South Carolina’s Congaree National Park is located twenty miles SE of Columbia and encompasses more than 26,000 acres. The name “Congaree” is derived from the Native American Indian tribe that populated the region for centuries. Designated as a national park in 2003, the park boasts many unique features, including its contiguous old-growth bottomland hardwoods land tract, which is the largest in the nation. Although the area has long been referred to as a “swamp,” in fact it’s classified as a floodplain forest, meaning it contains standing water only when rains cause the Congaree River to flood, generally a dozen or so times a year.
The park offers an unforgettable experience for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. The park’s massive stands of old-growth forests (notably the Loblolly Pine) boast some of the lushest and tallest trees in the Eastern US, and an abundance of Spanish Moss-covered bald cypress trees make for splendid photo opportunities.
For the adventurous visitor, a twenty-mile canoe trip along Cedar Creek’s marked trails provides glimpses of a multitude of wildlife, including armadillos, bobcats, coyotes, deer, feral dogs and pigs, opossum, raccoon, and wild turkeys. In the waters reside such creatures as alligators, otters, and turtles.
Those who prefer an adventure on land will enjoy the many well-maintained hiking trails offered at Congaree National Park, with a few of the most popular being the Low and High Boardwalks, the Kingsnake, and the Weston Lake Loop. The park also offers camping facilities for visitors who like to rough it.
The park’s thick forest canopy serves as home for a wide variety of birds, so much so that the area was designated as as Important Bird Area in 2001. Several species of owls, woodpeckers, and other elusive birds use the park for both breeding and nesting, making it a bird-watcher’s paradise.
Visitors interested in both the history of the region and the awe-inspiring fauna, flora, and wildlife contained in the Congaree National Park will appreciate the many helpful Park Service and volunteer guides that are available. The Congaree National Park’s Harry Hampton Visitor Center is open from 9 AM-5 PM seven days a week except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Images via Hunter-Desportes
