One thing we don’t have living on the east coast is the amount of National Parks that our friends out west have. Out of the 62 National Parks, there are only 11 east of the Mississippi. Now, there are a ton of National Park units, but very few Parks. One of the reasons for this is the National Park System didn’t come to be until the late 1800’s after much of the east coast had been developed. Of course, another reason is because there are just so many awesome places out west!

One of the few National Parks on the east is found in central South Carolina – Congaree National Park. We recently went on a visit and wanted to put together everything we learned to help you when you visit this fun little park. Here is your ultimate guide to Congaree National Park.

Where Is Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park is located in Hopkins, South Carolina. Hopkins is about 20 miles southeast of Columbia, the state capitol. From Columbia, it is pretty much a straight shot down highway 48. For us, it was just under a four hour drive from Raleigh. Congaree is one of the smallest National Parks at just over 42 square miles. Congaree became a National Park in 2003, after years of being Congaree Swamp National Monument.

What Makes Congaree National Park Special

Congaree National Park is in the middle of the Congaree Biosphere Reserve – part of UNESCO. The Park preserves one of the largest bottomland old growth forests along the East coast and boasts some of the tallest tree canopies found in the area. The trees here are truly beautiful. Growing up along the east coast you don’t see trees this size very often. The Congaree river flows through the park and much of the park is its floodplain. Being a floodplain, the park is very often covered in water and washes out a lot of the hiking trails and boardwalks.

It’s really important to check which trails are open before you go since flooding happens often! Congaree’s swamp status also lends itself to major mosquito issues. Just be aware this can be a real nuisance to you while there. The park even has a little fun with it and sets the mosquito level everyday for you at the visitors center! Don’t miss checking this out on your trip to the park.

One of the special yearly events found at Congaree is the firefly displays during the late spring/early summer evenings. There are only 3 species of synchronous fireflies found in North America and you can view them in full display in Congaree. It is truly a special occassion. The firefly festival has grown over the years and receives thousands of visitors. Check the National Park website to determine when to go to view the fireflies and details about the event. It changes every year!

The Best Trails At Congaree National Park

Hiking

The most popular trail at Congaree National Park is the boardwalk loop trail. This is a really pretty and super easy trail that takes you through the swampy forest. It includes both an upper high boardwalk and lower boardwalk. On our visit some of the lower portions were flooded. We actually thought it was pretty cool to see the water up so high and it just added to the experience. This trail should be number one on your list since you get such a great view of the park here.

There are many other trails ranging in all levels of difficulty. We also took the Longleaf trail (marked as easy) since it branched off of the boardwalk trail and provided a loop back to the main parking area. One of the most difficult trails is the Kingsnake trail which is a total of 12 miles along the Cedar creek. This trail is often flooded and nearly impassable at times-however its a favorite for bird watchers! Other trails marked as Difficult include the River trail, a 10 mile trail to Congaree River and the Oakridge Trail which is 7 miles.

Kayaking or Canoeing

A huge draw to Congaree is the amazing waterways to explore. Kayaking or Canoeing is a major activity you can take part in here. The Cedar Creek Kayak trail is a 15 mile waterway leading you through the old growth forest. Important to note, you must bring you own kayak or canoe – they are not provided at the park. There are several outfitters in the area you can rent equipment from if needed. There are even several companies who offer guided tours. This truly is one of the best ways to experience Congaree National Park.

Camping At Congaree

Another major draw to Congaree is the primitive camping. Only tents and hammocks are allowed on site (no RV’s!). There are two campgrounds available onsite – Longleaf and Bluff. Both require reservations and have a small fee. It’s recommend to call ahead to get a spot and not waiting until you show up to the park that day! Backcountry camping is also available at Congaree with a free permit. All camping information can be found here.

Around Congaree National Park

When we have time we love checking out the surrounding areas of National Parks. Congaree is fairly secluded but with a short drive you can spend some time exploring the capitol city of Columbia, SC. Columbia isn’t the biggest city but it does offer lots of areas to explore. We enjoyed spending some time along the waterfront of the Congaree river that flows through the City. It’s a great relaxing place for a stroll. The vista is a fun and eclectic area to stop for a bite to eat or to do a little shopping! Columbia is a charming city with lots of museums and a great zoo. We didn’t have time to do it all but enjoyed the early evening we had checking out the capitol of South Carolina.

Packing List For Congaree National Park

You should always be prepared when heading to a National Park! Here is a list of what we like to bring with us and some of our favorite go to travel items for a day of adventure!

• Bug Spray! This is a very big deal here at Congaree. The mosquitos are no joke you need some sort of protection. Deet Free Option, Deet Option
• Small Backpack – depending on how extensive your hiking will be. We enjoyed the boardwalks and smaller hikes on our trip! This is Meg’s go to backpack for all of our hiking adventures.
• Water Bottle – Justin’s favorite for a long road trip/hike
• Hand Sanitizer
• Hiking Shoes – Justin’s favorite, Meg’s favorite

Our Takeaways

We have had the privilege of visiting several bigger and better known National Parks in the western part of the US. Congaree definitely doesn’t compare to those but it has it’s own unique qualities. The bottomland forest is different and beautiful. There is a lot of beauty in the swampy areas of the Country and here you can really immerse yourself in that eco-system. We found this visit to be relaxing. A lot of times at National Parks there is so much you want to do and see you feel kind of rushed. Not here. It’s peaceful, calm and not overrun. Here you need to take time to stop and look up through the tree canopy. Take your walk slowly and see if you can find a big spider, water snake moving through the swamp or even an alligator.

This park is excellent for smaller kids since the trails are easy. If you can go on a day when the bugs are not bad (think late fall/early winter) then you have hit the jackpot. The forest here is old and we are sure the trees could tell lots of stories. Take in this different type of nature and go the adventure way in Congaree!

PS! Looking for more National Park Units to discover along the East Coast? Check out our guide to Cape Lookout National Seashore in NC, Gettysburg and Canaveral National Seashore in FL!