Whetstone Horse Camp
Open — Open year-round. Reservations required through Recreation.gov. Check-in is 4:00 p.m., check-out is 2:00 p.m. Limited to 14 consecutive days.
Part of the Awendaw Trail temporarily closed
Part of the Awendaw Trail from Buck Hall landing to Reverend Perry Road is temporarily closed to protect public safety while a contractor conducts forestry operations in the area.
Garlington School Road closed between FSR 366E and E91-7 (Enoree RD)
Garlington School Road is closed between FSR 366E and E91-7 for needed bridge maintenance. We will update when the bridge has been repaired.
FSR 1047 closed due to culvert failure (Enoree RD)
Forest Service Road 1047 (off Riser Road) is closed at MP 0.841 for public safety due to failed culverts. We will provide an update when the culverts have been repaired.
FSR 509 "Muckaway Rd" is closed at mileposts 2.53 & 3.01 due to a culvert failure at milepost 2.79.
FSR 509 "Muckaway Rd" on the Long Cane Ranger District is closed at mileposts 2.53 & 3.01 due to a culvert failure at milepost 2.79.
FSR 520 “White Creek Rd” is closed at MP 0.55 due to a culvert failure.
FSR 520 “White Creek Rd” on the Long Cane Ranger District is closed at MP 0.55 due to a culvert failure.
Forest Orders
Please visit the following page for current Forest Closure Orders: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/francismarionsumter/about-area/closure-orders
Forest Service Road 301 (Worthys Ferry) Closure
Until further notice, Forest Service Road 301 (Worthys Ferry) on the Enoree Ranger District will be closed between the two intersections where FSR 301 meets with FSR 301E (Feltman). Access to Worthys Bottom will remain open through FSR 301E.
Timber Harvest at Buck Hall Recreation Area Use Caution
A timber harvest will be taking place in the vicinity of Buck Hall Recreation Area starting as early as Friday, February 14th 2025. This is the first phase of the Buck Hall Recreation Area Renovation. Logging trucks will be using Buck Hall Landing Road to access the area.
Closures on Francis Marion National Forest (Litchfield/Lottie Bridges)
Assessments were conducted following Tropical Storm Debby by the Francis Marion Ranger District office, requiring an indefinite closure of the Litchfield and Lottie bridges for public and employee safety. Due to the conditions, a full assessment has not been completed.
FSR 376 Asias Branch Road closed on Enoree Ranger District
FSR 376 Asias Branch Road, located on the Enoree Ranger District, is closed due to a blown-out culvert. We will update when the road is reopened.
Candy Branch Rifle Range closed until further notice
The Candy Branch Rifle Range at Sumter National Forest's Long Cane Ranger District is closed until further notice pending safety review and maintenance.
Emergency Bridge Closure off Forest Service Rd. 251H
A Closure Order (see below) has been placed for an emergency closure of a bridge off of Forest Service Road 251H on the Francis Marion National Forest. Francis Marion & Sumter NFs, Forest-Wide Closure - Order Number: FM-14-01
FSR 374 (Hunting Fork Rd) closed
Forest Service Road 374 near Whitmire, SC (also known as Hunting Fork Road) is closed due to a washed-out pipe. We will update when the road is repaired.
Check the Call Before You Haul hotline before riding our OHV trails
All OHV trails across Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests are subject to closures on short notice due to inclement weather. Before driving to OHV trails, Call 803-561-4025 Before You Haul for the most recent trail status.
America the Beautiful passes unavailable at Supervisor's & Long Cane offices
America the Beautiful passes are temporarily not available at the Supervisor's Office. Passes are available at our other Forest Service offices in South Carolina. Call ahead to confirm availability.
Please be aware of open well hazards on Sumter National Forest
Old home sites exist across many parts of the Sumter National Forest in South Carolina. Many of these sites still include open, hand-dug wells. The Forest is working to address known well hazards. Known well sites are being signed; however, there may be wells not yet discovered.
About
Whetstone Horse Camp is situated in the Andrew Pickens Ranger District of Sumter National Forest in Oconee County, about 13 miles northwest of Walhalla. The campground serves as a premier equestrian base camp with access to over 28 miles of horse trails. Riders can explore the Rocky Gap Trail on the South Carolina side of the Chattooga River and the Willis Knob Horse Trail on the Georgia side. The camp is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River, offering riders scenic mountain views and diverse terrain. Each campsite includes hitching rails and highlines for horses, along with fire rings, picnic tables, and lantern posts. The facility provides drinking water from faucets and vault toilet facilities. Access requires about 0.75 miles of gravel road travel from Whetstone Road. The campground operates with a 14-day stay limit and enforces quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Nearby attractions include Stumphouse Tunnel and Isaqueena Falls, both about 20 minutes away, and the town of Walhalla is 13 miles south.
Directions
From Walhalla, go north 6 miles on State Highway 28. Turn left onto Whetstone Road for about 5 miles. Go straight at the four-way stop, and drive about 1.5 miles. The pavement will end, and a gravel road will begin. A sign for Whetstone Horse Camp is about 0.75 miles down the gravel road. The camp is on the left.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $15 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (864) 638-9568 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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