These species, however, no longer are found within the park. However, Congaree National Park is a relatively safe place to explore at night. Walk the Boardwalk Loop Trail. Quick Facts About The US National Parks. For more information,read our detailed one day itinerary for Congaree National Park. Species that are being treated are Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum), beefsteak (Perilla frutescens), shrub lespedeza (Lespedeza bicolor), Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), Chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), and kudzu (Pueraria montana). Is Congaree National Park Safe? If you or someone in your group is bitten by a rattlesnake, seek medical attention immediately. The national parks protect the greatest remaining area of bottomland hardwood champion trees in old-growth forests in the United States. The spring and fall see temperatures in the 70s. (The park was originally designated Congaree Swamp National Monument in 1976.) On the left will be an unmaintained road. It is 168 ft tall and has a circumference of 181 inches. Just a half-hour outside of the state's capital, Congaree National Park is the only national park in South Carolina. This was our second favorite hike in Congaree, with #1 being the Boardwalk Loop Trail. There's also a juried arts and crafts show, live entertainment performances, and more food everywhere you look. It contains three state-listed species of concern, including the bald eagle, American swallow-tailed kites, and wood stork, with 30 other priority species. Distance: 0.6 miles | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Time: 30 minutes. This is the best walk in the park. Longleaf pines are shade-intolerant, so they are less likely to survive in close canopy ecosystems. Located at the confluence of the . As you drive south on Highway 601, the turn off for the trailhead is located just past the bridge that crosses Bates Old River. If a bear does attack, fight back with everything you have. Congaree National Park is dog-friendly. Its always a good idea to let someone else know your hiking plans in casesomething happens. Select stock photography provided depositphotos. If you want to take in Congaree National Park, it's easy to do one day: walk the boardwalk trail, go canoeing or kayaking on Cedar Creek, and explore the wilderness on one of the park's numerous hiking trails.. Until 2003, the Congaree Swamp National Park had been known as . Distance: 3.2 miles. In order to go fishing in the park, you must have a valid South Carolina fishing license. So it sounds like the flooding can extend later into the season. In national parks around the country, camera traps capture images that astonish, delight, inform, reveal and have the power to change human behavior. Columbia is 20 miles northwest of Congaree and is the closest major city. Black Bear Pass: The Most Scenic AND Dangerous Road in Colorado 4. Bourbon was our favorite restaurant. The highest temperature recorded at Congaree National Park was 104 degrees F in 1999. While the park is easily accessible by car, it does not have its own airport. A lock () or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. (2023)Continue, Are you planning a hiking trip to Big Bend National Park? The closest major airport is located in Columbia, South Carolina, which is about a 30 minute drive from Congaree National Park. Since last summer, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources has received a number of reports about bears in lower Richland County and across the Congaree River in Calhoun County adjacent to the national park. How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. There are 2 official stamps in Congaree National Park. Most of the time, you are walking through oaks and other hardwoods, not through sloughs of tupelos and cypress trees that make Congaree National Park so beautiful and so unique. After a heavy flooding, the Boardwalk Loop Trail, and other trails on this list, can temporarily close. Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. The CBR Core Protected Area includes 15,269 acres of Congaree National Park, all of which are federally designated wilderness. Flashing begins shortly after sunset, lasting for an hour, and again just before dawn. In this guide, we will be exploring Congaree National Park and providing helpful hints and tips for planning a trip to Congaree. The ten-mile long River Trail leads all the way to the Congaree River, a curling ribbon of placid water that forms the park's more than 25-river-mile long southern border. This national park protects the oldest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. For more ideas on canoe trips, visit the National Park Service website. Of those 23 present and possible species, only three*** are venomous. 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061, USA. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks, wear sunscreen, and stay on the trails. But I will admit that Congaree isnt my favorite but I did have fun exploring the park and I do make a point to stop and visit it when Im in the area. Distance: 2.6 mile loop | Difficulty: Easy | Time: 1 to 2 hours. Learn more about available resources. It takes 2 hours to drive to Congaree National Park from here. The Bates Ferry Trail is really not all that exciting. Hopkins, SC - Congaree National Park, located about 30 minutes east of Columbia, South Carolina is home to the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States.Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers sweep through the floodplain, carrying nutrients and sediments that nourish and rejuvenate this ecosystem and support the growth of . Congaree National Park is famous for its mosquitoes and biting insects. There are currently two mugs available from the Yosemite Conservancy online here. Paddling upstream is not problem at all and really not any harder than going downstream, at least when we did this. There is a reason that Congaree is of the few National Parks to be a UNESCO biosphere reserve. One of the country's smallest and newest national parks, the 26,276-acre Congaree National Park in central South Carolina is a hidden gem. Congaree officially became a national park on November 10, 2003. There is no need to be afraid of the wildlife in Congaree National Park if you take the proper precautions. If you encounter a rattlesnake, do not try to capture it or kill it. Where to stamp your National Parks Passport Book? The best way to do this hike is to start on the Boardwalk Loop Trail, hiking this in a counter-clockwise direction. Although it's among the smaller national parks in America, much of it is open to both humans and their pets. Now that weve talked a bit about Congaree National Park, lets answer the question,Is Congaree National Park Safe? The answer is yes, Congaree National Park is safe! If you just hike the Bates Ferry Trail, it is a 2.2 mile out-and-back hike that is completely flat and takes about an hour. The bourbon list is extensive. Wise Lake is located near the trail junction for the Weston Lake Loop Trail and River Trail. It gets its name since this is a good place to see the synchronous fireflies in May and June. Hiking trails provide access for all levels and time constraints and offer views that are both scenic and educational about this little-known treasure on the banks of the Congaree River. As I said in the video earlier, be sure not to feed or interact with the bears. The General Greene Tree was recognized as a South Carolina Heritage Tree on December 7, 2018. Yes, pets are welcome in Congaree National Park and are allowed on the trails. Those who want to rough it can find a great camping experience in the wilderness. 120, North West Entrance It is the largest bald cypress in Congaree National Park with a circumference of 30 feet. So it was totally the poachers fault. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. According to the EPA, a bottomland hardwood forest is a river swamp. If youre hiking during the winter, you need to be aware of the possibility of ice and snow. Instead, the flooding of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers bring essential water and nutrients to this bottomland region, creating one of the most diverse ecosystems in the USA. We also had a very nice dinner at Saludas. Sadly, when we arrived, the whole place was flooded even half of the boardwalk was under water. Now, lets talk about Congaree National Park specifically. Congarees has the USs tallest Pine Loblolly. Once I visit all the national parks, Ill sit down and rank them. Journey into the heart of the park on Cedar Creek. First, let someone know where youre going and when you expect to be back. At 2 pm, our canoe was delivered by Gus from River Runner Outdoor Center. While there are risks to drinking untreated water, there are also ways to purify itbefore you drink it. There are a few key things to remember when hiking Congaree National Park to stay safe and have a great time. The NPS website warns that it this hike is difficult, since flooding and downed trees can make hiking challenging. Im sorry you didnt have a great experience there. It contains three state-listed species of concern, including the bald eagle, American swallow-tailed kites, and wood stork, with 30 other priority species. However there are several airports within a reasonable distance that you can use to fly into the area. But downed trees and flooding can create difficult conditions. They negatively impact the health of the forest ecosystem. The loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), swamp tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia), possumhaw (Ilex decidua) and sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) are among the species that are in American Forests National Register of Big Trees. Bobcats also to be found there, as well as fabulous waterfalls. Bears like baths. Here are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your hike is as safe as possible. At 26,000 acres, it is the 7th smallest park. We had three nights here, so we tried three different restaurants as well as one spot for lunch. Lots of it. However, if you encounter a bear, do not approach it. The park covers over 26,000 acres, and it can be easy to lose your bearing if you're not paying attention to where you're going. What is a bottomland forest? We didnt see much in the way of wildlife, but Cedar Creek is beautiful, and to drift along the water, listening to the birds and the crickets, and to see these majestic old trees, was a very memorable experience. Congaree National Park elevated boardwalk trail. You can canoe part or all of this trail. SC Walk about 20 feet farther and to your right will be a trail leading into the woods. At the trail junction, follow signs for Weston Lake and you will now be on trail #3 (there will be small, white signs on the trees with the number 3 on them). But a bunch of wolves, deer, wild boars, bears, and foxes . It boasts stunningly decorated caves, ancient trees, astonishing mountainous scenery, and an abundance of other scenic features that are hard to find these days. This small park is quick and easy to visit. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Some even reach an astounding height of 170 feet, creating one of the highest forest canopies in the world. How Much Time Should I Spend Visiting Denali National Park? For two weeks in mid-May and early June, synchronous quick flashes of male P. frontalis fireflies can be seen at Congaree National Park. Pick a quiet area along the boardwalk and stop moving and just look around you. In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Congaree National Park. When alligators are seen, they are usually found at the southern end of the park along the river. Here are a few of the common animals that you may encounter while exploring the park: That said, while most of the wildlife in Congaree National Park is harmless, there are a few animals that you should be aware of. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, if you encounter a bear, do not approach it. If so, you are going to have an amazing time. This 2.4-mile boardwalk takes you through surprisingly different landscapes and gives you an excellent overview of the forest and what one might find in various parts of this environment. Bald cypress trees produce knees like the ones in the photo above. Congaree Mosquito Meter in November | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. The Fork Swamp Trail is located near the Bates Ferry Trail, so this hike is worth doing if you will be out this way. I like to call Congaree, America's forgotten national park. Once the trail turns to the left, look for cypress trees standing in water off on the right side of the trail. Read all of our articles about the United States in our United States Travel Guide. I vaguely recollect a small camping area at the parking lot for those not wishing to hike in. In Congaree, you can see some of the tallest Loblolly pines still alive today as well as bald cypress trees that are over 500 years old. Cedar Creek is a very slow moving creek. Tim and I canoed downstream on the creek, silently drifting past tupelos and bald cypress trees. Pets welcome at $25 per pet. Along the trail are numbers that correspond to the Self-Guided Boardwalk Trail brochure that you can pick up at the Visitor Center before you start this walk. GETTING HERE: On Google Maps, the trailhead is labeled Fork Swamp Trailhead. It is located on an access road on Highway 601. It is also a recreational space in which visitors can fish, camp, hike, and paddle. We stayed at the Hilton Columbia Center and had a great experience but the Graduate Columbia, Staybridge Suites Columbia, Aloft Columbia Downtown, and the Courtyard Columbia Downtown all are highly rated and have a great location in downtown Columbia. Be aware of your surroundings. From these hotels, you can easily walk or Uber to some great restaurants. Are there bears in Congaree National Park? What Are The Biggest Dangers At Congaree National Park? Other parts of the US are dealing with floods so if this area also gets an increase in rainfall there could be some flooding in Congaree as well. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Distance: 11.1 miles | Difficulty: Easy to difficult | Time: 4 to 6 hours. Photo by Miguel Vieira/Flickr. There are numerous hotels in Columbia to choose from. Hiking Safety Tips For Congaree National Park. If you use an outfitter like River Runner, they can drop your canoe or kayak at the starting point and pick you up at the endpoint. The state is believed to have between 50-100 black bears living throughout Ohio. Congaree National Park is locatedin South Carolina and is known for its massive Congaree River swamp. Congaree encounters - Today, South Carolina has an estimated 1,200 resident black bears. boardwalk through the congaree national park, south carolina, usa - congaree national park stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Horse Racing: Wood Memorial, Victor Espinoza in action aboard Congaree at Aqueduct Race Track, Jamaica, NY 4/14/2001 No fewer than 45 miles of carriage roads can be explored . In 2003, it was designated an Important Bird Area. And finally, hike with a buddy and let someone know your plans. Catch and release fishing is encouraged. Temperatures can be chilly but snow is unusual. There is no RV Camping in Congaree NP. The total ascent for this hike is a mere 60 feet. Its always best to hike with at least one other person. The ramen noodle soups and dumplings are delicious. Dallas is a hidden treasure trove of hiking trails! During the summer months, Congaree is hot and humid. 100 National Park Road All pets must be on a leash under six ft and under your control at all times. The difficulty can vary based on conditions in the park. Champion trees are trees that are extremely large or tall for their species. If you continue past the General Greene Tree, in about 0.1 miles you reach another unmaintained road to the right. Hours of Operation: The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. There are always risks associated with hiking alone, but that doesnt mean you shouldnt enjoy the experience of a solo hike. In Congaree, you need to think on a smaller scale. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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