congaree national park

I recently camped for a weekend at Congaree Nat'l Park with a group of Cub Scouts. The group sites in the Longleaf camp area are large, flat and plenty of firewood available in the surrounding woods. We hiked about 8 miles on the Low Boardwalk, Oakridge Trail, Weston Lake Loop then the Sims Trail. There are MASSIVE trees on the Oakridge Trail that are more than worth the trek. We saw a mother and 3 young wild boar and a large percentage of the trail area was heavily rooted by boar. A ranger said recent high water has pushed them into the area at high numbers than normal. The trails are well marked and maintained but it is a swamp so certain areas are wetter than others so a phone call to the park is a good idea to check on trail conditions. My only negative is there is NOT potable water in the campground, which is why I did not rate it excellent. The only water is a spigot at the visitors center. We knew this beforehand so packed in water for the trip. There is 1 male and 1 female toilet in the campground in the form of a composting toilet house next to the parking area. There are only (4) group sites and about (10) individual sites which are all first come first serve so get there early. There are strict guidelines on firewood so read them carefully on the website. During the warmer months there will be poisonous snakes, alligators, mosquitos and other bugs so I recommend cooler months. That is why we braved freezing temperatures to avoid the other things. Overall it was an awesome trip and the Scouts loved it. I look forward to returning to do some paddling to see more of the enormous trees that are deeper in the park.

We are midwesterners living in Virginia. We don't get to see much cypress. Really loved the cypress trees with their knees. We have been on a quest to visit as many U.S. National Parks as possible. Couldn't make it to SC without visiting Congaree. Not at all like most of the western national parks we have visited. Loved the silent swampy feel. Walked the boardwalk, took in all the tree sights and listened to the birds. Spotted a couple piliated woodpeckers and was able to share the sighting with a couple gals trying to locate the sound. Wish we had more time to fully explore the trails. Watched the movie in the visitor center and checked out the displays. Would love to come back in the spring.

We ventured out to this National Park on a Sunday afternoon and wow. They have camping, trails (that have maps so you won't get lost)and water-fountains, and bathrooms! You can even hear the woodpeckers as you begin on any trail! The trees are enormous, with waterways, and roots all over. Great place for a picnic! We only went on the Boardwalk trails, they have many to choose from depending on how much time you have. Bring a umbrella, or jacket with a backpack.

this place was difficult to find because it we went a route that was not the normal way but it still could have had markings to lead you there when we finally found it it was not the usual western park that we are used to with pine tree forests like yosemite or rocky mt park it was in winter dress that was very monotone and definitely different it was very quiet with only one other person in the museum when we got there when we went out on the raised wood walkway we did see a few other people this is of course the off season but the quiet was really nice we saw several different types of birds and some deer probably alligators in hibernation besides the elevated walkway they have ramps that take you down to floor level to be closer to everything no fee if you have the lifetime pass

Congaree is home to an extraordinary number of record-size trees of many species. The boardwalks wind through the wetter parts of the park, while trails access the drier areas. The forest here is magnificent, resplendent with birds, reptiles, and insects. The visitor center is new and very informative, the staff enthusiastic in their response to your questions. During mosquito season it is a challenging place to visit.

Wife and I visited here in the fall. We had a wonderful peaceful walk. Tis is a fascinating place. We were the only people on the trail and enjoyed being able to stop and observe so many species of plants and birds. If you are in Columbia be sure to sto here.

Half of the boardwalk was closed for repair the day we went, so took the Sims Trail for part of the way. Saw old trees, woodpecker, a bunny, two otters and two canoes. No bugs since it was Jan. They have a visitor center with bathrooms, nature display and film and a small gift shop. They also have an large picnic area in front of the visitor center if you want to bring a lunch after your hike. Would go again to check out the other trails. Take water and some trail mix, or a picnic lunch and have a good hike.

This park is not worth the drive. There is nothing to see except a few big (and old) cyprus trees. The park (swamp) is very hot and humid. The trail is on a boardwalk so it is very easy to walk. There was no wildlife present and nothing to make it feel like a nice area.

I almost drown today. This could be a great family canoe trip but they have not cleared the fallen trees in years. My kayak turned over as I was trying to get under one of them. The park should be ashamed. The worst part is the second half of the trail assuming you start a Banister's Bridge. By the time you realize the trail is blocked by these old trees it is too late to turn around.Suggest anyone verify with the local park ranger that the trail has in fact been cleared before taking this canoe trip.

This park was very quiet and peaceful. Since we came on a Sunday, the visitors center was not open. December is a good time to come to this park as there were minimal bugs. This park is basically a huge swamp with a nice boardwalk to walk on. There weren't really any beautiful sights - maybe there are during a different time of the year. I'm still glad we came as I can cross it off of my list of national parks to visit.

Great spot for kids and dogs. Not such a great spot for a solo hiker looking for wildlife and peace. I went to this hike the day after Christmas so maybe the trails were a little packed with people walking off holiday ham. I even took the more secluded Weston lake loop but still found too many hikers for my liking. Trails were marked and easy to read. If you go the Weston lake loop it is worth the extra time to really appreciate the park. Doubt I would go back but worth one visit.

Congaree National Park, formerly Congaree Swamp National Monument, is South Carolina's only National Park. The park encompasses the largest intact area of bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. Frequent flooding of Congaree River brings in rich nutrients and fosters great diversity of plant and animal life. It also has a lot of very big trees. There are around 25 state champions and 6 national champions in the park that are known, and there could be even more that no one knows about yet. When we visited, we managed to find one using GPS that was about 500 feet off River Trail. It was a cherrybark oak ( Quercus pagoda ). The official circumference is 282 inches, but we measured 304. Finding these trees is extremely difficult, so if you're interested in seeing them, check out a Big Tree Walk with a park ranger. You'll be able to see some of these magnificent trees without the risk of getting lost in the swamp! If you're walking on your own, the park has around 25 miles of trails and these trails provide the best way to see the swampy landscape. The most popular trail is the boardwalks that start from behind the visitor center. The boardwalks are raised off the ground to keep your feet dry as well as protect sensitive vegetation. In the winter of 2013, an ice storm damaged the elevated boardwalk, which is currently closed and no time frame of getting it fixed. You can still make a loop with Sims Trail, however. The total mileage is about 2 miles. The rest of the trails are natural surface, though there are several footbridges throughout. Weston Lake Loop Trail makes a 4 mile loop and runs along its namesake oxbow lake and Cedar Creek. River Trail leads out to Congaree River. If the river level is low, there's a big sandbar and you can walk out to the middle of the river. The best time for hiking is in the winter - it's cool and less humid, the bugs are mostly dead, and snakes are hibernating. We visited when the mosquito meter was All Clear; I would not want to visit during War Zone!

If you are driving between Columbia and Charleston, think about taking a slight detour for a short hike in Congaree. You will imagine banjos playing as you walk a few miles on the boardwalk through the swamp. On the drive, you can also see cotton fields (a sight we yankees don't get to see very often).

Living in Columbia, this is one of my favorite places to go. Right now the boardwalk is not a complete loop, but you can connect it with the sims trail. The non boardwalked paths are well marked, and there are tons of beautiful trees to see. The streams that flow through, the birds, and the other sounds make this a great place to go. I see everyone from retired seniors to children around the age of 5 there--there is something for everyone. If you have some time--go!

This is one of the most beautiful and unusual national parks we have ever visited. With help from the staff at the visitor center we chose an 8 mile walk that consisted of the low boardwalk, the Weston lake Loop Trail, the Oakridge Trail, and the Sims Trail. The cypress, loblolly pine, and tupelo trees were all remarkable,