Sugarloaf Mountain

Sugarloaf, affectionately known as "The Mountain" locally, is a striking geological marvel rising a hundred feet above the Carolina Sandhills' surrounding landscape. Nestled within the 47,000 acres of Sand Hills State Forest adjacent to U.S. Highway 1, it offers a network of easy riding trails through rolling sand hills. Riders traverse paths of red clay and white sand, winding through diverse forests of dogwoods, pine, and hardwoods, showcasing both new and old growth. This area is part of the Sand Hills State Forest, which spans Chesterfield and Darlington counties, a region formed by deep, infertile sands from an ancient sea, marking a distinct ecosystem in South Carolina.

The history of Sand Hills State Forest began with its purchase by the federal government between 1935 and 1939, as part of a relief effort under the Resettlement Administration, to rehome landowners to more arable lands. Managed by the SC Forestry Commission since 1939, and fully acquired by the state in 1991, Sand Hills has served as a forest management demonstration area. Efforts have focused on land restoration, wildfire protection, and reforestation, particularly emphasizing the native longleaf pine. These conservation efforts, alongside a wildlife management program and a prescribed burning strategy, have transformed the once-degraded land into a thriving habitat for timber production and diverse wildlife species, making it a prime location for the Wateree Hounds' hunting activities.