Most of the time, you are walking through oaks and other hardwoods, not through sloughs of tupelos and cypress trees that make Congaree National Park so beautiful and so unique. We had to postpone our trip several times since many of the trails flooded and closed right before our visit. Interesting Facts about Congaree National Park, Geography and Maps of Congaree National Park, Best Things to Do in Congaree National Park. The park is home to 21 different species, including venomous snakes like copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlers. This is the best walk in the park. The short walk on the boardwalk at the start of the hike is the best part. The dynamic and diverse natural landscape that makes up Congaree National Park is defined by the presence of both flood and flame. Were a globally important bird area, says Ranger Jon Manchester. Champion trees are trees that are extremely large or tall for their species. If you're planning a visit in the spring or summer make sure to wear clothing that protects your skin and apply ample amounts of insect repellent. The highlights, in our opinion, are walking the Boardwalk Loop Trail and kayaking or canoeing on Cedar Creek. The highest temperature recorded at Congaree National Park was 104 degrees F in 1999. They negatively impact the health of the forest ecosystem. Hiking trails are marked with small white signs like the one on this tree. On the left will be an unmaintained road. Plan a field trip to Congaree National Park. At the trail junction, follow signs for Weston Lake and you will now be on trail #3 (there will be small, white signs on the trees with the number 3 on them). We saw the one pictured below making its way across Weston Lake from East to West. Sadly, when we arrived, the whole place was flooded even half of the boardwalk was under water. Also be wary of poison ivy, spiders, wasps and snakes, which like to hang out near downed trees. Marie in Michigan! There are around 75 types of trees, nearly 200 species of birds, 75 species of reptiles/amphibians, and more than 50 species of fish and butterflies. Cedar Creek is a very slow moving creek. Gus gave us a great overview of Cedar Creek and told us what to keep an eye out for as we paddled on the creek. With almost 80% of the park lying within the floodplain, these floods make the backcountry trails and even parts of the boardwalk inaccessible to visitors. Adequate preparation, constant attention, and good judgement will help make your hike a safe and enjoyable experience. Required fields are marked *. GETTING TO THE BATES FERRY TRAILHEAD: This trail is located in the far eastern section of Congaree National Park on Highway 601. The park has mild winters with warm, wet summers. Congaree is one of the smallest US national parks. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. For comparison, in the same year, 4.42 million people flocked to Yosemite National Park. This short film includes messaging to educate visitors about Preventive Search and Rescue (PSAR). We rented a canoe from River Runner Outdoor Center. When fully operational, the park may have about 19 or 20 employees. Along the trail are numbers that correspond to the Self-Guided Boardwalk Trail brochure that you can pick up at the Visitor Center before you start this walk. Congaree has been the location of a search for the Ivory-billed woodpecker in the past, a bird once thought extinct until it was seen in Arkansas in 2004. Below is a map from the National Park Service. There are other short trails in the park. When the trail rejoins with the boardwalk, walk out to the viewpoint of Weston Lake. Copperhead, canebrake rattlesnake, cottonmouth and the rare coral snake. Comparatively, the Grand Canyon has about 500 staff members during the peak season. Of the estimated 30 million acres of bottomland forests that once covered the USA, only 40% remains. Congaree National Park South Carolina Info Alerts Maps Calendar Fees Boardwalk Loop Ranger-led program on boardwalk NPS Photo/jt-fineart.com The 2.4 mile boardwalk is an excellent introduction to the park.The flat surface is accessible and provides a leisurely way to experience the Congaree wilderness. We will be traveling through on Oct 12 & 21. Learn how to become a Congaree Volunteer! Motor Supply Company Bistro offers farm-to-table fare for lunch and dinner and the menu changes daily. Wise Lake is located near the trail junction for the Weston Lake Loop Trail and River Trail. 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061-8320. Cheers, Julie. From the Boardwalk Loop Trail, walk 0.6 miles on the Weston Lake Loop Trail until you get to the trail junction with the River Trail. The trailhead is also marked on our interactive map. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Carry a flashlight, even if you are only planning for a day hike. But I will admit that Congaree isnt my favorite but I did have fun exploring the park and I do make a point to stop and visit it when Im in the area. If and when you get cell service, call 9-1-1 and let them know which hospital you are headed to. We also had a very nice dinner at Saludas. It was shortly after a rain storm and we saw it fly across the lake and land in a tree across the lake. more information on current conditions Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details. Harry Hampton Visitor Center Open Year Around. This trail leads out to the southern channel of Bates Old River, an oxbow lake created by a hurricane in 1852. We had three nights here, so we tried three different restaurants as well as one spot for lunch. It was a rainy winter morning when my dogs jumped out of the car, ready to put their sniffers to good use. Distance: 11.1 miles | Difficulty: Easy to difficult | Time: 4 to 6 hours. Temperatures frequently get up into the high-90s and even up over 100F. Search our species database below. We spent two hours canoeing on Cedar Creek, starting and ending at the Cedar Creek Canoe Launch. National Park Obsesseds Detailed Guides to Denali National Park, Road Trips that Include Zion National Park, Other Articles featuring Acadia National Park, National Park Service units within a 4 hours drive, National Park Service units within an 8 hours drive, Pin for Later: Visiting Denali National Park National Park and Preserve: The Complete Guide, Congaree National Park Foundation Document, National Park Passport Book click here to learn more, Visiting Conagree National Park: The Complete Guide, 7 Things You Cant Miss on Your First Visit to Congaree National Park. We had a visit planned to the park March 2021, and cancelled it because the boardwalks were flooded. Read more about the region's history. Like all of the hiking trails in Congaree, it is completely flat. The General Greene tree is located here. At the next trail junction, go left to continue on the Weston Lake Loop Trail and head back towards the Visitor Center. #1 of 6 things to do in Hopkins. one day itinerary for Congaree National Park. How high is the water, ranger? Temperatures can be chilly but snow is unusual. At 2 pm, our canoe was delivered by Gus from River Runner Outdoor Center. We love bourbon and this is our favorite restaurant in Columbia. Congaree National Park is proud to be part of the Congaree Biosphere Region, designated by UNESCO. The parks cypress trees are one of the areas most peculiar-looking features. Is this your business? Congaree National Park South Carolina Hiking Safety On This Page The Unprepared 0:00 / 9:24 Loaded Progress Duration: 9 minutes, 24 seconds "The Unprepared" is a short film made by Congaree National Park staff, with help from park volunteers and Eastern National staff. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Congarees waterways expand and contract with the seasons, often covering the ground with several inches or even feet of water. Learn more on the NPS website. This hike is quick and easy, as long as it is not flooded or muddy. Getting to the tree is a bit tricky. It is a special place and worthy of being a National Park. Distance: Approximately 20 miles. Time required: 12-14 hours. It gets its name since this is a good place to see the synchronous fireflies in May and June. Plain-bellied Water Snake swimming in small pool in Congaree, South Carolina, United States, One of Congarees arboreal snakes sunning itself on a tree branch, The animal that the park really worries about is the hog. Seeing this fallen tree was one of the most memorable parts of this hike. Tupelo trees sit alongside slow moving creeks and oxbow lakes. If your visit is part of a bigger road trip, here are the driving distances and times to nearby destinations: Inside of Congaree National Park, your only option is tent camping. Best of Conagree National Park in a Nutshell, MUST SEE: 5 Things You CANT MISS in Conagree National Park, GETTING THERE: How to Get to Congaree National Park. Pass it through a filter that can remove particles as small as one micron. The difficulty can vary based on conditions in the park. We chose to have it delivered. Cypress trees feature a network of horizontal roots (pneumatophores) which are believed to aerate the trees swamp-covered roots. The flooding, from what I read, usually occurs in the winter into early spring. Its completely flat and very well marked with trail signs along its entire distance. Congaree National Park is a wonderful place to visit. NPS Photo. Always let somebody know your planned route and schedule before heading out on the trail. The total ascent for this hike is a mere 60 feet. Before planning your trip, and just before your visit, visit the National Park Service website for updates on park conditions to avoid any unfortunate surprises. We prefer this one on all of our travels. And I have never cleared as many cobwebs off my face and clothes as I did on this hike. If you have one day in Congaree National Park, spend half a day hiking the Boardwalk Loop Trail and Weston Lake Trail and spend half of a day canoeing or kayaking on Cedar Creek. Congaree has one of the tallest temperate deciduous forests in the world -- it's taller than the old-growth forests found in Japan, the Himalayas, southern South America. Native Land Digital is a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization with the goal to creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together. This blog post had me looking forward to visiting Conagree last month. Congaree is the only national park in South Carolina. These trees have been known to grow as tall as 120 feet, and their trunks can be as large as six feet in diameter. Weston Lake Loop Trail (4.6 mi), Oakridge Trail (7.5 mi), and King Snake Trail (11.1 mi) where hikers may spot deer, raccoon, opossum, and even bobcat tracks. About a mile into our hike, I finally found what I was looking for: There was a black rat snake wiggling his way through the mud, clearly curious about something. Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries. Sunscreen Use it. It may also deter fireflies from getting too close to the wrong species, some of which are cannibalistic. Those who are interested in participating in the event can enter into the lottery system for $1. They can be applied anywhere, at any time, while taking part in recreational activities. 592 Reviews. Brown water snakes are especially likely to be seen on this portion of the trail, on overhanging branches or piles of woody debris. Other common sightings include the white-tailed deer, skinks, and brown water snakes. 29061, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Check out our park calendar to see what's coming up! The summers see temperatures in the up 90s degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity making it seem much hotter. Charlotte Douglass International Airport, which is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a larger airport with more flight options. Congaree National Park is a 27,000-acre park in Hopkins, South Carolina. This is where the majority of the hiking trails start, including the wonderful Boardwalk Loop Trail. Snakes like the black rat snake and the black racer are arboreal species, which means that they have the tendency to hang out in trees. Baldcypress knees. Weston Lake Loop Trail | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park, Weston Lake Overlook | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. In 1983, Congaree became an International Biosphere Reserve. This is a park where you want to slow your roll and enjoy the little things. The park is a great place to fish; however, please read and understand the rules and regulations carefully. Congaree National Park is bordered to the south by the Congaree River, which creates slow-moving creeks, oxbow lakes, and swampy areas throughout the park. The best time to visit Congaree National Park is in the spring and the fall. Learn how your comment data is processed. The area has amazing biodiversity. looking up at the old-growth forest canopy in Congaree National Park Photo: scgerding/iStock via Getty Images. Their work led to Congaree becoming a national monument in 1976. These are not marked, and it is very easy to get turned around if you wander onto one. This park sits inside the Congaree River floodplain. It has to do with the color order but at the end of the day, it shouldnt matter while in the park, just take a picture and look it up later. In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Congaree National Park. I get why this park often makes peoples worst national parks or they ask why Congaree is a National Park. Congaree: Chasing Pure Solitude in One of the East's Least-Visited National Parks Marvel at tall trees, flooded forest, and rare birds at one of the nation's lesser-known destinations. While these snakes are venomous and if bitten you could be killed, bites are extremely rare and are almost always provoked. Birds are also prey to some Congaree snakesblack rat snakes, for example, are known to eat birds, lizards, rats, and sometimes even other serpents. If you are a birdwatcher, this is the best trail in the park. There are several ways to do this, depending on how much time you have and how much you like canoeing or kayaking. Congarees waterways expand and contract with the seasons, often covering the ground with several inches or even feet of water. At the midpoint of the hike, you get a view of the Congaree River, but its not worth it, not for an 11 mile round trip hike (if you want a view of the Congaree River from a hiking trail, do the 2.2 mile Bates Ferry Trail instead). Download the app. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Ensure that the water has been filtered or any particles have settled, and use the recommended number of tabs per quart. Yes, pets are welcome in Congaree National Park and are allowed on the trails. Due to logging and the clearing of the landscape for farming and the building and expansion of cities and towns over the past 400 years, only a few scattered remnants of these once common ecosystems persist. Congaree is champion trees. Fall is the best time to go paddling on Cedar Creek since water levels are ideal. Trails NOT affected include Boardwalk, Bluff, Firefly, & Longleaf Trails. First introduced into South Carolina in the 1500s by explorers as a food source, today somewhere between 2 and 6 million feral pigs exist across the nation, predominantly making their homes in the south. According to the EPA, a bottomland hardwood forest is a river swamp. Let me know in the comments or join me in my National Park Trip Planning Community! So it sounds like the flooding can extend later into the season. Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Dont be: Manchester notes that only two people have been bitten by snakes during his tenure in the park, and only three in total over the entire 46-year history of the park. Lots of it. Where to stamp your National Parks Passport Book? Theyre not specifically dangerous to people in the park, Manchester says. The main way to prevent a negative snake encounter is to keep an eye on where you are walking and take care in tall grass and around downed logs. Music by David Fesliyan at Fesliyanstudios.com. What is a bottomland forest? We saw the anhinga pictured below from the observation point over Weston Lake from the boardwalk. Now dominated by loblolly pines, remnants of the once abundant longleaf pines that covered this upland region have managed to hold on and can still be seen. The Bates Ferry Trail is really not all that exciting. Their function is not totally understood but these knees are thought to give the trees extra support. These forests are found along the floodplains of rivers in the southeast United States. Hotels near Congaree National Park: (8.99 mi) PRIVATE Half a House between Columbia and Sumter, SC. Water levels were low when we did this, which allowed us to duck under some fallen trees. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Congaree is a popular area for birding in South Carolina. These trees make up one of the highest forest canopies in the world. If you have dont have a National Park Passport Book click here to learn more about the program or click here to buy. Congaree National Park Check List View Plain Taxonomic Photo Prev 1 2 3 . Its nice but we liked the Boardwalk Trail more. Here visitors can experience both a unique old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, home to numerous national and state champion trees and one of the most biodiverse forests in the nation, as well as an upland pine forest where fire plays a key role in its . The closest major airport is located in Columbia, South Carolina, which is about a 30 minute drive from Congaree National Park. 4 more non-emergency alert notifications. Photo: scgerding/iStock via Getty Images, It was a rainy winter morning when my dogs jumped out of the car, ready to put their sniffers to good use. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Paddle the 50-mile designated recreational paddle trail, extending from the state capital of Columbia downstream to Congaree National Park. You can sample a wide range of bourbon or have one (or more) of their crafted cocktails. Its well worth it, as it points out both natural and historical sights along the trail. (Seniors and those with America the Beautiful passes can participate for $35.). Learn more here. I have no idea. Inspired by campy B-horror films, The Unprepared was created to educate folks on how to come prepared to the wilderness while also being entertaining. I only recommend this hike for those who are looking for a long hike away from the crowds. Following the Leave No Trace Seven Principles can help us minimize those impacts. Dekay's Brownsnake (Storeria . Where most deciduous trees in the United States grow to be somewhere between 50-80 feet tall, Congarees tree canopy has an average height of. During this time, the fireflies synchronously flash as they search for a mate. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value. Those who want to rough it can find a great camping experience in the wilderness. Your email address will not be published. Hiking with a partner increases your chances of survival in an emergency situation. There are another 3 species that are likely present within the park as they are known to occur in the region but havent been confirmed within the park. The NPS website warns that it this hike is difficult, since flooding and downed trees can make hiking challenging.
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