DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd"> Congaree National Park

Sign for Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park in South Carolina is a relatively new national park.It doesn't have the views that other parks have. Rather it protects a unique ecosystem - an ancient alluvial floodplain. It holds the largest intact tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the U.S. The park contains some of the tallest trees in Eastern North America with one of the highest canopies in the world with broad bio-diversity.

We found the experience at Congaree National Park wonderful and different from that of other national parks.

We planned to visit Congaree National Park sevaral years ago, almost as soon as the park was established, but things kept getting in the way. One of the main things was we wanted to go there when the bugs weren't-- mainly early spring on late winter. Then covid hit and we didn't travel.In 2022 we finally made the trip.

There is no lodging or food at the park. There are two tent campground at the park and no RV camping. We stayed in Columbia SC which is about 25 minutes from the park.

We had originally palned to take our kayak on the trip but were advised that most of kayak trails were mostly blocked by down trees and low water. So we ended walking some of the trails in the park. We mostly stayed on the boardwalk trail through the park.

Boardwalk Congaree National Park
Boardwalk

Sign for trails
Congaree National Park

The boardwalk takes you through the park. It takes in much of different eco system in the park. There is information about the various eco systems. It's interesting how much a small change in elevation and water level can make in vegation.

Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park

Trees in water
Congaree National Park

Swamp Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park

Sign for trails
Congaree National Park