Friends of Congaree Swamp Events

Jan 21

McCords Ferry Hike

McCords Ferry Hike

McCord’s Ferry over the Congaree River has a long history that dates back to 1749 or earlier, when it started out as Joyner’s Ferry. It was a strategic crossing over the Congaree and was the scene of several notables during the Revolutionary War including General Nathanael Greene, Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox,” Light-horse Harry Lee, and others. It was in continuous use by the same family for more than 150 years, referred to as Bates Ferry in the twentieth century, and eventually replaced by a bridge over the Congaree in the 1920s.

The ferry crossed the “Big Bend of the Congaree” until the great flood of 1852 cut a new channel across the narrow neck of land, isolating the ferry and creating one of the largest oxbow lakes in South Carolina which we now know as Bates Old River. Over the years much of the old river channel has filled in with sediment and silt from the Congaree River’s extensive watershed.

The long neck of land between the two ends of Bates Old River, historically known as “Buckhead” was until recently part of the Riverstone Tract which has now been acquired as an addition to the Park, thanks to the help of Senator Graham and Congressman Clyburn, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Trust for Public Land, students from Kelly Mill Middle School in Blythewood, and others.

The hike will take place on parts of the new acquisition including the old road bed that in times past led to McCords Ferry. We will hike to the Congaree River on this old road bed, and stop on the way to see the large virgin cypress with a 29 foot circumference, currently the largest known cypress circumference in the Park. However, since this tree is a good bit shorter than the current state champion, located in the Park, it doesn’t quite have enough points to replace it.

We will meet at the Harry Hampton Visitors Center Parking Lot at 09:00, then carpool down to Highway 601. Bring water, a snack, and hiking footwear; total hiking distance, about 2.5 miles, mostly on an old road bed but with some off trail walking, on dry land.

Call John Cely at 782-7450, jecely@sc.rr.com

Last modified: Jan 03, 2012 by Edward Kujawski (ed@kujawski.org)
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