Congaree National Park

Introduction

Congaree National Park, located in central South Carolina, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Congaree, from whom the park takes its name. European settlers arrived in the 18th century, and by the late 19th century, the area was heavily logged for its valuable cypress and hardwood trees. In the 1960s, conservationists began advocating for the protection of the area. Their efforts culminated in the establishment of the Congaree Swamp National Monument in 1976. The monument was later designated as Congaree National Park in 2003. This change in status was a significant milestone, reflecting the park's importance in preserving one of the last remaining old-growth bottomland hardwood forests in the United States.

Congaree National Park covers an area of approximately 41.7 square miles (108.0 square km). This makes it one of the smaller national parks in the United States, but its ecological significance is immense. The park protects the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. In 2023, the park welcomed a record 250,114 visitors

Animal life includes alligators, white-tailed deer, bobcats, feral pigs, and river otters are some of the larger mammals found in the park.

For more information, visit the park’s Wikipedia page.

Editor's note:  The firefly swarms in late spring are a once in a lifetime event.  It is a bit surreal and will remind you of the Pirates of the Caribbean rides at Disney.

Hiking

The park is an great place to hike.  The majority of the 25 mile of trails (40 km) are not difficult.  See the NPS website for more information or visit the trail guide.

Boardwalk Loop Trail is an easy 2.6 mile (4.2 km) hike with no elevation gain.  This is our favorite of the "easy" hikes since you can explore the cypress and Tupelo trees.  The trailhead is located at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. 

Weston Lake Trail is a 4.5 mile (7.25 km) trail with only 16 feet (5 m) of elevation gain. The trailhead is located at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. Watch for signs for the path.  Otters and white-tail deer can often be seen.  Many old Cypress stumps are visible along the trail.

Kingsnake Trail is a moderately difficult 7.6 mile (12.2 km) trail, with no elevation gain.  This is a great trail for viewing birds and turkeys. The trailhead is located t the South Cedar Creek Canoe Launch.

Canoe Trips

A canoe trip is a great way to visit the interior of the park.  Know the level of the water before you leave.  The USGS has two gauges for measuring the flow at Cedar Creek and Congaree River.  The NPS provides a guide to canoe trails at their website.

Camping

Congaree has two tent-only campsites, Longleaf and Bluff campgrounds.  All sites can be reserved at recreation.gov

Longleaf Campground is located at the park entrance.  It has 10 individual and 4 group campsites.  There are vaulted toilets but no running water.  Water is available at the visitor center.

Bluff Campground is located on the Bluff Trail, one mile from the Longleaf campground.  There is no vehicle access.  There are 6 individual sites.  There are no restrooms or running water. Water is available at the visitor center.

Grocery Stores, Hotels and Restaurants Easy, there are none 😃