Make sure your visit is safe and enjoyable. We are headed to Charleston next month and plan to stop at Congaree National Park. Wise Lake | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. This is where the majority of the hiking trails start, including the wonderful Boardwalk Loop Trail. Music by David Fesliyan at Fesliyanstudios.com. Our website uses cookies. Congaree is one of the smallest US national parks. 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061-8320. Where are Acadia National Parks visitor centers? Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda) 162 ft tall, Firefly Festival (only found during the Firefly Festival). Heading out the door? Tim and I canoed downstream on the creek, silently drifting past tupelos and bald cypress trees. This makes visiting Congaree National Park a unique and fun opportunity. It is the best way to experience this park. Adequate preparation, constant attention, and good judgement will help make your hike a safe and enjoyable experience. Congaree National Park, about 15 miles southeast of Columbia, contains 27,000 acres of the species so be careful if you take a stroll! Below is a pileated woodpecker that we saw while on the low boardwalk (west side). The Congaree River Blue Trail is a 50-mile paddling trail on the Congaree River that starts in Columbia and ends in Congaree National Park. Congaree National Park is a place of tremendous ecological diversity. Wise Lake is one of the prettiest spots that we saw in Congaree National Park. Bald cypress trees produce knees like the ones in the photo above. Photo: scgerding/iStock via Getty Images, It was a rainy winter morning when my dogs jumped out of the car, ready to put their sniffers to good use. Comparatively, the Grand Canyon has about 500 staff members during the peak season. We saw the anhinga pictured below from the observation point over Weston Lake from the boardwalk. The Oakridge Trail is a longer trail (7.1 miles) that passes through hardwood forests with oaks, gums, and poplars. Once I visit all the national parks, Ill sit down and rank them. With Congaree National Park, you need to change your scope of reference. Champion trees are trees which are the tallest or largest in either the state or nation. Having the canoe delivered to Cedar Creek made the logistics super easy. On a wide glance, you will see an old-growth forest with some of the largest and tallest trees of their species. This park sits inside the Congaree River floodplain. Hopkins, . Here visitors can experience both a unique old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, home to numerous national and state champion trees and one of the most biodiverse forests in the nation, as well as an upland pine forest where fire plays a key role in its health and survival. Park Size: 26,276acres (41.06 sq miles) (106.34 sq km). Usually, the fall season is the drier season to visit the park. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center is the main hub for the park. Add an Observation. The Cedar Creek Canoe Trail is a roughly 15-mile paddle through the heart of Congaree National Park, beginning at Bannister Bridge and continuing all the way to the Congaree River. Congaree National Park is in the Middle Atlantic coastal region and has a humid subtropical climate. Please review the Congaree Pet Policy before bringing your dog to Congaree. Distance: Approximately 20 miles. General Greene Tree | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. It may also deter fireflies from getting too close to the wrong species, some of which are cannibalistic. Interesting Facts about Congaree National Park, Geography and Maps of Congaree National Park, Best Things to Do in Congaree National Park. Weston Lake Loop Trail | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park, Weston Lake Overlook | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. Entrance Fee: There is no fee to enter Congaree National Park. Paddling upstream is not problem at all and really not any harder than going downstream, at least when we did this. Their work led to Congaree becoming a national monument in 1976. February 18, 2022 Mary Beth "Mouse" Skylis Heading out the door? Across the southeastern United States, old-growth bottomland forests like that found here at Congaree once covered approximately 30 million acres, while longleaf pine savannahs covered an estimated 90 million acres. We prefer this one on all of our travels. Congaree National Park Length: 7.6 mi Est. Remember: A little planning goes a long way towards making sure your hiking trip is a safe and pleasant one. This trail can be linked with the Boardwalk Loop Trail for a longer journey. It takes 2 hours to drive to Congaree National Park from here. Once the trail turns to the left, look for cypress trees standing in water off on the right side of the trail. The current total is somewhere around 206 species that have been seen at the park. By comparison, there are slightly more than 1,107 species of birds known to science across the U.S., meaning that nearly 20% of the countrys birds have been spotted in Congaree. The Weston Lake Loop Trail loops through old growth forest, where you can see more tupelo and bald cypress trees. Whether youre herping, birding, or simply hiking, the parks 26,276 acres of land and water make it a terrific destination for outdoor activities of all kinds. And I have never cleared as many cobwebs off my face and clothes as I did on this hike. Do you have any questions about Congaree National Park, let us know in the comments below or need help planning your National Park trips. Starting at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, this all-boardwalk trail makes a loop through some of the best scenery in Congaree National Park. We spent two hours canoeing on Cedar Creek, starting and ending at the Cedar Creek Canoe Launch. We did not hike this trail, choosing the River Trail instead. Adding on the Weston Lake Trail and Wise Lake is great for those who want to go a little deeper into the park. The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. Yes, Congaree is worth visiting. The lowest point in Congaree National Park is Congaree River which is 80 feet (24m) above sea level. But once visitors set foot on Congarees 2.4-mile boardwalk, it becomes clear that this is not your average national park. The best way to do this hike is to start on the Boardwalk Loop Trail, hiking this in a counter-clockwise direction. Where the cypress trees grow, cypress kneesvertical outgrowths of the cypress rootscan also be found protruding from the surface of the water. Im sorry you didnt have a great experience there. more information on current conditions Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details. Before planning your trip, and just before your visit, visit the National Park Service website for updates on park conditions to avoid any unfortunate surprises. Note: This post contains affiliate links. There were no signs labeling this access road but the GPS coordinates for the turn off are 334544.7N 803833.7W. The bourbon list is extensive. Congaree National Park does not charge an entrance fee. At a time when most National Parks are overflowing with activity, Congaree National Parks biggest selling point might be its solitude: In 2019, just under 160,000 people visited the park over the course of the year. The vast majority of the park is lying within an area that, on an average year, will be underwater, explains Congaree National Park Ranger Jon Manchester, who has been with the park for 8 years. Paddle the 50-mile designated recreational paddle trail, extending from the state capital of Columbia downstream to Congaree National Park. During the summer months, Congaree is hot and humid. We were given hiking directions at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and have modified them: From the Bates Ferry trailhead, walk 0.4 miles. If you're planning a visit in the spring or summer make sure to wear clothing that protects your skin and apply ample amounts of insect repellent. So it was totally the poachers fault. people visited the park over the course of the year. At the end of this short road is a small parking area and a National Park sign indicating the trailhead. Each person should carry should carry a minimum of 1 liter of water, though 2 liters is recommended. February 25, 2019, 6:38 AM. Congaree has one of the tallest temperate deciduous forests in the world -- it's taller than the old-growth forests found in Japan, the Himalayas, southern South America. PRO TRAVEL TIP: This park floods on a regular basis. Although the park is still relatively unfamiliar to many hikers, it is still growing. Many believe that it still lives deep within the old-growth forest popular with other woodpeckers. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. While hiking in the backcountry of Congaree National Park, your safety is in your hands! Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Congaree National Park protects the oldest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. It climbs to 167 feet and is almost 15 feet in circumference. Wise Lake is located near the trail junction for the Weston Lake Loop Trail and River Trail. Let me know in the comments or join me in my National Park Trip Planning Community! According to the Congaree National Park, "Eastern Rat Snakes are common in Congaree National Park and along much of the East Coast. At the next trail junction, go left to continue on the Weston Lake Loop Trail and head back towards the Visitor Center. Maybe we would have liked this one more? #2 Go Kayaking or Canoeing on Cedar Creek, #7 Bates Ferry Trail and the General Greene Tree, #10 Hike the River Trail to the Congaree River. 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. Congaree National Park was created on October 18, 1976, as a Congaree Swamp National Monument. If it is on a trail, find a route around it or wait for it to move on its own. It is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Best Time to Visit Congaree National Park. 100 National Park Road National Park Obsesseds Detailed Guides to Denali National Park, Road Trips that Include Zion National Park, Other Articles featuring Acadia National Park, National Park Service units within a 4 hours drive, National Park Service units within an 8 hours drive, Pin for Later: Visiting Denali National Park National Park and Preserve: The Complete Guide, Congaree National Park Foundation Document, National Park Passport Book click here to learn more, Visiting Conagree National Park: The Complete Guide, 7 Things You Cant Miss on Your First Visit to Congaree National Park. The Weston Lake Loop Trail will follow alongside Cedar Creek for almost one mile. But it actually isnt a swamp, its a floodplain. Bourbon was our favorite restaurant. And for the most part, the views dont change all that much over its 11 miles. This is the best walk in the park. And the black rat snake was a testament to our success. Those who are eager to hit the water can head to the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail, which is well-marked with navigational aids. We had three nights here, so we tried three different restaurants as well as one spot for lunch. The NPS website warns that it this hike is difficult, since flooding and downed trees can make hiking challenging. Congaree is champion trees. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list. The park has about 16 full-time permanent staff, and a number of seasonal staff members that come and go. There are a lot of great restaurants in Columbia. It is a special place and worthy of being a National Park. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Catch and release fishing is encouraged. The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list. Water levels were low when we did this, which allowed us to duck under some fallen trees. We saw a Snowy Owl outside Sault Ste. Here visitors can experience both a unique old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, home to numerous national and state champion trees and one of the most biodiverse forests in the nation, as well as an upland pine forest where fire plays a key role in its . 2h 10m This trail gets washed out from flooding rivers and experiences blow-down regularly. From this junction, you will walk about 100 meters to get to Wise Lake. The highest temperature recorded at Congaree National Park was 104 degrees F in 1999. By Ashlen Renner. We didnt get to see any knees since they were all under water. Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available. It was shortly after a rain storm and we saw it fly across the lake and land in a tree across the lake. The Longleaf Campground is located right off of the entrance road, and it is home to both individual sites (for 1-8 people) ,and group sites (for 9-24 people). Get updates on road conditions and trail closures, as you plan your trip and just before your visit, on the National Park Service website. In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Congaree National Park. The species is abundant in 27,000-acre Congaree National Park, about 15 miles southeast of Columbia. Allowed establish means values: native, endemic, introduced, Southern Toad from Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC, US on April 15, 2023 at 10:53 PM by Ian Gourdin, Fowler's Toad from Congaree National Park, South Carolina, USA on August 05, 2010 by sea-kangaroo, Spring Peeper from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on March 17, 2022 at 07:33 PM by kfleenor, Pine Woods Tree Frog from Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC, US on April 15, 2023 at 08:47 PM by Ian Gourdin, Squirrel Treefrog from Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC, US on July 01, 2022 at 08:18 AM by charlotteandgranthaveseenit, Barking Treefrog from Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC, US on May 22, 2021 at 09:25 PM by ac-soilgirl, Green Treefrog from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 15, 2023 at 02:51 PM by Ian Gourdin, Cope's Gray Treefrog from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 22, 2023 at 10:42 PM by Nicole Lowder, Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad from Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC, US on April 16, 2023 at 09:37 AM by jennalollis, Southern Leopard Frog from Congaree National Park, South Carolina 29061, USA on February 20, 2023 at 03:10 PM by Maura, American Bullfrog from Richland County, SC, USA on August 14, 2022 at 02:30 PM by johngrego, Green Frog from Congaree National Park on April 22, 2023 at 11:01 AM by Valerie Hoyt-Parrish, Eastern Spadefoot from Richland County, SC, USA on June 16, 2018 at 11:21 PM by Kyle Finn, Marbled Salamander from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 22, 2023 at 07:05 PM by imlichenlucas, Atlantic Coast Slimy Salamander from Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC, US on March 12, 2022 at 03:24 PM by pniebanck, Carolina Swamp Dusky Salamander from Congaree National Park, Richland, South Carolina, United States on May 15, 2022 at 10:52 AM by Brian White, Southern Two-lined Salamander from Richland County, SC, USA on December 07, 2019 at 03:35 PM by Ston Coles, Three-lined Salamander from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 22, 2023 at 11:38 PM by imlichenlucas, coastal plain dwarf salamander from Hopkins, SC 29061, USA on March 27, 2018 at 03:24 PM by Raina Eddy, Eastern Mud Salamander from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 17, 2021 at 02:19 PM by nathanc553, Greater Siren from Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC, US on February 15, 2020 at 02:20 PM by johngrego, American Alligator from Weston Lake, Gadsden, SC, US on April 28, 2023 at 06:43 PM by lcarnley, Green Anole from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 22, 2023 at 05:15 PM by imlichenlucas, Eastern Slender Glass Lizard from 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061, USA on October 24, 2015 at 12:44 PM by Jos Garrido, Eastern Fence Lizard from Gadsden, SC 29052, USA on May 05, 2018 at 03:00 PM by E.D. For the entire 1.1 mile walk (one-way), you are on a wide grassy trail that leads to a view of the Congaree River. Yes, alligators can be found in Congaree National Park, but they are not common. The main way to prevent a negative snake encounter is to keep an eye on where you are walking and take care in tall grass and around downed logs. This park is currently at the bottom of our list (Canyonlands is #1) .. weve experienced 11 parks so far (Wisconsin is home base) and use your blog as an inspiration! It is the largest bald cypress in Congaree National Park with a circumference of 30 feet. If you have a half day in Congaree National Park. We were visiting Congaree National Park, confident that a magnificent snake was waiting to be spotted nearby. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Walk the boardwalk trail through the forest, go kayaking or canoeing on Cedar Creek, go birdwatching and fishing, and, if you like, venture farther into the park on a number of other woodland trails. 4 more non-emergency alert notifications. Personally, I think they have missed the point on Congaree, but I get where they are coming from. Some of these are connector trails. False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation. From the visitors center, Congaree National Park seems unassuming a place that families might use as a picnic area during the spring and fall. This green frog was hanging out on a plant above the flood waters when we spotted it from the boardwalk. Your email address will not be published. When we did this hike, it was dry and the trail was very easy to hike (it is completely flat). Learn more about the CBR. Stamps located here: Congaree National Park is a unique and special place. It is the largest tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. Congaree is a popular area for birding in South Carolina. Ensure that the water has been filtered or any particles have settled, and use the recommended number of tabs per quart. With almost 80% of the park lying within the floodplain, these floods make the backcountry trails and even parts of the boardwalk inaccessible to visitors. Curious what species of plants and animals can be found at Congaree National Park? Since this park is so small, you only need a half to a full day to see the highlights. Birds are also prey to some Congaree snakesblack rat snakes, for example, are known to eat birds, lizards, rats, and sometimes even other serpents. In other parts of the floodplain, slight changes in elevation have helped to create a variety of different ecosystems that support a diverse array of plants, mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects, as well as trees such as giant old-growth oaks and massive loblolly pines. Local. This blog post had me looking forward to visiting Conagree last month. I can only find reports of one venomous snakebite in the park and that was to a poacher who was handing a copperhead. Cypress trees feature a network of horizontal roots (pneumatophores) which are believed to aerate the trees swamp-covered roots. Distance: 0.6 miles | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Time: 30 minutes. Dont be: Manchester notes that only two people have been bitten by snakes during his tenure in the park, and only three in total over the entire 46-year history of the park. life jacket/PFD, bug spray, personal locator beacon). The summers see temperatures in the up 90s degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity making it seem much hotter. Congaree National Park is open year-round. Required fields are marked *. Don't be left out in the dark. There are around 75 types of trees, nearly 200 species of birds, 75 species of reptiles/amphibians, and more than 50 species of fish and butterflies. These trees have been known to grow as tall as 120 feet, and their trunks can be as large as six feet in diameter. Looking for a cheap National Park souvenir? Columbia is 20 miles northwest of Congaree and is the closest major city. The park has mild winters with warm, wet summers. We also had a very nice dinner at Saludas. However, the poisonous snakes typically avoid people. Both snakes have red, black, and yellow color bands on their body and telling them apart is a little confusing. It is the remains of an old ferry road that ended at the Congaree River. Colas Restaurant, Mr. Friendlys New Southern, Alodias Cucina Italiana (located outside of Columbia), and Midwood Smokehouse also get very good reviews. #1 of 6 things to do in Hopkins Nature & Parks, National Parks 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061-8320 Save 42kRun Houston 158 61 Spiders, Snakes and Mosquitos Review of Congaree National Park Reviewed August 1, 2017 A nice visitor center with friendly Rangers and a film on the park.
Kerfalla Camara Net Worth, Rotary Engine Vs Piston Engine Efficiency, Articles C