The best time to see the fireflies is between 9 pm and 10 pm. So, is it safe to drink water in Congaree National Park? 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061-8320 Read Reviews of Congaree National Park Property types Motels Hotels All-inclusives B&Bs & Inns +35 Show more View Vacation Rentals Popular & up 76 Breakfast included162 4 stars 1 Hotels Amenities Free Wifi 211 Breakfast included162 Pool 151 Free parking 195 Show all Distance from 25+ mi Wise Lake is one of the prettiest spots that we saw in Congaree National Park. Starting at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, this all-boardwalk trail makes a loop through some of the best scenery in Congaree National Park. Wildfires caused by lightning resulted in habitats and vegetation that needed fire to be healthy, but fire suppression techniques have caused a change in the ecosystem. Fun Facts about Denali National Park and Preserve, When to Visit Denali National Park and Preserve, How to Get to Denali National Park and Preserve. 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. Humans have inhabited the area that is now Congaree National Park for at least 10,000 years. This is a long hike. The Oakridge Trail is a longer trail (7.1 miles) that passes through hardwood forests with oaks, gums, and poplars. How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. It depends. Once the trail turns to the left, look for cypress trees standing in water off on the right side of the trail. Park Size: 26,276acres (41.06 sq miles) (106.34 sq km). Congaree National Park. Bears like baths. and all of Eastern Europe. For more information,read our detailed one day itinerary for Congaree National Park. (The park was originally designated Congaree Swamp National Monument in 1976.) This is the best walk in the park. David enjoys the peace and solitude that nature provides, and finds solace in the beauty of the natural world. Staff could verify. Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. If your visit is part of a bigger road trip, here are the driving distances and times to nearby destinations: Inside of Congaree National Park, your only option is tent camping. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. General Greene Tree | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. Along the way, there are sandbars, ancient bluffs and all manner of wildlife. 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. There is no RV Camping in Congaree NP. From these hotels, you can easily walk or Uber to some great restaurants. Wise Lake is located near the trail junction for the Weston Lake Loop Trail and River Trail. In 2021, 215,000 people visited this park, making it the 12th least visited national park in the United States. We are near Congaree National Park, Columbia, University of SC, Ft. Jackson, Airport I-26 & Hwy 77. 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. We love bourbon and this is our favorite restaurant in Columbia. 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. Stamps located here: Congaree National Park is a unique and special place. In fact, it was our favorite experience here. ago I don't think anyone that has been to gateway arch thinks congaree is the worst national park. It is just a 30-minute drive to get between Columbia and Congaree National Park. Fall is the best time to go paddling on Cedar Creek since water levels are ideal. Seeing this fallen tree was one of the most memorable parts of this hike. The park is named for the Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) native to the Mojave Desert. Congaree National Park is located in South Carolina. bears live in the mountains north or Greenville or along the coast west of Myrtle Beach. Congaree National Park is working to restore the historic landscape and vegetation, including the longleaf pine by conducting fire treatments. Congaree National Park is a 26,692.6-acre (41.7 sq mi; 108.0 km 2) American national park in central South Carolina, 18 miles southeast of the state capital, Columbia. The park now known as Congaree National Parks is on Santee, Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), Wateree, and Congaree land. There are limited food options in Gadsden and the best place to grab a bite to eat is in Columbia, South Carolina. Learn more about prescribed burns, and how fire can be an essential tool in both preventing wildfires and helping certain ecosystems thrive. Follow this for another tenth of a mile and you come to this low area, filled with tupelos and bald cypress trees. Which is honestly a shame, since it's one of the best parks to see in the fall! You can also spend a half day to a full day on Cedar Creek. Spanning a staggering 26,276 acres, Congaree National Park is an enormous place to explore on foot or by water, making for a marvelous experience for hikers and nature enthusiasts. See a glimpse of what Congaree National Park has to offer, including champion trees, kayaking and canoeing opportunities, and wilderness for exploration and rejuvenation. Sweetgum, oak, hickories, common persimmon, and southern magnolia have taken over some of the area that used to be occupied by longleaf pines, and these hardwoods create a closed canopy (instead of open, like longleaf pines). Last Update: Jan 03, 2023. . Let someone know where youre going. In order to go fishing in the park, you must have a valid South Carolina fishing license. Yes, alligators can be found in Congaree National Park, but they are not common. Some of the critters you might spot along the way include salamanders, woodpeckers, kites . Congarees floodplain forest has one of the highest temperate deciduous forest canopies in the world, with an average height of over 100 feet. Second, be aware of your surroundings. Make sure your visit is safe and enjoyable. Champion trees are trees which are the tallest or largest in either the state or nation. Unlike many hardwood forests, Congaree was largely spared by the lumber . This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Within Congaree National Park there are 1,220 taxa, including 33 amphibians, 45 reptiles, 71 fish, 191 birds, 37 mammals, 328 terrestrial plants, 512 wetland plants, and three aquatic plants. Bald cypress trees produce knees like the ones in the photo above. The Kingsnake Trail passes through sloughs of tupelo and cypress trees and runs along part of Cedar Creek. However there are several airports within a reasonable distance that you can use to fly into the area. Maine's Acadia National Park is one of the best national parks for dogs for a few reasons. 29061, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. I only recommend this hike for those who are looking for a long hike away from the crowds. Congaree National Park was created on October 18, 1976, as a Congaree Swamp National Monument. 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. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Interestingly, 95% of the park is water, so there are many water-based activities, Read More Is Biscayne National Park Safe? The Sims Trail is an old gravel road. Make sure you have the proper gear and supplies, including a map and compass, in case you get lost. There are invasive species within Congaree National Park, and the Southeast Coast Exotic Plant Management Team manages exotic plants throughout the park. There is a beauty to this area, its just on a smaller scale. 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. Its always better to have too much than not enough. For two hours, Tim and I paddled on Cedar Creek and once we were finished, Gus picked up the canoe and we were on our way. Learn more on the NPS website. Fish, amphibians, deer, raccoon, feral pigs, bobcats, and numerous species of snakes and birds all find refuge inside this park. There are currently two mugs available from the Yosemite Conservancy online here. If and when you get cell service, call 9-1-1 and let them know which hospital you are headed to. Both towns are just a short drive to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, which serves as the northern entrance to the 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). Web Visit website. Female P. frontalis fireflies are more difficult to find than the males because they are more susceptible to predation and hide to survive. There's also a juried arts and crafts show, live entertainment performances, and more food everywhere you look. Congaree National Park, near Columbia, South Carolina, is a beautifully preserved old growth bottomland hardwood forest adjacent to the Congaree River. Yes, Congaree is worth visiting. You can canoe part or all of this trail. The Bates Ferry Trail is really not all that exciting. Read more about the region's history. Interesting Facts about Congaree National Park, Geography and Maps of Congaree National Park. Virgin . So it was totally the poachers fault. Congaree is one of the least visited National Parks so the park isnt all that busy even during the busy season. These tablets are easy to carry with you on your hike and only requireadding them to the water and waiting a few minutes for them to work. The highest temperature recorded at Congaree National Park was 104 degrees F in 1999. You can also use a water filter or water purificationtablets. We're talking about a white grizzly bear, who the locals named Nakoda. It might be a snake slithering up a tree. There are some safety risks and concerns that hikers should be aware of, but overallthe park is a safe place to hike and explore. Third, be prepared. If you encounter a rattlesnake, do not try to capture it or kill it. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. It is 168 ft tall and has a circumference of 181 inches. There are several other trees which are South Carolina campion trees. If you have one day in Congaree National Park, spend half a day hiking the Boardwalk Loop Trail and Weston Lake Trail and spend half of a day canoeing or kayaking on Cedar Creek. Longleaf pines are shade-intolerant, so they are less likely to survive in close canopy ecosystems. 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). . It might be a deer silently moving in the woods. SC Each trail has a different number. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Congaree National Park does not charge an entrance fee. The park is alsohome to the tallest tree in the Eastern United States. While there are risks to drinking untreated water, there are also ways to purify itbefore you drink it. Congaree National Park is a place of tremendous ecological diversity. From the Boardwalk Loop Trail, walk 0.6 miles on the Weston Lake Loop Trail until you get to the trail junction with the River Trail. If youre not careful, you could easily lose your footing and end up injured. In Congaree, you need to think on a smaller scale. The spring and fall see temperatures in the 70s. The Congaree is a wetland forest, and indeed it seems like water is everywhere. Here are all the locations where you can find the Congaree National Park Passport Stamp. Just a half-hour outside of the state's capital, Congaree National Park is the only national park in South Carolina. If a bear does attack, fight back with everything you have. Distance: 11.1 miles | Difficulty: Easy to difficult | Time: 4 to 6 hours. Temperatures frequently get up into the high-90s and even up over 100F. Its nice but we liked the Boardwalk Trail more. So it sounds like the flooding can extend later into the season. The Complete Guide to the US National Parks, Complete List of the US National Parks (+ FREE Printable Checklist), A Weekend in Gatlinburg & Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 10 Great Hikes in Shenandoah National Park, One Perfect Day in Everglades National Park, Top 10 Things to Do in Biscayne National Park, 20 Amazing Things to Do in New River Gorge National Park, 14 Best Things to Do in Acadia National Park, How to Plan the Perfect Rocky Mountain Itinerary, One Perfect Day in Bryce Canyon National Park, The Best of Big Bend: 10 Things to Do in Big Bend National Park, 17 Great Hikes to Do in Olympic National Park, One Perfect Day in Congaree National Park, 10 Best National Parks to Visit in March 2023 (USA), 12 Best National Parks to Visit in November 2023 (USA), 15 Best National Parks to Visit in May 2023 (USA). The food is very good (Cajun and Creole) but the main reason to put this restaurant on your list is for the bourbon. Not quite a swamp but also unlike any mountain forest you've ever seen, Congaree National Park is a unique park. In both the spring and fall, Congaree gets about 3 inches of rain per month. In the spring and fall, temperatures are warm (daytime highs can get up into the 70s) and mosquitoes are low. Difficulty: Easy. These species, however, no longer are found within the park. Whether you're looking for an easy stroll in a pristine nature preserve or an epic multi-day adventure, we rounded up the 24 most beautiful gems of the U.S. National Park system. Interesting Facts about Congaree National Park Geography and Maps of Congaree National Park Best Things to Do Planning Your Time When to Go How to Get Here Where to Stay Where to Eat Plan Your Visit. When we did this, the trail was dry. An official website of the United States government. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. What is the best time to visit Congaree National Park? The trailhead is also marked on our interactive map. Congaree National Park is home to many different animals. Acadia National Park, Maine. Click on the Congaree Map above to download the official brochure map. When will congaree national park open? However, Congaree National Park is a relatively safe place to explore at night. Having the canoe delivered to Cedar Creek made the logistics super easy. This hike is quick and easy, as long as it is not flooded or muddy. Congaree National Park Located less than 20 miles southeast of Columbia, encompass over 26,000 acres of woodland with 15,000 of those acres designated as wilderness area. Congaree National Park hosts a viewing event for this phenomena. Of those 23 present and possible species, only three*** are venomous. Congaree National Park . If you see a snake, give it space and dont mess with it. There are . Peak Foliage: Early October to Mid-October. Congaree encounters Today, South Carolina has an estimated 1,200 resident black bears. At the midpoint of the hike, you get a view of the Congaree River, but its not worth it, not for an 11 mile round trip hike (if you want a view of the Congaree River from a hiking trail, do the 2.2 mile Bates Ferry Trail instead). We were given hiking directions at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and have modified them: From the Bates Ferry trailhead, walk 0.4 miles. The ramen noodle soups and dumplings are delicious. Synchronous flashing displays are rare among North American fireflies, and the species of fireflies found within Congaree National Park live in a range that spans Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee with a preferred habit in mature forests and wet bottomlands. Congaree National Park. We had a late lunch here and it was excellent. These cookies do not store any personal information. Are there bears in Congaree National Park? While the park is easily accessible by car, it does not have its own airport. 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