Carolina Butterfly Society

CANCELLED - SI Group Hundred Acre Woods - Goatweed Leafwing (Orangeburg, SC)
2022-09-10 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | SI Group, 725 Cannon Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC, 29115, United States
=== CANCELLED ===
This walk has been cancelled due to expected rain almost all day in Orangeburg. If at all possible, we will try to reschedule for a later date.
On Saturday, September 10, 2022, the Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at the SI Group Hundred Acre Woods in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to look for the Goatweed Leafwing (we believe there is an existing, ongoing colony) and other fall butterflies. There will be a short drive on an unpaved road to get to our staging point, and, after parking, we will walk around the property.
There is a porta potty on site. Restaurants and gas stations are nearby. The walk will be on flat ground, but some field areas may be overgrown.
The address is 725 Cannon Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC 29115 (GPS coordinates 33.465095, -80.884050). Traveling south on Cannon Bridge Road from Highway 301, go past the railroad crossing and come in the third entrance on the left just after the main parking lot area for the SI Group and just before the fenced-in electrical substation enclosure. After turning in, look to your right and follow the short dirt road, on the east side of the electrical substation enclosure, towards the tree line where we will meet and line up our cars. After everyone has arrived, Arthur Sweatman from the SI Group will lead the caravan of cars back to the Hundred Acre Woods parking area.
Please register online at the CBS website or RSVP to Diane Curlee, our trip organizer, at the email address below if you plan to participate.

Hampton Park - Cassius Blue - Charleston, SC
2022-10-16 10:00 - 14:00 | Hampton Park – Charleston, SC, 30 Mary Murray Drive, Charleston, SC, 29403, United States
We will meet in the parking lot on the north side of the park. The GPS coordinates for the lot are 32.80050, -79.95802. Our target species is the Cassius Blue. Dennis Forsythe will lead. Please contact him at dennis.forsythe@gmail.com if you are coming.

RESCHEDULED - Wateree River HP & WMA – Henry's Elfin & Falcate Orangetip (Eastover, near Columbia, SC)
2023-03-21 11:00 - 16:00 | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
RESCHEDULED
Due to the forecast for rain on Saturday, March 18, this walk has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 21, starting at 11:00 AM. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you will still be able to attend.
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk at the 3,674-acre Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area. Our target species are the Henry’s Elfin and Falcate Orangetip, but we will also be looking for other early-season butterflies as well. We will drive to various areas and walk some of the trails. Areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.94949, -80.65303. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.94353, -80.65551) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, just across from Goodwill Baptist Church.
No restrooms are available on the property. Refer to the SCDNR website link below for additional information and maps of the property. Please RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, and bug spray. Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended.
See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.

REVISED DATE - Carolina Sandhills NWR and Cheraw State Park – Elfins & Hessel’s Hairstreak (near McBee, SC)
2023-04-02 10:00 - 15:00 | Carolina Sandhills NWR, 23734 US-1, McBee, SC, 29101, United States
REVISED DATE – Moved to Sunday, April 2 (from Saturday, April 1)
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk at the Carolina Sandhills NWR (National Wildlife Refuge) and Cheraw State Park in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Our target species will be all the elfins and Hessel’s Hairstreak.
Please meet in the parking lot at the visitor center of Carolina Sandhills NWR. The main entrance is on US Highway 1, about 4 miles northeast of McBee, SC. The address is 23734 U.S. Highway 1, McBee, SC 29101, and the GPS coordinates are 34.502551, -80.223653.
There are restroom facilities at Lake Bee, but we will not be near there until later in the day if at all. There are gas stations in McBee. We will drive to different areas at both locations and stop to look for butterflies. Walking will be minimal. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, and bug spray. Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended. Marty and Dave Kastner will lead. Please register on the CBS website or contact kastners@aol.com if you can attend.

DATE CHANGE - Folly Beach – Yucca Giant-Skipper (near Charleston, SC)
2023-04-12 08:30 - 15:00
===== DATE CHANGE =====
The date for this walk has been changed to WEDNESDAY, April 12 due to the prediction of heavy rain on the original date of April 8.
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk to Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve at the north end of Folly Beach in South Carolina. The target species is the Yucca Giant-Skipper.
Per the Lighthouse Inlet HP website, there is no close accessible parking and a paved surface leads to a natural, unimproved surface out to the beach area. Alison Smith will lead the walk. We will meet at Alison Smith’s home at 8:30 AM and carpool because parking is limited at the heritage preserve entrance and may be an issue. Contact Alison at sweetgrassess@gmail.com if you are coming and she will send you her address.

Congaree NP, Highway 601 Area – Spring Butterflies (near Columbia, SC)
2023-04-23 10:00 - 15:00 | Congaree NP Bates Trail, 33.7623, -80.6425
===== DATE CHANGE =====
Due to the weather forecast of 70% chance of rain, on Saturday, April 22, this walk has been changed to Sunday, April 23. This walk was originally scheduled for April 29 but, due to other event conflicts, had been changed to April 22.
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk at the “Highway 601 Area” of Congaree National Park in South Carolina. Our target species are any Spring butterflies. We will be exploring several locations in the immediate vicinity. Some areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
We will meet at the head of the Bates Trail off Highway 601. Meeting place GPS coordinates are 33.762318, -80.642496.
We will drive to different areas and hike the trails to look for butterflies. Parking should be available at all locations but there are no restrooms. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, and bug spray. Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended. Dave and Marty Kastner will lead. Please register on the CBS website or contact them at kastners@aol.com if you can attend.

Sumter National Forest, Enoree District, South Carolina
2023-05-07 10:00 - 15:00 | Sumter National Forest, Enoree District – BP Gas Station, 3536 Whitmire Hwy, Clinton, SC, 29325, United States
The location for this trip has been changed from Chester County to Newberry and Laurens Counties.
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk to the Enoree District of the Sumter National Forest in South Carolina. Please note that this is a Sunday walk. Our target species are the Pepper and Salt Skipper, Common Roadside-Skipper and possibly Dusted Skipper.
Meet at the BP gas station on Highway 66, Whitmire Highway, just off I-26 at exit 60. The GPS coordinates of the gas station are 34.4383, -81.7628.
There are bathrooms in the camping area of Sumter National Forest, but we may not be near them until the afternoon. There is also a rest stop on westbound I-26 shortly before exit 60. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, and bug spray. Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended. Dennis Forsythe will lead. Please register on the CBS website or contact Dennis at dennis.forsythe@gmail.com if you can attend.

REVISED DATE - Super-Sod Farm and Surrounding Area – Common Sootywing (Orangeburg, SC)
2023-05-24 10:00 - 15:00 | Super-Sod Farm, 3086 Five Chop Road, Orangeburg, SC, 29115, United States
REVISED DATE – Moved to Wednesday, May 24 (from Monday, May 22) due to expected weather conditions.
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will explore areas around and possibly inside the Super-Sod Farm in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Please note that this is now a Wednesday walk. Our target species is the Common Sootywing which has been recoded here in the past.
Meet at the Super-Sod office at 3086 Five Chop Road, Orangeburg, South Carolina, 29115. The GPS coordinates are 33.4594, -80.7433.
Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, and bug spray. Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended. Dennis Forsythe will lead. Please register on the CBS website or contact Dennis at dennis.forsythe@gmail.com if you can attend.

Salleyland - Late-Summer Butterflies (Salley, SC)
2023-08-27 10:00 - 15:00 | Salleyland, 2838 Firetower Rd, Salley, SC, 29137, United States
The Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at Salleyland near Salley, South Carolina, to look for late-summer butterflies. Please note that this is a Sunday walk.
Salleyland is an approximately 100-acre undeveloped (except for a small cabin) tract of land that includes a hardwood forest, a sandhills area, a stream and a swamp. Our host and Salleyland co-owner, Whit Gibbons, is a renowned naturalist and editor, author or co-author of more than 20 books. He also has written numerous articles that have been published in scientific journals.
We will meet at the Salleyland cabin. The address is 2838 Firetower Road, Salley, South Carolina, 29137 in Orangeburg County. GPS coordinates for the entrance to the access road that leads back to the cabin are 33.53716, -81.27444. Parking at the cabin is limited and the access road is difficult for low ground clearance vehicles.
Restrooms are available on the property. Please RSVP or send any questions to Tom Austin at the email address below if you plan to participate.

CANCELLED - Etheredge Mill Pond – Aaron’s Skipper (North, SC)
2023-08-29 10:00 - 14:00 | Etheredge Mill Pond – North, SC, 33.62726, -81.04808
CANCELLED – After numerous recent scouting visits, no Aaron’s Skippers could be found. Consequently, this year’s walk has been CANCELLED! Here’s to hoping they’ll be back next year.
The Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at Etheredge Mill Pond near North, South Carolina, to look for Aaron’s Skipper fall brood and other late-season butterflies. Please note that this is a Tuesday walk. Locations of interest will be around the mill pond. At times, we will be walking along the fairly wide shoulders of paved roads.
Meet on the east side of Etheredge Mill Pond at the corner of Highway 178 / North Road and Highway 172 / Redmond Mill Road (GPS coordinates 33.62726, -81.04808) in the open area on the north side of Highway 178 and just to the west of Highway 172.
No restrooms are available on the property. Please RSVP to John Demko at the email address below if you plan to participate.

SI Group Hundred Acre Woods – Goatweed Leafwing (Orangeburg, SC)
2023-10-14 13:00 - 16:00 | SI Group, 725 Cannon Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC, 29115, United States
TIME CHANGED (from 10:00am-3:00pm to 1:00pm-4:00pm)
DATE CHANGED (from September 30 to October 14)
On Saturday, October 14, 2023, the Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at the SI Group Hundred Acre Woods in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to look for the Goatweed Leafwing (we believe there is an existing, ongoing colony) and other fall butterflies. There will be a short drive on an unpaved road to get to our staging point, and, after parking, we will walk around the property. This site was last visited in 2019.
There is a porta potty on site. Restaurants and gas stations are nearby. The walk will be on flat ground, but some field areas may be overgrown.
The address is 725 Cannon Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC 29115 (GPS coordinates 33.465095, -80.884050). Traveling south on Cannon Bridge Road from Highway 301, go past the railroad crossing and come in the third entrance on the left just after the main parking lot area for the SI Group and just before the fenced-in electrical substation enclosure. After turning in, look to your right and follow the short dirt road, on the east side of the electrical substation enclosure, towards the tree line where we will meet and line up our cars. After everyone has arrived, a safety officer from the SI Group will lead the caravan of cars back to the Hundred Acre Woods parking area.
Please register online at the CBS website or RSVP to Diane Curlee, our trip organizer, at the email address below if you plan to participate.

Wateree River HP & WMA – Southern Dogface (Eastover, near Columbia, SC)
2023-10-21 10:00 - 16:00 | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on October 21,2023 at the 3,674-acre Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area. Our target species is the Southern Dogface, but we will also be looking for other late-season butterflies as well. We will drive to various areas and walk some of the trails. Areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.94949, -80.65303. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.94353, -80.65551) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, just across from Goodwill Baptist Church.
No restrooms are available on the property. Refer to the SCDNR website link below for additional information and maps of the property. Please RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.

DATE CHANGE - Congaree Creek HP and Timmerman Trail (Cayce, SC)
2024-03-12 11:00 - 16:00 | Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve, 634 Old State Road, Cayce, SC, 29033, United States
DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER FORECAST FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 9, THE DATE FOR THIS WALK HAS BEEN CHANGED TO TUESDAY, MARCH 12. Also, due to the expected low temperature Monday night, the start time has been moved back to 11:00 am (from 10:00 am).
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. We will meet in the parking lot of Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve located at 634 Old State Road, Cayce, SC 29033 (GPS coordinates 33.9426, -81.0325). We will explore areas in and near part of the Heritage Preserve, along Old State Road and the Timmerman Trail. Our target species are Goatweed Leafwing, Falcate Orangetip and Elfins. Walking is easy and the distance is up to the participants.
There is a restroom at the Cayce Tennis Center on Fort Congaree Trail Road, but we will not be in that area until later in the day. Please register online at the CBS website or RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

Wateree River HP & WMA (Eastover, near Columbia, SC)
2024-03-16 10:00 - 15:00 | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at the 3,674-acre Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area. Our target species are Henry’s Elfin and Falcate Orangetip, but we will also be looking for other early-season butterflies as well. We will drive to various areas and walk some of the trails. Areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.9495, -80.6530. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.9435, -80.6555) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, just across from Goodwill Baptist Church.
No restrooms are available on the property. Refer to the SCDNR website link below for additional information and maps of the property. Either register on the CBS website or RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.

Kalmia Gardens and Cheraw State Park - Hessel's Hairstreak and Elfins (Hartsville, SC)
2024-04-06 11:00 - 16:00 | Kalmia Gardens, 34.3654, -80.1175, United States
START TIME CHANGED TO 11:00 am
We will begin the day at Kalmia Gardens. The address on their website is listed as 1624 West Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550, but that is the mailing address for the building in the center of the gardens. We will meet in the parking lot; the entrance to the parking lot on West Carolina Avenue is located at GPS coordinates 34.36548, -80.11746. At Kalmia we will be looking for the stand of Atlantic White Cedar which is the host plant for Hessel’s Hairstreak.
After spending some time in and around the gardens, we will drive approximately 30 minutes to Cheraw State Park. Our target species at Cheraw are all the elfins and, again, Hessel’s Hairstreak.
Marty and Dave Kastner will lead this walk. Please RSVP to Marty at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

Sumter National Forest Long Cane District (Edgefield, SC)
2024-05-11 10:00 - 15:00 | Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area, 33.72642, -82.04029
We will walk Lick Fork Road, FS-634 to Horn Creek, and possibly Miller Branch Road. These are dirt roads with Prunella vulgaris and in some spots there are some relatives of Black-eyed Susans. We’ll meet in the Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area at the parking lot near the boat ramp. The GPS coordinates are 33.72642, -82.04029. There is a $3 per day self-pay parking fee for the area but this is only if you leave your car. We do not plan to start here so do not pay the fee. The fee is waived if you have the Federal “America the Beautiful” Pass as that covers Federal Recreation Areas as well as National Parks.
DIRECTIONS:

From I-20 get off at Exit 1 to Martintown Road (SC-230) and head north until you see the sign to turn right for Lick Fork Creek Recreation Area. If you get to the SC 23 intersection with SC 230 you have gone just a tad too far (less than 0.5 miles).
If you are coming up SC 125 from the south, take it to Martintown Road (SC-230) and head north. You will go over I-20 and then follow the directions above.
From the square in downtown Edgefield, travel south on Hwy-23 for 8.3 miles. Bear left onto Hwy-230 and travel for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto Lick Fork Lake Road (S 19-263) and travel 1.9 miles. The entrance is on the right.

John Demko will lead. Please let him know in advance if you are coming. There is no cell service in the areas we will be exploring. Call him at 803-761-3047 or email at jldemko@bellsouth.net if you plan on attending.

Black River Cypress Preserve, Swampside Tract (Andrews, SC)
2024-05-18 10:00 - 15:00 | Swampside Tract – Black River Cypress Preserve, 16368 County Line Road, Andrews, SC, 29510, United States
The Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will explore the Swampside Tract of Black River Cypress Preserve near Andrews, South Carolina. This preserve is privately owned and groups are admitted by appointment only. Please note that we need to have at least 6 people attend and each must sign a waiver upon arrival.
The Cypress Preserve offers a unique opportunity to experience some of North America’s most diverse and exotic ecosystems—from mysterious black water swamps and rivers to sparkling pine savannas. We will explore via winding hiking trails that feature interpretive signs and plaques, identifying the flora and fauna that have evolved in these landscapes over millennia.
We will meet in the parking lot near the main entrance. The preserve address is 16368 County Line Road (Hwy 41), Andrews, South Carolina, 29510. GPS coordinates for the preserve entrance that leads back to the parking area are 33.4988, -79.5341.
Restrooms are available on the property. Please RSVP or send any questions to Tom Austin at the email address below if you plan to participate.

Super-Sod Farm and Surrounding Area – (Orangeburg, SC)
2024-06-15 10:00 - 15:00 | Super-Sod Farm, 3086 Five Chop Road, Orangeburg, SC, 29115, United States
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will explore areas around and possibly inside the Super-Sod Farm in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Our target species is the Common Sootywing which has been recoded here in the past.
Meet at the Super-Sod office at 3086 Five Chop Road, Orangeburg, South Carolina, 29115. The GPS coordinates are 33.45936, -80.74331.
Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, and bug spray. Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended. Dennis Forsythe will lead. Please register on the CBS website or contact Dennis at dennis.forsythe@gmail.com if you can attend.

Gum Swamp Road (Jackson, SC)
2024-08-04 09:00 - 15:00 | Kathwood Lakes (meeting location for Gum Swamp Road), 33.33728. -81.84345
This is a CBS Midlands Chapter outing to areas near Aiken, South Carolina, to look for the Texan Crescent, Tawny Emperor, Hackberry Emperor and other summer butterflies. Please note that this event is on Sunday, where we will drive along Gum Swamp Road and stop at various locations along the road to explore areas of interest (or wherever we see butterflies). The gate to the lakes (see below for the location) will be open at dawn if you want to do some birding before our butterfly walk.
We will meet at the Kathwood Lakes parking area (GPS coordinates 33.33728, -81.84345) of the Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary. We will leave some cars at this location and consolidate the number of vehicles. Kathwood Lakes is located on Silver Bluff Road just before the paved road turns to dirt and approximately 200 yards after crossing the railroad tracks coming south. Kathwood Lakes is the name Google Maps uses for the bodies of water at this location.
If you are coming from the north, Beech Island is the nearest place with bathrooms, places to eat and gas stations. If coming from the south, Jackson is the nearest place for these items. If coming from the east down Silver Bluff Road, (SC 302), Aiken will be the last town on your way. Jackson will be to your south on SC 125 if you need to stop just prior to the meeting spot.
No restrooms are available along Gum Swamp Road. Please RSVP to John Demko at the email address below if you plan to participate.

SI Group Hundred Acre Woods – Goatweed Leafwing (Orangeburg, SC)
2024-09-07 10:00 - 15:00 | SI Group, 725 Cannon Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC, 29115, United States
On Saturday, September 7, 2024, the Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at the SI Group Hundred Acre Woods in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to look for the Goatweed Leafwing (we believe there is an existing, ongoing colony) and other fall butterflies. There will be a short drive on an unpaved road to get to our staging point, and, after parking, we will walk around the property.
There is a porta potty on site. Restaurants and gas stations are nearby. The walk will be on flat ground, but some field areas may be overgrown.
The address is 725 Cannon Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC 29115 (GPS coordinates 33.465095, -80.884050). Traveling south on Cannon Bridge Road from Highway 301, go past the railroad crossing and come in the third entrance on the left just after the main parking lot area for the SI Group and just before the fenced-in electrical substation enclosure. After turning in, look to your right and follow the short dirt road, on the east side of the electrical substation enclosure, towards the tree line where we will meet and line up our cars. After everyone has arrived, a safety officer from the SI Group will lead the caravan of cars back to the Hundred Acre Woods parking area.
Please register online at the CBS website or RSVP to Diane Curlee, our trip organizer, at the email address below if you plan to participate.

Wateree River HP & WMA (Eastover, near Columbia, SC)
2024-10-12 10:00 - 16:00 | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at the 3,674-acre Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area. Our target species is Southern Dogface, but we will also be looking for other late-season butterflies as well. We will drive to various areas, walk some of the trails and quite possibly “bushwhack” through fields following the elusive Southern Dogface. Some areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.9495, -80.6530. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.9435, -80.6555) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, just across from Goodwill Baptist Church.
No restrooms are available on the property. Refer to the SCDNR website link below for additional information and maps of the property. Either register on the CBS website or RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.

Tillman Sand Ridge HP & WMA (Jasper Co., SC)
2024-11-09 10:00 - 15:00 | Tillman Sand Ridge HP & WMA Kiosk, 32.499295, -81.1999621
Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area is a preserve of about 2 square miles in the Outer Coastal Plain of western Jasper County, adjacent to the Savannah River. It was established to protect one of the northernmost populations of Florida gopher tortoises, eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, and many rare plant species. The preserve has examples of two important ecosystems, longleaf pine savanna and Outer Coastal Plain floodplain forest.
Directions: From the little village of Tillman (at the junction of Highways 336 and 321) turn onto Sand Hills Road. Continue on Sand Hills Road to the kiosk at a small parking area just off the left side of the road. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 32.499295, -81.1999621.
There are no organized hunts at this location, but all participants should wear orange for the walk. Do not walk on any of the gopher tortoise mounds. There are no facilities at this site.
For those who need to stay overnight, hotels are available in Hardeeville.
Alison Smith will lead. Contact her at sweetgrassess@gmail.com if you plan on participating.

Webb Wildlife Center WMA (Hampton Co., SC)
2024-11-10 10:00 - 15:00 | Webb Wildlife Center WMA, 32.59086, -81.31240
The Webb Wildlife Center, owned and operated by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, is a management and research facility designed to demonstrate multiple-use wildlife and timber management. Meet in front of the WMA offices/visitor center. The restrooms are inside the visitor center which is closed on weekends.
Directions: From Columbia take Highway 321 South to Garnett. In Garnett, the road will fork, stay right on Hwy 119, turn right onto Augusta Stagecoach Road (S-20) (Across from Garnett Post Office), cross railroad tracks, go approximately 2.6 miles to James W. Webb Wildlife Management Area Entrance on the left and follow it (1.5 miles) to the office. GPS coordinates are 32.59086, -81.31240
Alison Smith will lead. Contact her at sweetgrassess@gmail.com if you plan on participating.

Wateree River HP & WMA (Eastover, near Columbia, SC)
2025-03-01 10:00 - 15:00 | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
DATE CHANGE – Originally Saturday, March 8, 2025
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the 3,674-acre Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area. We will be looking for early-season butterflies, as well as a possible over-wintering Mourning Cloak or Southern Dogface. We will drive to various areas, walk some of the trails and quite possibly “bushwhack” through fields. Some areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.9495, -80.6530. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.9435, -80.6555) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, just across from Goodwill Baptist Church.
No restrooms are available on the property. Dave and Marty Kastner will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to Marty at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.

Peachtree Rock and Shealy’s Pond HPs (Brown Elfin - Lexington Co., SC)
2025-03-08 10:00 - 15:00 | Peachtree Rock HP (back entrance), 33.8334, -81.2012
DATE CHANGE – Originally Saturday, March 1, 2025
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at the 460-acre Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve and, if time permits, Shealy’s Pond Heritage Preserve. Our target species at Peachtree Rock is the Brown Elfin, but we will also be looking for other early-season butterflies as well.
Meet in the parking area next to Bethel United Methodist Church. The church address is 811 Peachtree Rock Road, Lexington, SC, and the GPS coordinates are 33.8334, -81.2012.
There are no facilities at this site, but gas stations and restaurants are nearby. Dave and Marty Kastner will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to Marty at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

Coosawhatchie HP & WMA (Frosted Elfin - Yemassee, SC)
2025-03-16 10:00 - 15:00 | Coosawhatchie HP & WMA, 32.6916, -80.9193
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at the 10,879-acre Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area. We will look for lupine and Baptisia tinctoria (horsefly weed) and a new population of Frosted Elfin, as well as other early-season butterflies. The walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
Meet at the Pocotaligo Road kiosk that is located about a quarter mile into the property. The property entrance on Pocotaligo Road is located at GPS coordinates 32.6916, -80.9193. Directions from I-95, take SC-68 West in Yemassee, exit#38. Turn onto Simmons Road and follow it to Pocotaligo Road.
No restrooms are available on the property. Refer to the SCDNR website link below for additional information and a map of the property. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to our leader, Tom Austin, at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

Sumter NF, Enoree District (Whitmire, SC)
2025-04-19 10:00 - 16:00 | Sumter National Forest, Enoree District – BP Gas Station, 3536 Whitmire Hwy, Clinton, SC, 29325, United States
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Saturday, April 19, 2025, to the Enoree District of the Sumter National Forest in South Carolina. Possible species are the Juniper Hairstreak, Pepper and Salt Roadside Skipper, and Common Roadside Skipper, but we will also be looking for other early-season butterflies as well. If we get really lucky, we may even spot a Dusted Skipper.
Meet at the BP gas station on Highway 66, Whitmire Highway, just off I-26 at exit 60. The GPS coordinates of the gas station are 34.4383, -81.7628. We will then drive to various parts of the forest. Walking will be minimal.
There are bathrooms in the camping area of Sumter National Forest, but we may not be near them. There is also a rest stop on westbound I-26 shortly before exit 60. Dave and Marty Kastner will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to Marty at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

Wateree River HP & WMA (Columbia City Nature Challenge – Eastover, SC)
2025-04-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Sunday, April 27, 2025 which will be in conjunction with the Columbia City Nature Challenge. It is our local part of City Nature Challenge, an international four-day competition where cities across the globe compete to record the biodiversity of their urban and surrounding areas. We will focus on butterflies, but all nature entries on iNaturalist will count.
Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.9495, -80.6530. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.9435, -80.6555) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, almost across from Goodwill Baptist Church.
No restrooms are available on the property. Dave and Marty Kastner will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to Marty at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended. Let’s have a big turnout!!!
See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.

CANCELLED - Sumter NF Long Cane District (Edgefield, SC)
2025-05-10 09:00 - 2025-05-11 16:00 | Lick Fork Creek Parking Lot, 33.7298, -82.0407
CANCELLED – Due to the forecast for rainy and overcast weather all weekend, this trip has been “officially” CANCELLED.
The Carolina Butterfly Society will hold butterfly walks on Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11, 2025, at the 123,360-acre Long Cane District of the Sumter National Forest in the Lick Fork Lake and Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve areas. Our target species are Tawny-edged Skipper and Twin-spotted Skipper, as well as other early-season butterflies. Prunella vulgaris should be blooming.
On Saturday, meet at the Lick Fork Creek parking lot on Lick Fork Creek Road, GPS coordinates 33.7298, -82.0407. There is a $3 per day self-pay parking fee for the area but this is only if you leave your car. We do not plan to start here so do not pay the fee. The fee is waived if you have the Federal “America the Beautiful” Pass as that covers Federal Recreation Areas as well as National Parks. The Sunday meeting location will be determined after the Saturday walk.
DIRECTIONS:

From I-20 get off at Exit 1 to Martintown Road (SC-230) and head north until you see the sign to turn right for Lick Fork Creek Recreation Area. If you get to the SC 23 intersection with SC 230 you have gone just a tad too far (less than 0.5 miles).
If you are coming up SC 125 from the south, take it to Martintown Road (SC-230) and head north. You will go over I-20 and then follow the directions above.
From the square in downtown Edgefield, travel south on Hwy-23 for 8.3 miles. Bear left onto Hwy-230 and travel for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto Lick Fork Lake Road (S 19-263) and travel 1.9 miles. The entrance is on the right.

There are bathrooms near the meeting area. There is no cell service in the areas we will be exploring. John Demko will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to John at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

Carolina Sandhills NWR (Hairstreaks - near McBee, SC)
2025-05-31 10:00 - 15:00 | Carolina Sandhills NWR, 23734 US-1, McBee, SC, 29101, United States
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the 47,850-acre Carolina Sandhills NWR (National Wildlife Refuge) in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Our target species will be all the Hairstreaks, including Banded, Coral and King’s, but we will also be looking for other late spring butterflies as well.
Please meet in the parking lot at the visitor center of Carolina Sandhills NWR. The main entrance is on US Highway 1, about 4 miles northeast of McBee, SC. The address is 23734 U.S. Highway 1, McBee, SC 29101, and the GPS coordinates are 34.5026, -80.2237.
There are restroom facilities at Lake Bee, but we will not be near there until later in the day. There are also gas stations in McBee. We will drive to different sections of the NWR and stop to look for butterflies. Walking will be minimal and should be easy, but some fields may be overgrown. Dave and Marty Kastner will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to Marty at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
