The Wonders of Congaree National Park
A few weeks back, in the cold and rain, some of our staff took an incredible expedition into Congaree National Park and experienced some truly amazing things! It was a special and unique experience, and we wanted to share a little bit more about the park and what you might find there!
Hello adventurers, welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! We are so excited to go on your next adventure with you, have you decided where to go next? Make sure to visit our website to view all of our tours and expeditions, available for everyone at any level of experience! We are here to teach you how to make the most out of your experiences every time you want to try something new, and we are ready to teach each of our adventurers about the amazing world around them! Let’s discover some amazing sights of natural foliage, find a few shark teeth and rare seashells, and see some stunning birds or dolphins on the water together! The perfect time to explore is now, and adventure is calling!
A few weeks ago, we posted on our Instagram page about an expedition we took as a team deep into the Congaree National Park. While it can be a difficult trek to get deep into the forest when it is cold, wet, and muddy as it was when we went, what we discovered and experienced was worth the trek. Some of the oldest trees in America can be found there, safe and protected because of how hard they are to reach. Stunning old cypress trees taller and wider than you can imagine are silent giants sleeping peacefully deep in the forest and swamp. Congaree holds these incredible residents in the highest regard and keeps them safe. The National Park is home to so many wonderful things and we wanted to make sure you knew everything that’s waiting for you there! Let’s take a trip to Congaree!
Like any national or state park, Congaree has its special blend of natural elements unique to its acreage. According to the National Park Services, it is home to incredible biodiversity and is home to the “largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the Southeastern United States”. The park consists of over 20,000 acres of land filled to the brim with giant plant life and wildlife, and perfect for adventurers of all ages. While it’s home to some of the oldest natural plant life left untouched, the park itself is still new in its own right. It just became a national park in 2003! However, it has been looked after and many people have fought to protect it since the late ’50’s and early ’60’s.
Congaree is home to swampland, some of the only swampland left, and the amazing natural elements that come with this swampland are protected and treasured for their rarity. Before it became a national park in 2003, it was authorized as Congaree Swamp National Monument in 1976 and became an international biosphere reserve in 1981. It’s not just the trees that are such a sight to see and that are endangered, so is the swampland itself and many of the animals that call it home, too! Thanks to the Congaree and Wateree Rivers, the floodplain that makes up this amazing area came to exist and is one of the reasons the champion trees (those large old-growth bottomland trees) are still in existence. To this day, the waters from these rivers will sweep through, holding very important nutrients and sediments that help nourish, rejuvenate, and support the stunning ecosystem of the park and the growth and life of everything in and around it. It also helps support the immense forest canopy, one of the largest, reaching up to 100 feet and higher in some areas!
Since the 1800’s, lumber barons and many others have tried to claim the trees and the land for their own, but the land and its natural location in the marsh and being surrounded by both rivers made it next to impossible. The trees they were able to get to were so large and heavy, they were impossible to move out of the forest. Francis Beidler, the owner of one of the largest lumber companies in South Carolina, the Santee River Cypress Lumber Company, decided to set aside some bottomland hardwood as a timber reserve when lumber prices took a serious dip in the early 1900’s. Fast forward to the 1960’s, and the area that became Congaree had remained untouched for sixty years. Conservationist Henry Hampton, along with many others, started to campaign to protect it once lumber operations resumed in the ’60’s in this area. Hampton was the creator and founder of the Congaree Swamp natural Preserve Association, and thanks to his work and support of many others, President Ford signed the legislation into act that Congaree was a national monument in 1976, protecting it until its national park status became official in 2003!
The trees will be the first thing to catch your eye, but there is so much waiting at Congaree. These large amazing trees that you’ll see are sometimes referred to as champion trees, but what does that mean? Champion trees are the largest known of a particular species of trees, and Congaree is home to many of them including the largest bald cypress standing at 131 feet tall and the largest loblolly pine standing at 187 feet tall. It is also home to oak trees, hickory, water tupelo, and sweet gum trees. Congaree offers a home and sanctuary to many endangered plants and animals including the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. It is also home to bobcats, wild pigs, foxes, opossums, deer, and river otters!
One of the best things about visiting the park is that you can do so on foot or on water. It’s a wonderful park to hike through and kayak through, with 25 miles of hiking trails and 2.4 miles of boardwalk, there is much to explore and see! You can go camping, go fishing, and enjoy a plethora of ranger lead programs. What else can you enjoy and do at Congaree? The park is open all year round and 24 hours a day, and there is no entry fee. However, due to the pandemic, some of these guidelines might have changed. For the time being, make sure to check out what the current guidelines are before planning your trip!
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Make sure to visit the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, full of all kinds of resources, educational material and movies, and it pays homage to the gentleman who made it all possible! There are wonderful exhibits to explore, park rangers nearby to help with any questions, and much more!
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Hit the Weston Lake Loop! This loop is one of the most popular areas in the park and is about 5 miles long. It’s the perfect introduction to the parks towering trees, the creeks, a chance to experience and see some of its famous flooding, plant life, and even a chance to peek at some animals too!
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Take a hike on the most popular trail, the Boardwalk Loop! Its 2.4 miles covers some of the most infamous parts of the park, including the champion trees, incredible plants, and more. It also has a stunning observation deck that hangs out over the waters of a large lake, home to some wonderful plant and animal life!
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It has an incredible view of synchronous fireflies, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is the only location that you can see them in the Great Smoky Mountains. These fireflies, for some unknown reason, will flash in unison all through the mating season. It’s a limited event from May to June, so make your plans now! Call the park to find out when the exact firefly display is, and you might be able to enjoy it without all the fuss, and be able able to see the whole spectacular event!
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Make sure to schedule a hike on the River Trail. It is one of the longest, but it is the only trail that will take you to the Congaree River. It gives the hiker a full tour of the park through the flood plain. It is secluded as it is not as popular as the Boardwalk or Weston Lake Loop, and is a little over 10.4 miles long, but it is well worth the sights and birds commonly seen along the way.
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The longest trail of them all is the Kingsnake Trail, at 11.7 miles. It is perfect for both birdwatchers and photographers alike, thanks to its location to the Cedar Creek Trail.
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If you want to explore the park on an even deeper level, go kayaking! This allows you to see even more of the park than you can on foot. There is a total of 15 miles to explore by water, and you’ll have a chance to see otters, crocodiles (rarely) turtles, and rare water birds while you’re at it.
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Even though it isn’t too far away from Columbia, once you enter the park, it feels like you’re miles away from society and the outside world. Take the next step and unplug, and camp at the park! There are two campsites in the park waiting to be enjoyed!
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If you want to learn even more about the Congaree area and to dive deeper into its history, head over to the Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve. There are more trails to hike, more animals to see, incredible trees to discover, and you can learn more about the Native American tribe that once lived in the area.
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Make sure to plan your trip accordingly. While it is very popular for day trips there is still so much to prepare for. The swamp, especially in the summer months, is a very popular home to mosquitoes, so please be prepared! When hiking, please bring plenty of water, snacks, bug spray, suntan lotion, and wear proper hiking attire. Water is only available at the visitor center, far away from most of the trails, so please come prepared.
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Since it is marshland, it is very prone to flooding. Please check in with the floodplain and the water levels when you plan to visit, to guarantee you have the best and safest trip!
What are you the most excited to discover in the Congaree National Park? It’s ready and waiting for you, and has its beauty all year round! For more resources visit the National Park Services website below, and make sure to tell them Coastal Expeditions sent you, adventurers! We look forward to seeing you soon! Until then, get outside and enjoy the Lowcountry as much as you can!
The National Park Services:
Explore. Chat. Visit. And come on back, y’all.
@coastalexpeditions
St. Phillips Island & Beaufort Rentals
Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards
Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.
Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.
Outpost Location
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If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.
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Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant Rentals
Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards
Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.
Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.
Outpost Location
Need A Guide?
If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.
Check out our Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant tours.
Isle of Palms Rentals
Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards
Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.
Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.
Outpost Location
Need A Guide?
If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.
Check out our Isle of Palms tours.