The lowest point in Congaree National Park is Congaree River which is 80 feet (24m) above sea level. Music by David Fesliyan at Fesliyanstudios.com. Congaree National Park, about 15 miles southeast of Columbia, contains 27,000 acres of the species so be careful if you take a stroll! It might be a deer silently moving in the woods. Congaree National Park protects, studies, and interprets the resources, history, stories, and wilderness character of the nations largest remaining tract of southern old-growth bottomland forest and its associated ecosystems. , the tallest in the eastern U.S. and higher than many other old-growth forests. It might an otter swimming in the river. looking up at the old-growth forest canopy in Congaree National Park Photo: scgerding/iStock via Getty Images. The highlights, in our opinion, are walking the Boardwalk Loop Trail and kayaking or canoeing on Cedar Creek. We prefer this one on all of our travels. It was a rainy winter morning when my dogs jumped out of the car, ready to put their sniffers to good use. Bald cypress trees produce knees like the ones in the photo above. Distance: 0.6 miles | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Time: 30 minutes. Nature & Parks, National Parks. The highest point in Congaree National Park is Old Bluff Road which is 140 feet (43m) above sea level. Have a suggestion or comment on this list? The summers see temperatures in the up 90s degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity making it seem much hotter. While these snakes are venomous and if bitten you could be killed, bites are extremely rare and are almost always provoked. Due to the pigs fast gestation period, its extremely difficult to control feral pig populations, though the park works with the USDA to keep their numbers down. Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region. But they can just as easily be found at the ground level. Let me know in the comments or join me in my National Park Trip Planning Community! See a glimpse of what Congaree National Park has to offer, including champion trees, kayaking and canoeing opportunities, and wilderness for exploration and rejuvenation. If you just hike the Bates Ferry Trail, it is a 2.2 mile out-and-back hike that is completely flat and takes about an hour. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Fork Swamp Trail is located near the Bates Ferry Trail, so this hike is worth doing if you will be out this way. The trail narrows beyond this bridge. View all alerts River Trail: 203 Reviews, 1,487 Photos, Map - AllTrails But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 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). Cheers, Julie. Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries. Birds are also prey to some Congaree snakesblack rat snakes, for example, are known to eat birds, lizards, rats, and sometimes even other serpents. 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. If you are bitten by a snake, try to get a picture of it and then head for the nearest hospital. Instead, the flooding of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers bring essential water and nutrients to this bottomland region, creating one of the most diverse ecosystems in the USA. It is the largest tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. Hiking Safety - Congaree National Park (U.S. National Park Service) SC Dekay's Brownsnake (Storeria . In 2022, 200,000 people visited this park, making it the 12th least visited national park in the United States. Please review the Congaree Pet Policy before bringing your dog to Congaree. . One of our favorite things to do on this visit was go out to dinner. They negatively impact the health of the forest ecosystem. 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. The trail ends at Cedar Creek Landing, which is marked by an iron bridge over the creek. #1 of 6 things to do in Hopkins. 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 . Comparatively, the Grand Canyon has about 500 staff members during the peak season. These feral hogs are a highly destructive, invasive mammal found in the park. As you drive south on Highway 601, the turn off for the trailhead is located just past the bridge that crosses Bates Old River. Although we didnt run into any exotic or venomous snakes, the dogs and I were satisfied with our rainy Congaree visit; Our eyes were finally tuning into the subtleties of the swamp after a year of practice. 29061, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. 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At the next trail junction, go left to continue on the Weston Lake Loop Trail and head back towards the Visitor Center. Congaree officially became a national park on November 10, 2003. This trail can be linked with the Boardwalk Loop Trail for a longer journey. Below are a few things you should know before hiking at Congaree: The Ten Essentials are a collection of first aid and emergency items that can help you in the event of minor injuries, sudden weather changes, or unexpected delays. Many believe that it still lives deep within the old-growth forest popular with other woodpeckers. It was named a national park in 2003. Congaree National Park is located in South Carolina. We had a late lunch here and it was excellent. Cypress trees feature a network of horizontal roots (pneumatophores) which are believed to aerate the trees swamp-covered roots. While its still not understood exactly what the purpose of the behavior is, many scientists believe that the male fireflies light up in unison to attract females. We had a visit planned to the park March 2021, and cancelled it because the boardwalks were flooded. When alligators are seen, they are usually found at the southern end of the park along the river. Having the canoe delivered to Cedar Creek made the logistics super easy. Congaree National Park has existed since only 2003, but the beauty and importance . The Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve is on the south side of the Congaree River and has a bluff that is a great place to see birds flying over the park. Your email address will not be published. How Much Time Should I Spend Visiting Denali National Park? We didnt see much in the way of wildlife, but Cedar Creek is beautiful, and to drift along the water, listening to the birds and the crickets, and to see these majestic old trees, was a very memorable experience. At this junction, you can retrace your steps back to your starting point or add the Weston Lake Trail or the Oakridge Trail. Photos taken by a park volunteer show a large cottonmouth . Click on the Congaree Map above to download the official brochure map. NPS Photo. The species is abundant in 27,000-acre Congaree National Park, about 15 miles southeast of Columbia. Yes, alligators can be found in Congaree National Park, but they are not common. The park features large expanses of pristine floodplain forest, unbroken by roads or railroads, where one can walk in solitude and observe wildlife. Congaree: Exploring the East's Least-Visited National Park - Backpacker The park is home one of the largest concentrations of champion trees. Nature - Congaree National Park (U.S. National Park Service) There are 2 official stamps in Congaree National Park. The General Greene tree is located here. SC Best National Parks Month-by-Month Guide. For comparison, in the same year, 4.42 million people flocked to Yosemite National Park. Hopkins, Harry Hampton Visitor Center is located at 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061. Copperhead, canebrake rattlesnake, cottonmouth and the rare coral snake. Here are all the locations where you can find the Congaree National Park Passport Stamp. The species is abundant in 27,000-acre Congaree National Park, about 15 miles southeast of Columbia. Other common sightings include the white-tailed deer, skinks, and brown water snakes. Although the park is still relatively unfamiliar to many hikers, it is still growing. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Drifting along Cedar Creek in a kayak or canoe is the one of the best things to do in Congaree National Park. How Many Days Do You Need in Congaree National Park? Hours of Operation: The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. The closest major airport is located in Columbia, South Carolina, which is about a 30 minute drive from Congaree National Park. It isnt uncommon for Congaree visitors to spot a few snakes hanging from trees as they canoe down the river. If you have two days in Congaree National Park, Get updates on road conditions and trail closures, as you plan your trip and just before your visit, on the. Hopkins, Post Summary: Visiting Congaree National Park. The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list. So it sounds like the flooding can extend later into the season. The 75 species of trees that grow in the bottomland forests of Congaree National Park provide a life-sustaining habitat for all kinds of mammals, fish, reptiles, and birds. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Learn how your comment data is processed. Snake released in Conagree National Park may not survive | The State Plan a field trip to Congaree National Park. Canoeing and Kayaking - Congaree National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Motor Supply Company Bistro offers farm-to-table fare for lunch and dinner and the menu changes daily. 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. It is open year-round. Read all of our articles about the United States in our United States Travel Guide. While park officials mostly leave the area bare of infrastructure to keep these places natural, the boardwalk allows visitors to see the floodplain in a safe, and unobtrusive way. You can also spend a half day to a full day on Cedar Creek. 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. Distance: Approximately 20 miles. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The dynamic and diverse natural landscape that makes up Congaree National Park is defined by the presence of both flood and flame. We saw the anhinga pictured below from the observation point over Weston Lake from the boardwalk. Follow this for another tenth of a mile and you come to this low area, filled with tupelos and bald cypress trees. Congarees waterways expand and contract with the seasons, often covering the ground with several inches or even feet of water. Local. Congaree National Park is a 27,000-acre park in Hopkins, South Carolina. Best 10 Hikes and Trails in Congaree National Park | AllTrails people visited the park over the course of the year. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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