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Congaree National Park
Address: 200 Caroline Sims Rd
Hopkins, SC 29061
Phone: 803-776-4396
Fax: 803-783-4241
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.
Cowpens National Battlefield
Address: 401 Chesnee Hwy PO Box 308
Chesnee, SC 29323
Phone: 864-461-2828
Fax: 864-461-7795
Overview. As British commander Banastre Tarleton's experienced dragoons pursued Daniel Morgan's army of Continentals and militia, Morgan had to make a decision: cross the Broad River, or turn and fight. On January 16, 1781, Morgan decided to make camp on the Cowpens, a pasturing field far enough from the river that the troops would have room to maneuver. At dawn on the 17th, the two armies met in what seemed a mismatch pitting battle-savvy British forces against a ragtag collection of patriots. But Morgan's tactical brilliance outwitted Tarleton's strategy; within an hour, the British were scurrying from the field in the face of determined militia fire. Today this 845-acre park commemorates one of several surprising Continental victories in the South.
What to see and do. Begin your two-hour visit at the visitor center, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except the major holidays. Before you head to the battlefield, watch the film Daybreak at the Cowpens and visit the museum exhibiting artifacts from the battle site. Take advantage of the fiber-optic map program to familiarize yourself with the troop movements. A wheelchair is available at the center, and most major outdoor sites are accessible.
Outside, you'll find two trails. Drive the 3.8-mile auto tour loop around the far edges of the battlefield. Stop at the wayside exhibits for information about your location, and don't miss the Robert Scruggs log cabin (ca.1828). Hikers and bikers share the road with cars. You may also walk through the battlefield on a 1.25-mile self-guided loop, which runs partly along the historic Green River Road. Horseback riders may take the Green River Road, but they're not allowed on the tour road or walking loop.
Finish up your tour at the picnic area, located on the eastern edge of the auto tour road. If you bring a group, reserve the picnic shelter far in advance. Educational groups need to call two weeks ahead of their visit. Depending on the date of your trip, you can see living history exhibits and special events. Call ahead for details. The site is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Pets: Leashed pets are permitted.
Fees: No fee is charged to enter the site. A small fee is charged for the film in the visitor center.
Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site
Address: PO Box 710, 222 Broad St
Camden, SC 29020
Phone: 803-432-9841
Fax: 803-432-3815
Overview. South Carolina's oldest existing inland city, Camden was established as a frontier outpost called Fredericksburg Township in the 1730s. It was renamed in 1768 in honor of Lord Charles Pratt Camden, a champion of Colonial rights in the British parliament. The area was the site of two Revolutionary War battles, and the town was occupied by Lord Cornwallis and his British troops for 11 months beginning in June, 1780. Today, the 98-acre site features reconstructed houses and battlements and is the stage for the largest Revolutionary War reenactment south of Virginia, held the first weekend in November.
What to see and do. You can take both guided and self-guided tours of three restored homes and archaeological sites, including two log cabins, military fortifications, and the reconsructed Kershaw-Cornwallis House. The house was Cornwallis's headquarters during his tenure in Camden. Tours can be made on foot or by car.
Drakeford House features an exhibit of Revolutionary War artifacts. Cunningham House serves as tour headquarters and the museum store. You can view a model of the town's original 80 buildings and layout and take in a slide presentation that recounts the town's history. A short nature trail leads to Pine Tree Creek. There is a picnic area at the site. Be sure to visit the craft shop for handmade gifts and locally-canned jams, jellies, and other foodstuffs.
Guided tours are scheduled Tuesday through Friday at 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday throughout the day. Self-guided tours Tuesday through Sunday are free of charge. The site is closed on major holidays.
Kings Mountain National Military Park
Address: 2625 Park Rd
Blacksburg, SC 29702
Phone: 864-936-7921
Fax: 864-936-9897
Overview. By the summer of 1780, the Revolutionary War had ground to a standoff in the northern colonies, so the British shifted their focus southward. After sweeping across South Carolina so swiftly that numbers of erstwhile patriots were defecting to the Tory side, Cornwallis and his men, mostly colonists sympathetic to Britain, turned their gaze northward toward Virginia and what they assumed was certain victory. They didn't plan on having to face the wrath of the "over-mountain men," rugged pioneers who settled in the mountains and valleys west of the Alleghenies. Once they were threatened, they took up arms, joined forces, and ultimately routed colonialists under the command of Major Patrick Ferguson. Ferguson, the only British soldier present, and over two hundred Tories lost their lives on October 7, 1780, at the summit of King's Mountain. He is buried mere yards from where he fell. This bloody patriot victory was a turning point in the war. Patriot ranks swelled as those who had given up the cause for lost once more joined the fight for freedom. Cornwallis eventually made his way to Virginia, and, a little over a year after Kings Mountain, he surrendered to Washington at Yorktown and a nation was born. What to see and do. Start your tour at the visitor center where you can view Kings Mountain: Turning Point in the South, an 18-minute film. Museum exhibits and a bookstore will increase your understanding of the battle and its importance. A 1.5-mile, self-guided trail loops around the battlefield. Markers and monuments provide commentary on the action. In cooperation with adjacent Kings Mountain State Park, the military park maintains over 16 miles of hiking trails and more than ten miles of equestrian trails. The military park has one primitive, backcountry campsite available, while there are 119 modern sites available on a first-come, first-served basis at the state park. In addition, the state park offers lake fishing, swimming, and boating, and a "Living History Farm." Call 803-222-3209 for more information on Kings Mountain State Park. Kings Mountain National Military Park is open from 9 AM to 6 PM from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and to 5 PM the rest of the year. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Handicapped access is available. Revolutionary War encampments take place in May, August, and October, when the battle is also commemorated. Call the park for further details. The mailing address for the park is PO Box 40, Kings Mountain, NC 28086. Pets: Leashed pets are permitted.
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