Table of Contents

Beaufort County Passive Parks

Beaufort County Passive Parks requires a permit prior to the placement of geocaches. The exact location of a cache must be pre-approved by park management. See the Passive Parks Manager for details and application.

Contact:

Stefanie Nagid

Beaufort County Passive Parks Manager

snagid@bcgov.net

(843) 255-2152

List of parks under Beaufort County Passive Parks jurisdiction:

1. Altamaha Town Heritage Preserve
2. Brewer Memorial Park
3. Crystal Lake Park
4. Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve
5. Fort Fremont Preserve
6. The Green
7. Green's Shell Park
8. North Williman and Buzzard Islands
9. Oyster Factory Park
10. Pinckney Colony Preserve
11. Whitehall Park
12. Widgeon Point Preserve
13. Wright Family Park

Commercial Locations or Properties

Aiken Mall does not permit caches on their property.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores does not permit new caches on their properties.

Cemeteries

The state of South Carolina does not allow geocaching in or around any cemeteries.

Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (CCPRC) Geocaching Guidelines

Geocaching participants must abide by all CCPRC park regulations.
Geocaches must be officially registered with www.geocaching.com.
CCPRC park entrance fees apply.
Due to the sensitivity of barrier island habitat, geocaching is prohibited at Kiawah Beachwalker Park, Folly Beach County Park, Folly Beach Edwin S.
Taylor Fishing Pier, Isle of Palms County Park, and Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve (Old Coast Guard Base property).
All caches should be placed adjacent to existing trails to prevent negative impacts on habitat and property.
There should be no earth disturbance or vegetative impact to any site, nor should the cache be easily identifiable by the general public.
Cache containers shall be clearly labeled as a Geocache.
Caches shall not be placed in a plastic (PVC) pipe or ammunition box.
Caches shall not contain explosives, fireworks, ammunition, lighters, knives, drugs, alcohol, or other illicit material. Caches shall not contain food items or scented items.
Geocaches found in violation of any of these guidelines will be removed and treated as abandoned property, and the responsible person may be cited for littering.

Organization web site http://www.ccprc.com/index.aspx?NID=1124

DNR Heritage Preserves

In bill H3794 signed by the governor of South Carolina on June 2, 2009, the South Carolina General Assembly prohibited geocaching on all state wildlife management areas, heritage preserves, and all other lands owned by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

DNR Wildlife Management Areas

In bill H3794 signed by the governor of South Carolina on June 2, 2009, the South Carolina General Assembly prohibited geocaching on all state wildlife management areas, heritage preserves, and all other lands owned by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Dorchester County Parks and Recreation

Dorchester County Parks and Recreation welcome geocaching in all parks.

Request from the parks director in the chance there is a potential heavy storm that would most likely cause flooding, please disable your cache listing and physically remove the cache container(s) from Ashley River Park and Rosebrock Park.  These two parks are along the Ashley River flood plane so please remove your containers so they don't get swept downstream.

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

The following information has been extracted from a brochure by the Andrew Pickens Ranger District.

112 Andrew Pickens Circle
Mountain Rest, SC 29664
Phone: (864) 638-9568

Geocaching Regulations for the Andrew Pickens Ranger District

To protect our valuable natural resources and keep users safe, please abide by the following rules when visiting the Andrew Pickens Ranger District:

• Leaving a cache is permitted in most general forest areas, but is not allowed in the Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area, the Station Creek Cove Botanical Area, or other sensitive natural areas.

• No soil disturbance or cutting of vegetation is allowed when placing or hiding a cache. To protect fragile resources, cache locations and the primary access routes to caches must avoid areas such as rockshelters, caves, bogs, wetlands, steep slopes, historic structures, or areas otherwise closed to the public. It is preferable to stay close to developed trails.

• A cache must be temporary – it cannot be left at a given location any longer than one year. Caches that will be in place longer than a year require a formal special use permit.

• A cache should be no larger than 12”x12” in size. It must have an external label designating it as a geocache and be permanently marked with the owner’s name and contact information. DO NOT use cartridge boxes or any containers that might be mistaken for explosives or hazardous materials.

• Caches must not contain food, alcohol, weapons, fireworks or any sort of hazardous materials.

• A special use permit is required and a fee will be charged for caches associated with a commercial event.

• The owner must remove a cache if high activity at the site is causing resource damage to natural resources. The Forest Service may remove caches found to be causing resource damage.

If You Are Hunting for a Cache:

• Be mindful that caches are not placed where digging or vegetation removal will be required to find them – stay light on the land.

• If it appears that people locating a cache are causing resource damage to soils or other natural resources, please notify our office.

• Please observe the safety rules all users should follow when out in the forest – a good list can be found at:

http://www.twohikers.org/Gear/TenEssentials.htm

Find the Andrew Pickens Ranger District on the Web:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/scnfs/home/?cid=fsbdev3_037346

Fripp Island

Fripp Island is closed to the public. In order to enter legally onto the island, you have to be brought on by a resident, come with a real estate agent or have proof you are renting a property there.

Harbison State Forest - Columbia, SC

Harbison State Forest allows the placement of geocaches but permission must be obtained from the Forest Manager prior to placement.
James Miller - Harbison State Forest Manager
803-896-8893

Hitchcock Woods Foundation (near Aiken, SC)

Contact:

Dane Hannah
864-958-1622
dane@palmettoconservation.org

Contact information updated August 9, 2012

Hitchcock Woods Foundation
P.O. Box 1702
Aiken, S.C. 29802

Hitchcock Woods Foundation Geocaching Guidelines, October 6, 2006:

1. The game or sport of geocaching is permitted in the Hitchcock Woods under the following conditions.
2. When in the Hitchcock Woods, geocachers must honor all guidelines and practices outlined on geocaching.com.
3. Geo-cachers also must honor the operating hours, all signage, and all guidelines in the Public Users Guide posted on the Hitchcock Woods Foundation website.
4. Geocaches may not be buried and may only be placed within two yards of a trail marked on the official map of the Hitchcock Woods.
5. No caches will be permitted in Sand River or in other areas considered environmentally sensitive.
6. Every geocache location must be approved in advance and in writing by the executive director of the Hitchcock Woods Foundation.
7. No geocaches may be located in an area that is designated as a candidate for a controlled burn in the same year.
8. There may not be more than three cache sites in the Hitchcock Woods at any given time.
9. The exterior of every cache must be marked with a waterproof note reading as follows: "This package has been placed here by participants of the game or sport of geocaching. Unless you are participating in this activity, please do not touch this package or move it from this location."
10. The Hitchcock Woods Foundation reserves the right to retract this permission at its own discretion.

Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission

ICRC Allows and even participates in Geocaching. Visit each park for details.
Saluda Shoals Park
Seven Oaks Park
Crooked Creek Park

Palmetto Trail (South Carolina Palmetto Trail)

We have received the following direction with regard to geocaching along the Palmetto Trail:
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We encourage and welcome Geocaching along the trail with the following request;

1. That geocachers contact Palmetto Conservation Foundation (Dane Hannah: 864-958-1622.
His email is dane@palmettoconservation.org ) with a request for permission to locate a cache site as this is one of the requirements of Geocaching.COM . Mr. Hannah then contacts one of the various trail maintainers and we arrange to meet the Geocacher to approve the location.
2. That the hider agrees to visit the site every other month to maintain the location and to insure that the site is not over used.
3. Geo-Caching Litter is not allowed. We have had a real problem with Geocachers littering the trail with what we call distracters.
4. The hide is deactivated or removed when requested.
5. That the following is placed in the description of the cache at Geocaching.com "Be a trail watcher! The Palmetto Trail is maintained by volunteers. Help the volunteer trail maintainers by reporting trail problems, maintenance issues and suggestions to info@palmettoconservation.org ".
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Once you have received permission for your cache from a Palmetto Trail maintainer, please place that person's name and contact information in a reviewer note and click on the enable listing link in the navigation pane or check the active box on the cache edit page to place it back into the review queue.

Richland County Parks & Recreation

Richland County Parks & Recreation Commission has given permission in all parks. They ask that geocaches not be placed near a walkway or in bushes.

Right of Way Placements

The South Carolina Department of Transportation has notified Groundspeak that they have a zero tolerance policy toward geocaching on rights of way.  The area between the edge of the roadbed and the property line of the adjacent property owner is part of the right of way.  Traffic signs are also part of a right of way.

SC Title 57 Section 57-7-20 prohibiting putting foreign substances on highways is being interpreted to apply to placing items such as a geocache on a right of way.  We have been informed by the SC DOT that such placements are not legal and that action may be taken against cache owners.

Rock Hill, City of (Parks, Recreation, and Tourism)

The city of Rock Hill encourages geocaching and has a documented process.  The most recent version is in the PDF file linked below.

Geocaching Guidelines/Procedures PDF file

Rock Hill Geocaching Explanation

For convenience, a listing of the Rock Hill Parks follows below:

1. Arcade Park - Located at Sidney Street. This 20 acre park features two-lighted softball fields and a playground.
2. Arcade-Victoria Park- Located at Roddey Street. A 5 acre park with a youth ball field, playground, and two basketball courts.
3. Armory Park- N 34 54.968 W 081 01.539- Located at South Confederate Ave. A 4 acre park with picnic shelter, basketball court, playfield, playground, youth ball field, and walking trail.
4. Boyd Hill Center- located at 1165 Constitution Boulevard. With 20.5 acres to explore, we invite you to come and discover us. The park includes a softball field, two playgrounds, three picnic shelters, a large natural area with a creek, outdoor basketball courts, horseshoe pits and a swimming pool. Come commune with nature in the middle of the city.
5. Carroll Park- N 34 54.855 W 081 02.410- Located at Simrill Street. This 11.4 acre park has a lighted ball field, a multi-purpose court, and a playground.
6. Cedar Crest Park- N 34 55.886 W 081 01.309- Located at Charlotte Ave. Features a small (.8 acre) fenced tot lot and picnic area.
7. Cherry Park- located at 1466 Cherry Road. Is an award winning 68-acre recreational facility designed for family, group, and individual use by the citizens of Rock Hill and their guests. Park Features: Five 300 foot softball fields, Modern halide lighting, Scoreboards for each field, Spectator seating for 500 for each field, Full-service concessions, First-Aid room, Public address system for each field, Press area, Enclosed and open picnic shelters, Picnic areas with tables and grills, Large grill, Multi-purpose control building, Five multi-purpose fields of various sizes, Two 1.5 mile lighted and paved bicycle/jogging trails, Tot lots and play areas, Public restrooms, Ample parking, Mighty Casey statue. Office Hours Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Park Hours Open Daily – 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (March1 - October 31), 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (November1-February 28).
8. College Downs- Located at Crawford Road. Basketball court, picnic shelter and playground on 8 acres.
9. Confederate Park- N 34 55.634 W 081 01.115- Located at North Confederate Ave. This 10.5 acre park features an amphitheater, four lighted tennis courts, basketball court, picnic shelter with restrooms, playground, soccer field, and a youth ball field.
10. Eagle Park- Located at Eden Terrace. Four lighted softball fields on 12 acres. Eagle Trail is 1.3 miles plus a .5 mile loop around Winthrop Coliseum.
11. East Moore Street Park- N 34 55.164 W 081. 01.854- Located at East Moore Street. A basketball court, playground and volleyball court on .8 acres.
12. Emmett Scott Center- N 34 54.988 W 081 02.272- located at 801 Crawford Road. A 10.3 acre site and includes the center (gym, community room, crafts room, class room and game room), an outdoor basketball court, two lighted tennis courts, a handicapped accessible pool, large multipurpose field, a new walking trail, and a 1,100 seat auditorium. A picnic shelter and a tot lot are also available.
13. Fewell Park- located at 1204 Alexander Road. Is the anchor for a 10.2 acre park which includes the center (meeting rooms, craft room), par 3 disc golf course, nature trail, two newly renovated, lighted tennis courts, multipurpose field, tot lot/playground, and large picnic area with shelter.
14. Friedheim Park- N 34 55.293 W 081 02.386- Located at Friedheim Road. This 4.2 acre park offers a lighted basketball court, picnic shelter, play field, playground, lighted softball field, .4 mile trail and a volleyball court.
15. Glencairn Garden Park- Located at the corner of Edgemont and Charlotte Avenue. Features 7.6 acres of azaleas, dogwoods, wisteria and perennials. Other attractions include bridges over trickling springs, a goldfish pond, and a fountain that hurls a miniature geyser into the air.
16. Grove Park- N 34 55.355 W 081 00.801- Located at North Jones Avenue. Three acres with a lighted youth ball field, playground, basketball court, and picnic area.
17. Hargett Park- on Deas Street across from Cherry Park. Hargett Park is a youth sports complex located on 19.7 acres of flat terrain on Deas Street across from Cherry Park . The park currently consists of 2 Dixie Boys (ages 13-14) baseball fields, two Dixie Youth (ages 9-12) baseball fields, one multi-purpose field for youth soccer and football, press box facility, concession and restroom facility. There is also a picnic area with tables, park benches, water fountains, playground, memorial garden and walking trails.
18. Huckle Grove Park- N 34 55.548 W 081 01.786- Located on the corner of Black Street and Dave Lyle Blvd. Huckle Grove is an historic tree park located in downtown Rock Hill. This pedestrian park offers visitor's a unique look into our country's past. May of the trees in the park were cultivated from trees which witnessed historic events in the founding of our country, and each has its own story to tell. Huckle Grove includes a walking trail, benches and lovely perennials and annuals.
19. Lige Street Park- N 34 54.529 W 081 02.219 Located at Lige Street. Lighted youth ball field, picnic area, picnic shelter, playground, and basketball court on 2.4 acres.
20. Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex- E. Mt. Gallant Rd. and Dave Lyle Blvd. Construction of a new 70 acre park, Manchester Meadows, is now underway. Located off of I-77 on Dave Lyle Blvd. and Mt. Gallant Rd., Manchester Meadows is much more than soccer fields. This facility features 2 championship fields, 6 regulation fields, a seating capacity of 1,500, and a pavilion housing concessions, rest rooms, park offices and a multi-purpose meeting space. Manchester Meadows also provides a pond, picnic areas, nature trails, and playgrounds.
21. Northside Center- N 34 56.004 W 081 00.572- located at 900 Annafrel Street off of Dave Lyle Blvd
22. Oakwood Acres Park- Located at Montclair Drive. This 10 acre park has a swimming pool, playground, sand volleyball courts, and two youth ball fields.
23. Peoples Park- N 34 55.640 W 081 01.424- Located at Oakland Ave. & Peoples Place. A chin-up bar is located at this .1 acre park in the midst of downtown Rock Hill.
24. River Park- Located at Red River Road at Quality Circle. Everyone can enjoy River Park's environmentally sensitive 70 acres of pristine Catawba River. Nearly two miles of trails, including handicapped accessible trails, wander through the park and along the scenic river.
25. Rock Hill Tennis Center- 897 Maplewood Ave.,(next to Sullivan Middle School on Cherry Rd.) The Rock Hill Tennis Center, located next to Sullivan Middle School, provides a top notch facility for tennis enthusiasts and tournament play. The facility, which opened in 2005, is a joint effort between the City of Rock Hill and Rock Hill School District Three and consists of eight regulation courts, an observation deck, a pro shop, and concession area.
26. Southland Park- N 34 53.818 W 081 01.479- Located at Pearson & Winchester. A basketball court, picnic area, playground, ball field, picnic shelter, ¼ mile cardiovascular walking trail to Blackjack Oaks Heritage Preserve are all part of this 6.7 acres park.
27. Spencer Park- N 34 55.413 W 081.00264- Located at Eastwood Drive. This 9.8 acre park offers a basketball court, picnic area, picnic shelter, playground, basketball court, and a youth football field.
28. Winthrop Park- Located at Cherry Road. Five acres with a youth football field, basketball court, picnic area, picnic shelter, playground, two lighted tennis courts, and a lighted youth ball field.
29. Workman Street Park- N 34 54.770 W 081 00.710- Located at Workman Street. A basketball court and ball field are part of this 4.8 acre park.

South Carolina State Parks, Recreation and Tourism Properties

South Carolina State Parks are geocaching friendly, although there are some sensitive locations that must be avoided.  A one-year, extendable, free Special Use Permit is required prior to the placement of a geocache in a SCPRT property. The exact location of a cache must be pre-approved by park management and caches must be located at least 1/4 mile from other caches. See the respective Park Manager for details and application.

South Carolina State Parks Geocaching Webpage

South Carolina State Parks FAQ Page

SC State Parks Geocaching Guidelines PDF file
Geocache Placement Form

Spartanburg City Parks and property

For geocaches in Spartanburg City Parks or other city property, permission must be obtained from the Spartanburg Recreation Coordinator. Permission requests should be initiated through Liz Walker (lwalker@cityofspartanburg.org) at 864-562-4199.

 Spartanburg County Parks

For geocache placements in Spartanburg County Parks, permission must be obtained from the county Recreation Programs Assistant Manager. Permission requests should be initiated through Kevin Stiens (kstiens@spartanburgcounty.org) at 864-804-5599. 

Sumter and Francis Marion National Forests

The following information has been extracted from a brochure by the Andrew Pickens Ranger District.

112 Andrew Pickens Circle
Mountain Rest, SC 29664
Phone: (864) 638-9568

Geocaching Regulations for the Andrew Pickens Ranger District

To protect our valuable natural resources and keep users safe, please abide by the following rules when visiting the Andrew Pickens Ranger District:

• Leaving a cache is permitted in most general forest areas, but is not allowed in the Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area, the Station Creek Cove Botanical Area, or other sensitive natural areas.

• No soil disturbance or cutting of vegetation is allowed when placing or hiding a cache. To protect fragile resources, cache locations and the primary access routes to caches must avoid areas such as rockshelters, caves, bogs, wetlands, steep slopes, historic structures, or areas otherwise closed to the public. It is preferable to stay close to developed trails.

• A cache must be temporary – it cannot be left at a given location any longer than one year. Caches that will be in place longer than a year require a formal special use permit.

• A cache should be no larger than 12”x12” in size. It must have an external label designating it as a geocache and be permanently marked with the owner’s name and contact information. DO NOT use cartridge boxes or any containers that might be mistaken for explosives or hazardous materials.

• Caches must not contain food, alcohol, weapons, fireworks or any sort of hazardous materials.

• A special use permit is required and a fee will be charged for caches associated with a commercial event.

• The owner must remove a cache if high activity at the site is causing resource damage to natural resources. The Forest Service may remove caches found to be causing resource damage.

If You Are Hunting for a Cache:

• Be mindful that caches are not placed where digging or vegetation removal will be required to find them – stay light on the land.

• If it appears that people locating a cache are causing resource damage to soils or other natural resources, please notify our office.

• Please observe the safety rules all users should follow when out in the forest – a good list can be found at:

http://www.twohikers.org/Gear/TenEssentials.htm

Find the Andrew Pickens Ranger District on the Web:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/scnfs/home/?cid=fsbdev3_037346

Tyger River Foundation

For Tyger River Foundation properties (including Anderson Mill, Tygerberry Landing, Nesbitt Shoals, Beach Springs Landing and Cooley Family Landing), permission needs to be requested from Larry Easler (lgeasler@gmail.com) or Julian Hankinson (info@tygerriver.org)

• All properties are daytime use only and should be listed as such in the description of the cache page with appropriate attributes selected
• Access is prohibited when the gates are closed

University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Cachers need to do three things at USC.

1. Get permission of the department near where the cache is to be placed.
2. Alert campus security as to the cache placement.
3. Get final approval from the Dean of Academic life (Dept. is located in the Russell House).

With thanks to geocacher overcached.

Winthrop University Policy on Geocaching

Winthrop University supports geocaching on campus-owned properties. However, there are many sensitive areas around Winthrop (public art installations, wetlands, sports fields, etc.) that could be harmed, even inadvertently, by geocachers. In order to balance the need for protection of these areas with the interests of geocachers, the following guidelines have been established.

Winthrop University has two areas where geocaching may take place; the Main campus which is located on Oakland Avenue, and the Farm area which is located off of Eden Terrace. The guidelines apply to both of these areas unless identified differently.

Section I - General Procedures

1. All caches placed on Winthrop University property must be approved by the Winthrop University Geocaching Organization (WUGO). In order to have a cache approved, the following steps must be followed.
• Send an email to sauvignec@winthrop.edu with the name and geo-name of the cacher, email and phone contact information, a description of the cache container, the cache location (description and coordinates), and description of the hide itself. It will be checked and responded to within 10 days.
• All approved caches must include the following statement as a part of the Cache Description:
  Founded in 1886, Winthrop University is a public, coeducational, comprehensive teaching university that teaches students to Live, Learn, and Lead. Winthrop’s Main Campus, located on two sides of Oakland Ave., contains most of the educational and residential buildings, while “The Farm” area located off of Eden Terrace, contains Athletic and recreational facilities. Winthrop welcomes geocachers but any disturbance or interference with the educational focus of the institution will result in the cacher being asked to leave the premise. Visitors to the campus must follow all traffic regulations and park only in those areas identified as Visitor Parking, or drivers may be ticketed and cars towed.

Section II - Cache Containers and Contents

1. Cache containers must; be non-breakable, have some form of latch or other closing mechanism to prohibit content exposure to wildlife, and must be approved by a member of the Winthrop University Geocaching Organization (WUGO).
2. Each cache container, excluding micro-caches, must have an identification label affixed to the outside. Each label must be clearly marked “Geocache”.
3. Caches may not contain inappropriate or dangerous items. Such items include, but are not limited to, hazardous materials, food, medications, alcoholic beverages, personal/hygiene products, pornography, advertisement or religious pamphlets, weapons of any type, or fireworks.
4. All caches are subject to random inspection by WUGO and any problems may result in immediate removal of any item held in a cache deemed unacceptable or that is in violation of this policy.
5. On the Main Campus, cache containers over 6X8X4 must be transparent. Other type and size containers are allowed at The Farm area but must be clearly labeled on the outside with an official Geocaching sticker.

Section III - Cache Location

1. The location of a cache must be approved by WUGO by following the guidelines explained in Section I.
2. Caches may not be placed in a location that leads to the creation of spur trails or other resource impacts.
3. Caches may not be buried, nor may living vegetation or any historic features be disturbed to place a cache.
4. Caches may not be placed in dangerous, inappropriate or protected areas and habitats, on cliffs, underground, or underwater.
5. Caches may be removed at any time by a representative of WUGO if placement becomes unsafe or has an unacceptable impact on the environment.
6. On the Main Campus, caches may not be placed closer than 100 feet from any residence hall.

Section IV – Campus Notification

Once a cache has been approved by WUGO, the following Winthrop offices will be notified of the placement so that appropriate staff will be aware of the cache.

1. Chief of Winthrop Police
2. Assistant to the President for University Events (for notification of appropriate Building Coordinator)
3. Assistant Director of Grounds and Custodial
4. Groundskeeping Supervisor of the Farm
5. Associate Athletic Director for Coliseum Facilities and Operations

Offices 1 and 2 will always be notified of a new cache. In addition, depending upon the placement of the cache (Main campus or Farm), appropriate offices 3 or 4 and 5 will also receive notification.

Section V – Compliance

• In the event that a problem is found with a cache and the cache owner is contacted about removing it, the cache listing must be disabled and the container removed in a timely manner.

WUGO works with the Geocaching.com volunteer reviewers who are notified when a cache has been approved. Any cache placed on University property without WUGO consent will be removed and the reviewers notified to archive the cache.