Dolin Hill in the Fall

Dolin Hill is located along the south side of the Congaree River in Calhoun County and is one of the crown jewels of the COWASEE Basin Focus Area.  It is a strikingly diverse tract, both physically and biologically, and features dramatic elevation differences ranging from 94 feet to 324 feet above mean sea level. The most prominent feature of the tract is a steep, north-facing hardwood bluff along the river overlooking the Congaree National Park. With a 50 percent slope and a maximum elevation of 324 feet, the views from the top of this bluff are spectacular.  It is the highest of all the bluffs on the Congaree River and only 50 feet lower than Cooks Mountain in eastern Richland County.

Another outstanding natural feature of Dolin Hill is the ravine topography and seepage drains on the southwestern side. The main seep flows westerly for a distance of approximately 0.5 miles, starting at an elevation of about 250 feet and descending to 100 feet where it empties into the Butler Gut Creek floodplain.  Several smaller seeps feed into this drain.  The hillside slopes surrounding the seeps are steep and heavily forested with beech, yellow poplar, sourwood, hickories, oaks and scattered pine. Portions of one hillside are covered in mountain laurel.  The rugged terrain and vegetation is more reminiscence of the Upper Piedmont or even the mountains than coastal South Carolina.

On a visit in 2008, SCAN saw the state rare mud salamander & eastern fox squirrel here. Notable flora seen included slash pine, burreed, hooked buttercup, short-spurred corydalis, hop hornbeam, giant chickweed, both cottonwoods, Piedmont azalea, pinxter flower, flowering spurge, sandhills blue-star, creeping speedwell, Virginia dwarf dandelion, and butterweed. Invertebrates seen: acetine ant, twin-spotted spiketail, crab-like rove beetle, deathwatch beetle, root-eating beetle and lots more. Birds seen or heard: great horned owl, barred owl, white-breasted nuthatch, white-eyed vireo & black-and-white warbler.

Moth researchers in April 2015 identified more than 200 species, including a new species for SC.

Total walking distance is about 2.5 miles but much of that will be on slopes so sturdy footwear and strong knees are advisable.  We can have lunch on site at the end of the tour.

Directions:  From Columbia, proceed west on I-77, then take I-26 south; take exit 119 - US 21-176 towards St. Matthews; bear left onto 176 where 21 goes right to Orangeburg. From this fork, proceed 7 miles on 176 and take the Old Belleville Road that joins 176 on the left; proceed down Old Belleville Road for 4.7 miles – a dirt road, Sikes Pond Road, will be on the left – take this road, drive for 0.4 miles, then take another dirt road, Dolin Hill Road, on the right, all the way to the gate at the end.  The gate is our meeting place at 9:00 am. The coordinates are 33 46.121    80 48.201

Driving time from Columbia is about 40 minutes.

https://sc.audubon.org/news/bluffs-give-scenic-view-congaree-national-park-they%E2%80%99re-now-protected-development