Fort Jackson Passage

Trail Description

Fort Jackson Passage takes you through the heart and into the woods of this important military facility. Fort Jackson was established in 1917 to answer the call for trained fighting men in WWI. The Fort was named in honor of Major General Andrew Jackson, a native son of the Palmetto State and seventh president of the United States. Today the installation covers 52,000 acres and is the Army’s largest basic training center. In addition to hiking and mountain biking, this Passage offers great diversity in both plants and animals.

Note that Fort Jackson allows pedestrian traffic at its discretion. Under most circumstances you will be required to show ID at the Fort Jackson Boulevard entrance, which passes through the cantonment area. Additional entrances are located at Gate 5 and near the entrance to the National Guard’s McCrady Training Center, both along Leesburg Road. IDs are not required at these entrances at the present time. The McCrady Trailhead, which also doubles as the trailhead for the Boyd Passage, includes a bathroom, bike repair station, and an amphitheater for outdoor education. 

Additional Information

Participants are allowed to hike the Palmetto trail section that goes through Fort Jackson as long as they follow the stated guidelines: 

Hikers must to come to the Visitor Center at Gate 2 during operating hours (5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily). The participant must inform the Gate 2 personnel what their reason for visiting the Post is (Walking the Palmetto Trail) and submit themselves to a background check on each person who will be entering the post. Assuming that the background check comes back clear, they will be issued a day pass in order to hike the trail ONLY. They will not be allowed to utilize or visit any other portion of the Post or any other facilities that are not authorized on their day pass.

https://home.army.mil/jackson/index.php/about/Garrison/DES/physical-security/access-control

*We suggest all hikers hike this section no later than 1:00 PM in order to be off of the base by 5:00 PM. 

Call Fort Jackson to confirm gate hours or Directorate of Emergency Services to report violations of rules and regs, ph (803) 751-3113.

Fort Jackson Gate Hours:

Gate 1

5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.—Inbound and outbound traffic, Monday through Friday
3:30 to 6:00 p.m.—Outbound traffic, Monday through Friday
Closed weekends
Gate 2

Around the clock, seven days a week
Commercial traffic on weekends only
Gate 4

5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.—Monday through Friday
Closed weekends
Commercial traffic must use Gate 4 on weekdays
Gate 5

5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.—Inbound and outbound traffic, Monday through Friday
3:30 to 6:00 p.m.—Outbound traffic, Monday through Friday
5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Inbound and outbound traffic, weekends

Directions

Trail Head

Columbia

Trail Head GPS Coordinates

Below are the GPS coordinates for the trail heads. You can also click on the trail head markers in the map below.

Get directions to this trail head
Latitude: 34.00735672688464
Longitude: -80.72647647564756

Get directions to this trail head
Latitude: 34.00712448786339
Longitude: -80.72665248076140

Parking GPS Coordinates

Below are the GPS coordinates for the parking locations. You can also click on the parking markers in the map below.

Get directions to this parking location
Latitude: 33.99683040555495
Longitude: -80.90122166474579

Get directions to this parking location
Latitude: 33.98652250675699
Longitude: -80.88947189266773

Get directions to this parking location
Latitude: 34.00743881751393
Longitude: -80.72647850661589

Get directions to this parking location
Latitude: 34.00717104364913
Longitude: -80.72649233478123

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