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Plan a Road Trip > Explore America > National Parks > Congaree National Park |
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200 Caroline Sims Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061
Phone: 803-776-4396
Fax: 803-783-4241
Open All Year
Overview. With only a 20-ft. drop in elevation over more than 13 miles, the Congaree River takes its time, slowly meandering through dense hardwood forests until it reaches its confluence with the Wateree River. Known as the Congaree Swamp, this floodplain forest contains over 75 species of trees. It's the largest intact tract of old-growth floodplain forest in the United States, boasting some of the tallest trees east of the Mississippi (some taller than those found along the banks of the Amazon).
Flood waters cover about 80 percent of Monument land an average of ten times a year. These floods may present problems for visitors, but they are vital to the trees and other plants, which depend on the nutrients borne by the new sediments. The varied plant life supports a wide range of animal life, from 49 species of fish lurking beneath the placid surface to over 170 species of birds occupying the vast green canopy. Designated a national monument in 1976, this rich resource was also named an International Biosphere Reserve in 1983.
What to see and do. Hiking and canoeing are the best ways to see the swamp. At the visitor center, which is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily except Christmas, see exhibits and check in for ranger-guided walks, canoe trips, or "owl prowls." You must reserve all ranger-led excursions two weeks in advance during the off-season, and six weeks in advance during spring and fall. A small primitive campground is located along the Bluff Trail. You'll find handicapped-accessible boardwalks, from which 25 miles of trails lead into the heart of the swamp.
As you walk six feet above the forest floor, listen for woodpeckers among the loblollies. A detailed pamphlet transforms this three-mile walk into a self-guided tour of lush vegetation welcoming, among other creatures, eight species of woodpeckers. You may even glimpse the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. At Weston Lake, the endpoint of the elevated walk, you'll take the low boardwalk. Keep on the lookout for the enormous bald cypress with its "knees" (root protrusions sometimes standing over seven feet tall).
You can meander through the woods by canoe on the marked canoe trail; rentals are available in nearby Columbia. At a launch at the northwestern tip of the area, put in on Cedar Creek. As you slip beneath the canopy, you'll have a chance of seeing river otters, turtles or deer. Look up into the trees for the barred owl looking down at you. The Cedar Creek trail has several length options; check with a ranger for current water levels and trail conditions. You may also canoe the Congaree River, but it isn't marked and is best suited for an overnight trip. If you do overnight, ask a ranger about the best places and get your free permit. Always call ahead to see whether there are flood conditions, which may alter your plans.
If you have a South Carolina license, you may fish Wise Lake and Cedar Creek. Be sure to bring insect repellent because insects like the warm, moist habitat as much as the trees do. Because summers can be oppressively hot and humid, you're best off visiting during spring and fall. Spring visitors won't want to miss the wildflowers in bloom.
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