An Overview of the Congaree National Park
So if you are a huge fan of National Parks, this park is very different. It looks and feels like a short walk in a muggy swamp. Now the NPS site will tell you it is not a swamp, because it has water flow, but ultimately it is a swamp…a unique and beautiful swamp. The National Park consists of over 20,000 acres of flooded forest. So why is Congaree designated as a National Park? It was first designated a national park in 2003 after a 40 year campaign for its recognition. The park serves to preserve the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in existence in the U.S. The trees create a canopy that is one of the highest for a deciduous forest.
Why Should You Visit Congaree National Park?
An itinerary for Congaree can be between a few hours and a long day. It depends on how you want to explore. Because Congaree is close to Columbia, SC and on the way for many to get to Charleston, SC, it makes a perfect stop on a South Carolina road trip itinerary. The boardwalk provides some great views that are not seen elsewhere in the country. There is also historical significance of the area as a hiding place for runaway slaves and the setting for the Civil War.
Know Before You Go
There is no fee to get into the park. There is also ample free parking. The park is open 24 hours a day, all days. The Harry Hampton visitor center is open from 9am to 5pm 7 days a week except most major government holidays.
At the visitor center there is a mosquito meter. If the park has a mosquito meter, you may want to take bug spray seriously. The park is most interesting when water levels are higher which is also the time for more insects. Grab some bug spray and get started. South Carolina is very hot and humid and in the summer can be very uncomfortable. Many chose to visit in the Spring and Fall, but even mild winter days can be okay from a temperature standpoint. There are times where the park can be flooded (it is a floodplain forest) and during those times is not a good visit. Check the NPS Website for details on conditions.
How to Spend a Few Hours
If you are looking to get a sense of the park and check off Congaree National Park from your to do list, then a stop of a few hours will do it. There are many ways to explore Congaree, but the boardwalk hike is a good first place to start. You should start off at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. You may want to check the website before going to see if the museum is open because of COVID-19. If it is open, it is a great historical and ecological lesson. We went to the rangers stand to ask a few questions and get one of the pamphlets that points out some of the highlights along the board walk
Boardwalk Trail
The boardwalk hike is a 2.4 mile loop hike and is an easy walk on level surfaces. There are benches where you can stop and enjoy the scenery. What makes Congaree National Park so special are the trees. There are maples, pines, tupelos and bald cypress trees most growing in the flooded area. The bald cypress tree has growth offshoots that grow near the tree and are called knees. They are really fascinating the way the trees adapt to their environment. While the purpose of the knees is not known, it is thought to help aerate the roots and provide stability for the trees.
Additional Hiking
There are over 25 miles of hiking trails including many primitive trails. I always use AllTrails app to map the trails I want to take. There are some that are very long, but here are a few of the shorter hikes that neighbor the boardwalk
Sims Trail – Easy 3.2 miles
Bluff Trail – Easy 1.8 miles
Weston Lake Loop Trail – Moderate 4.8 miles
There are many others, but some of them are hard to follow. Always research your hike on AllTrails or the NPS trail map before starting.
Ranger Led Canoe Tours
During the spring and fall, there are ranger led canoe tours. They last 3 hours and are 1.25 miles. They are $70 per person and a maximum of 12 people. Canoes, paddles, and life vests are provided. The tours can be cancelled for inclement weather. Other times during the year, there are no canoe tours available. You can bring your own or rent a canoe or kayak in Columbia for those interested in touring the park by water other times of the year.
Synchronous Fireflies
There are a few species of fireflies that during mating times, will produce synchronous glowing. The period of synchronous glowing usually only lasts a week or more and is usually late Spring to early Summer. The park can get very crowded during this time, but because it cannot be predicted well, it is hard to schedule a trip around the fireflies. If you are nearby, you should always check the website in case you have timed your trip perfectly.
For more travel plans follow my posts
