FMU To Open To Public Fishing, Trails At Ecology Center

Those in and around Florence who enjoy the great outdoors will soon have a new option.

On Friday, new trails and a fishing area at the Francis Marion University Freshwater Ecology Complex will open to the public. The public trails and fishing access area will be open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from sunrise to sunset, except on university holidays. They are closed Monday through Thursday for educational and research purposes.

There are three trails at the complex: the Overlook Trail, the Forest Trail, and the Fishing Trail. The Overlook Trail is a short, crushed gravel trail that winds through a forest of oak, hickory, and pines. The trail ends at an observation deck that provides views of the drop-off into Backswamp. The Forest Loop Trail is a .41 miles dirt trail that goes through the woods before coming back to the main entrance road. The Fishing Trail is also a dirt trail. It leads to a cleared shoreline that provides the public with fishing access at the lake.

Fishing is open to the public at the designated public access fishing area on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from sunrise to sunset. To fish on the lake, anglers must have a valid S.C. freshwater fishing license and complete the FMU fishing registration. Registration cards are available online as well as onsite at the trailhead kiosk.

The Freshwater Ecology Complex is at 3742 N. Williston Road. Note that pets are not permitted, except for service animals. Hunting, swimming, and boating are not allowed on the premises.

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