Congaree National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Home of Champions Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. These fire-resistant trees depend on wildfires to regularly burn across the landscape, clearing out competitors such as sweetgum, turkey oak, shrubs and vines, while also helping to create and maintain open, grassy pine savannahs that are home to wildlife such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, indigo snake, and southern fox squirrel, all of which are today threatened or endangered due to habitat loss. Baldcypress knees. You can also spend a half day to a full day on Cedar Creek. You may need additional items depending on current conditions and the activity in which you participate (e.g. In fact, it was our favorite experience here. 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. Adding on the Weston Lake Trail and Wise Lake is great for those who want to go a little deeper into the park. We also had a very nice dinner at Saludas. PRO TRAVEL TIP: This park floods on a regular basis. The park features large expanses of pristine floodplain forest, unbroken by roads or railroads, where one can walk in solitude and observe wildlife. The parks cypress trees are one of the areas most peculia, features. Also a great option for canoeists with two vehicles, this trip allows paddlers to explore the wilder eastern section of the park and float down the Congaree . 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. Crossing over the old, rickety bridges with views of the forest is beautiful. The short walk on the boardwalk at the start of the hike is the best part. If it is on a trail, find a route around it or wait for it to move on its own. Required fields are marked *. In 2022, 200,000 people visited this park, making it the 12th least visited national park in the United States. Below is a map from the National Park Service. Visit in the fall for optimal leaf-peeping opportunities. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We did not hike this trail, choosing the River Trail instead. Always let somebody know your planned route and schedule before heading out on the trail. For 2 weeks from mid-May to mid-June, fireflies light up the skies in Congaree National Park. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. According to the Congaree National Park, "Eastern Rat Snakes are common in Congaree National Park and along much of the East Coast. Champion trees are trees that are extremely large or tall for their species. Plan your hike into the Congaree wilderness. The current total is somewhere around 206 species that have been seen at the park. By comparison, there are slightly more than 1,107 species of birds known to science across the U.S., meaning that nearly 20% of the countrys birds have been spotted in Congaree. These cookies do not store any personal information. 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. This park sits inside the Congaree River floodplain. There are other short trails in the park. Paddle the 50-mile designated recreational paddle trail, extending from the state capital of Columbia downstream to Congaree National Park. Many believe that it still lives deep within the old-growth forest popular with other woodpeckers. Walk the boardwalk trail through the forest, go kayaking or canoeing on Cedar Creek, go birdwatching and fishing, and, if you like, venture farther into the park on a number of other woodland trails. Distance: 4.5 miles | Difficulty: Easy | Time: 2 to 3 hours. The National Champion Loblolly Pine is located in Congaree. May 1974: Congaree National Park 2) American national park in central South Carolina, 18 miles southeast of the state capital, . Curious what species of plants and animals can be found at Congaree National Park? If you have dont have a National Park Passport Book click here to learn more about the program or click here to buy. When we did this hike, it was dry and the trail was very easy to hike (it is completely flat). Travel with a friend! Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061-8320. Here are all the locations where you can find the Congaree National Park Passport Stamp. Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers sweep through the floodplain, carrying nutrients and sediments that nourish and rejuvenate this ecosystem and support the growth of national and state champion trees. 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. The trailhead is also marked on our interactive map. Congaree is one of the smallest US national parks. Learn more here. If you want to see the synchronous fireflies, plan your visit for the end of May to early June. Yes, pets are welcome in Congaree National Park and are allowed on the trails. At this junction, you can retrace your steps back to your starting point or add the Weston Lake Trail or the Oakridge Trail. It might an otter swimming in the river. How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Thank you for sharing and being so thorough with everything! Hopkins, We were given hiking directions at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and have modified them: From the Bates Ferry trailhead, walk 0.4 miles. Music by David Fesliyan at Fesliyanstudios.com. When the trail rejoins with the boardwalk, walk out to the viewpoint of Weston Lake. The trail narrows beyond this bridge. The lowest point in Congaree National Park is Congaree River which is 80 feet (24m) above sea level. Bourbon was our favorite restaurant. The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list. Congarees has the USs tallest Pine Loblolly. Congaree National Park is famous for its mosquitoes and biting insects. The Ten Essentials are only the basic items you should have with you. (Seniors and those with America the Beautiful passes can participate for $35.). Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous. Keep looking and you will start to notice smaller details and see the wildlife. The species is abundant in 27,000-acre Congaree National Park, about 15 miles southeast of Columbia. Hotels near Congaree National Park: (8.99 mi) PRIVATE Half a House between Columbia and Sumter, SC. Distance: 0.6 miles | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Time: 30 minutes. #1 of 6 things to do in Hopkins. Each of us plays a vital role in protecting our national parks. From the visitors center, Congaree National Park seems unassuming a place that families might use as a picnic area during the spring and fall. The swamp is the ideal dwelling for frogs, salamanders . It is open year-round. Bates Ferry Trail | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park, Congaree River | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. This short film includes messaging to educate visitors about Preventive Search and Rescue (PSAR). According to the EPA, a bottomland hardwood forest is a river swamp. The Boardwalk | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. 2h 10m This trail gets washed out from flooding rivers and experiences blow-down regularly. If you have a half day in Congaree National Park, walk the Boardwalk Loop Trail and consider adding on the Weston Lake Trail with the detour to Wise Lake. NEARBY PARKS: Great Smoky Mountains, Mammoth Cave, New River Gorge, and Shenandoah. But once visitors set foot on Congarees 2.4-mile boardwalk, it becomes clear that this is not your average national park. There are 2 official stamps in Congaree National Park. As we spend time outdoors, in the natural world and in wilderness, its important to be conscious of the effects our actions may have on plants, animals, other people, and even entire ecosystems. Their function is not totally understood but these knees are thought to give the trees extra support. Hours of Operation: The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. It is a special place and worthy of being a National Park. Bald cypress trees produce knees like the ones in the photo above. Paddlers can travel as far as 15 miles along this route for a single or multi-day adventure. This trailhead is labeled on our interactive map. They negatively impact the health of the forest ecosystem. In the spring, the park expects to resume ranger-led canoe tours. Some of these are connector trails. In total, there are around 21 varieties of snakes that live here. Colas Restaurant, Mr. Friendlys New Southern, Alodias Cucina Italiana (located outside of Columbia), and Midwood Smokehouse also get very good reviews. Other parts of the US are dealing with floods so if this area also gets an increase in rainfall there could be some flooding in Congaree as well. Read more about the region's history. Let us know. This trail leads out to the southern channel of Bates Old River, an oxbow lake created by a hurricane in 1852. If you have two days in Congaree National Park, spend one day canoeing or kayaking on Cedar Creek and one day hiking the trails (we recommend the Boardwalk Loop Trail, Weston Lake Trail, and the Bates Ferry/General Greene Tree hike). This blog post had me looking forward to visiting Conagree last month. Interesting Facts about Congaree National Park, Geography and Maps of Congaree National Park, Best Things to Do in Congaree National Park. Cedar Creek flows west to east through the center of the park. 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. Catch and release fishing is encouraged. This trail can be linked with the Boardwalk Loop Trail for a longer journey. The dynamic and diverse natural landscape that makes up Congaree National Park is defined by the presence of both flood and flame. One of our favorite things to do on this visit was go out to dinner. Im sorry you didnt have a great experience there. Congaree National Park is "the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland. Congaree is one of the smallest US national parks. This has become such a popular event that in 2021 the National Park Service began a lottery system. There are four venomous snakes that live in the park. Pass it through a filter that can remove particles as small as one micron. Select stock photography provided depositphotos. In 2003, Congress officially designated the monument a National Park, and today, the parks 26,276 acres of land and water make it a terrific destination for outdoor activities of all kinds. You can canoe part or all of this trail. There are numerous hotels in Columbia to choose from. Ensure that the water has been filtered or any particles have settled, and use the recommended number of tabs per quart. The animal that the park really worries about is the hog. There is a . The closest major airport is located in Columbia, South Carolina, which is about a 30 minute drive from Congaree National Park. Cook, Little Brown Skink from Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC, US on May 05, 2021 at 03:36 PM by Richard Joyce, Common Five-lined Skink from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 28, 2023 at 12:12 PM by In the Blink of a Shutter, Broad-headed Skink from Congaree National Park, South Carolina 29061, USA on April 25, 2023 at 03:37 PM by Karli Sinclair, Common Garter Snake from Hopkins, SC 29061, USA on April 02, 2023 at 02:25 PM by Maggie Martin, Red-bellied Snake from Congaree National Park, Richland County, US-SC, US on August 11, 2021 at 01:57 PM by Richard Joyce, Dekay's Brownsnake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 15, 2023 at 02:05 PM by Ian Gourdin, Brown Watersnake from Gadsden, SC 29052, USA on April 21, 2023 at 02:06 PM by logankparr, Common Watersnake from Richland County, SC, USA on May 20, 2022 at 11:52 AM by Will Kostick, Banded Watersnake from Richland County, SC, USA on April 15, 2023 at 07:57 AM by johngrego, Plain-bellied Watersnake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 23, 2023 at 11:28 AM by Hannah, ring-necked snake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 02, 2022 at 04:09 PM by dbryant21, Eastern Worm Snake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on February 26, 2022 at 04:49 PM by Richard Joyce, Eastern Hognose Snake from Richland County, SC, USA on September 24, 2021 at 02:35 PM by johngrego, North American Racer from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 22, 2023 at 05:08 PM by Nicole Lowder, Scarletsnake from Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC, US on May 27, 2022 at 10:11 PM by Richard Joyce, Rough Greensnake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 15, 2023 at 03:39 PM by Juliana Smith, Eastern Kingsnake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on May 01, 2021 at 05:09 PM by nathanc553, Eastern Ratsnake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 22, 2023 at 10:15 AM by infinitesupernova, Northern Cottonmouth from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 28, 2023 at 05:26 PM by lcarnley, Other Check Lists for Congaree National Park, Bird Check List for Congaree National Park, Create a new check list for Congaree National Park . In both the spring and fall, Congaree gets about 3 inches of rain per month. The Fork Swamp Trail is located near the Bates Ferry Trail, so this hike is worth doing if you will be out this way. Visitors can expect to spend about 3 hours on the water, paddling through about 4 miles of the river, and potentially encountering alligators along the way. For the entire 1.1 mile walk (one-way), you are on a wide grassy trail that leads to a view of the Congaree River. Hiking trails provide access for all levels and time constraints and offer views that are both scenic and educational about this little-known treasure on the banks of the Congaree River. one day itinerary for Congaree National Park. These trees have been known to grow as tall as 120 feet, and their trunks can be as large as six feet in diameter. It is a unique place and one of the last of its kind in the US. 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. The flooding, from what I read, usually occurs in the winter into early spring. This small park is quick and easy to visit. These trees make up one of the highest forest canopies in the world. 29061, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Cedar Creek flows west to east through the center of the park. . This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. From this junction, you will walk about 100 meters to get to Wise Lake. Permits for these activities are currently free, but backcountry camping requires at least a 72 hour notice to the park. NPS Photo. If you really want to experience Congaree National Park, stay in one of the park's primitive campgrounds or in the park's wild backcountry. Those who are eager to hit the water can head to the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail, which is well-marked with navigational aids. It has an onsite restaurant and it is 10 minutes closer to Congaree than the hotels in downtown Columbia. When theyre not underwater, Congaree has 25 miles of hiking trails, and the parks waterways also make for a great canoe or kayaking trip for truly adventurous souls. If you have additional information on the Indigenous nations boundaries, please let them know. Congaree Mosquito Meter in November | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. Copperhead, canebrake rattlesnake, cottonmouth and the rare coral snake. For comparison, in the same year, 4.42 million people flocked to Yosemite National Park. Maybe we would have liked this one more? The cost is currently $10 for individual sites, $20 for group sites, and $5 at the Bluff Campground. This national park protects the oldest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. If you are a birdwatcher, this is the best trail in the park. Each trail has a different number. View all alerts Use dissolvable iodine tablets. Save. Since this park is so small, you only need a half to a full day to see the highlights. 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. In 2003, it was designated an Important Bird Area. Nature & Parks, National Parks. The trail offers excellent birdwatching, and hikers may spot deer, raccoons, opossums, and even bobcat tracks.
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