickens Circle, Mountain Rest, SC, 29664 Telephone: 864-638-9568. For information about the Georgia side, call the Tallulah Ranger District at 706-782-3320.

South Carolina State Trails Program
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
1205 Pendleton Street :: Columbia, SC 29201 :: 803-734-0173
Webmaster: bswanson@scprt.com
Updated: October 21, 2005
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