Visitors can expect to spend about 3 hours on the water, paddling through about 4 miles of the river, and potentially encountering alligators along the way. The Weston Lake Loop Trail will follow alongside Cedar Creek for almost one mile. Where most deciduous trees in the United States grow to be somewhere between 50-80 feet tall, Congarees tree canopy has an average height of 100 feet, the tallest in the eastern U.S. and higher than many other old-growth forests. Wise Lake is one of the prettiest spots that we saw in Congaree National Park. 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. In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Congaree National Park. There are four venomous snakes that live in the park. We chose to have it delivered. Travel with a friend! Congaree National Park appears in our Best US National Parks in March, Best US National Parks in May, and Best National Parks in November articles. Cedar Creek to Route 601 Landing. View all alerts Then take the boardwalk back to the visitor center. When the trail rejoins with the boardwalk, walk out to the viewpoint of Weston Lake. Interesting Facts about Congaree National Park, Geography and Maps of Congaree National Park, Best Things to Do in Congaree National Park. Their function is not totally understood but these knees are thought to give the trees extra support. Let us know. Its completely flat and very well marked with trail signs along its entire distance. Cheers, Julie. Outside of going to see the fireflies, I wouldnt make a special trip to visit but I would stop for another visit if I was in the area. The spring and fall see temperatures in the 70s. The park features large expanses of pristine floodplain forest, unbroken by roads or railroads, where one can walk in solitude and observe wildlife. 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. These forests are found along the floodplains of rivers in the southeast United States. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. A Large Snake In South Carolina Does A Bad Job Of Hiding In A Tree When alligators are seen, they are usually found at the southern end of the park along the river. 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. Congaree National Park Length: 7.6 mi Est. Reptiles - Congaree National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Of the estimated 30 million acres of bottomland forests that once covered the USA, only 40% remains. If you are a birdwatcher, this is the best trail in the park. However, the poisonous snakes typically avoid people. If you are bitten by a snake, try to get a picture of it and then head for the nearest hospital. 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. Due to the pigs fast gestation period, its extremely difficult to control feral pig populations, though the park works with the USDA to keep their numbers down. In the spring, the park expects to resume ranger-led canoe tours. Time required: 12-14 hours. It is the largest tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. Congaree is one of the smallest US national parks. Although theyre often large, the black rat snake poses no threat to humans. These cookies do not store any personal information. The best time to visit Congaree National Park is in the spring and the fall. Make sure your visit is safe and enjoyable. The bourbon list is extensive. As we spend time outdoors, in the natural world and in wilderness, its important to be conscious of the effects our actions may have on plants, animals, other people, and even entire ecosystems. There is a chance that downed trees can block the creek, forcing you to turn around or pull your kayak/canoe up onto land to carry it around the downed tree. We had three nights here, so we tried three different restaurants as well as one spot for lunch. In 1983, Congaree became an International Biosphere Reserve. Photos taken by a park volunteer show a large cottonmouth . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Learn more about prescribed burns, and how fire can be an essential tool in both preventing wildfires and helping certain ecosystems thrive. Carry plenty of water. Boardwalk through the swamp at Congaree National Park, South Carolina. We will help you avoid the crowds as well as find the best Congaree hikes, and where to stay. This hike is quick and easy, as long as it is not flooded or muddy. The Congaree River forms the southern border and out to the east there are a few short trails to hike. Congaree National Park protects the oldest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. It has to do with the color order but at the end of the day, it shouldnt matter while in the park, just take a picture and look it up later. 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. Congaree National Park is located in South Carolina. February 18, 2022 Mary Beth "Mouse" Skylis Heading out the door? Whether you are planning a short day trip or an overnight trip into the backcountry, travelling on Cedar Creek by canoe or kayak is a great way to experience Congaree National Park. With Congaree National Park, you need to change your scope of reference. Congaree National Park is a place of tremendous ecological diversity. Congarees has the USs tallest Pine Loblolly. Wise Lake is located near the trail junction for the Weston Lake Loop Trail and River Trail. See a glimpse of what Congaree National Park has to offer, including champion trees, kayaking and canoeing opportunities, and wilderness for exploration and rejuvenation. Local. The summers see temperatures in the up 90s degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity making it seem much hotter. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Trip Ideas - Congaree National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Learn more about the CBR. This green frog was hanging out on a plant above the flood waters when we spotted it from the boardwalk. About a mile into our hike, I finally found what I was looking for: There was a black rat snake wiggling his way through the mud, clearly curious about something. Plain-bellied Water Snake swimming in small pool in Congaree, South Carolina, United States, One of Congarees arboreal snakes sunning itself on a tree branch, The animal that the park really worries about is the hog. Congaree National Park is "the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland. Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities. The 75 species of trees that grow in the bottomland forests of Congaree National Park provide a life-sustaining habitat for all kinds of mammals, fish, reptiles, and birds. The National Park Service rangers have current trail . On this trail, you will cross a metal bridge over a creek. We were given hiking directions at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and have modified them: From the Bates Ferry trailhead, walk 0.4 miles. Bates Ferry Trail | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park, Congaree River | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. The General Greene Tree was recognized as a South Carolina Heritage Tree on December 7, 2018. Follow this for another tenth of a mile and you come to this low area, filled with tupelos and bald cypress trees. You can either pick up the canoe from their office in Columbia, or for an additional fee, have them deliver it right to the canoe launch. If you have any questions about things to do in Congaree National Park, or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below. Weston Lake Loop Trail (4.6 mi), Oakridge Trail (7.5 mi), and King Snake Trail (11.1 mi) where hikers may spot deer, raccoon, opossum, and even bobcat tracks. 2h 10m This trail gets washed out from flooding rivers and experiences blow-down regularly. There are frequently signs of rooting from the wild pigs around the park. We had bright sunny skies each of the three days that we were here. This is the best walk in the park. IMPORTANT: Do NOT stamp your government issued passport. Check lists for individual taxa that live here, e.g. As an avid birder, Manchester is excited about one species in particular. This off-the-beaten-path hike is worth it if you want to hike a quieter trail, see the Congaree River, and search for one of the oldest, grandest trees in the park. There is a beauty to this area, its just on a smaller scale. Congaree is champion trees. And these campsites can be reserved on Recreation.gov. Congaree is home to an incredible variety of wildlife including bobcats, deer,armadillos, turkeys, and alligators, but its best known for the large number of bird species that have been spotted in the park. Where the cypress trees grow, cypress kneesvertical outgrowths of the cypress rootscan also be found protruding from the surface of the water. 100 National Park Road But it actually isnt a swamp, its a floodplain. Congaree National Park lies within the floodplain of the Congaree River. It is the largest bald cypress in Congaree National Park with a circumference of 30 feet. Snakes of Congaree National Park - YouTube It has an onsite restaurant and it is 10 minutes closer to Congaree than the hotels in downtown Columbia. It isnt uncommon for Congaree visitors to spot a few snakes hanging from trees as they canoe down the river. We spent two hours canoeing on Cedar Creek, starting and ending at the Cedar Creek Canoe Launch. For more information about the best times to visit the national parks, check out our Best National Parks Month-by-Month Guide. Where most deciduous trees in the United States grow to be somewhere between 50-80 feet tall, Congarees tree canopy has an average height of. It may also deter fireflies from getting too close to the wrong species, some of which are cannibalistic. Champion trees are trees which are the tallest or largest in either the state or nation. Visiting Congaree National Park: The Complete Guide in 2022 It is the remains of an old ferry road that ended at the Congaree River. We visited Congaree from November 8 through November 10. When fully operational, the park may have about 19 or 20 employees. *** I have seen venomous coral snakes listed as possible in the park in other sources but they are not on NPSs official wildlife list so I dont think they are in the park. Always carry a map and a compass, and know how to use them! You can go hiking, kayaking, canoeing, or camping under a tent. Note: This post contains affiliate links. The humidity makes it feel worse and mosquitoes are at their highest levels at this time. In the spring and fall, temperatures are warm (daytime highs can get up into the 70s) and mosquitoes are low. If you see a snake, give it space and dont mess with it. I slipped the dog leashes around my wrist, and began the hunt. Along the Boardwalk Loop Trail in Congaree National Park, 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. PRO TRAVEL TIP: This park floods on a regular basis. Flooding tends to occur during the winter months. It was named a national park in 2003. At the end of this short road is a small parking area and a National Park sign indicating the trailhead. Congaree has been the location of a search for the Ivory-billed woodpecker in the past, a bird once thought extinct until it was seen in Arkansas in 2004. Your email address will not be published. Cook, Little Brown Skink from Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC, US on May 05, 2021 at 03:36 PM by Richard Joyce, Common Five-lined Skink from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 28, 2023 at 12:12 PM by In the Blink of a Shutter, Broad-headed Skink from Congaree National Park, South Carolina 29061, USA on April 25, 2023 at 03:37 PM by Karli Sinclair, Common Garter Snake from Hopkins, SC 29061, USA on April 02, 2023 at 02:25 PM by Maggie Martin, Red-bellied Snake from Congaree National Park, Richland County, US-SC, US on August 11, 2021 at 01:57 PM by Richard Joyce, Dekay's Brownsnake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 15, 2023 at 02:05 PM by Ian Gourdin, Brown Watersnake from Gadsden, SC 29052, USA on April 21, 2023 at 02:06 PM by logankparr, Common Watersnake from Richland County, SC, USA on May 20, 2022 at 11:52 AM by Will Kostick, Banded Watersnake from Richland County, SC, USA on April 15, 2023 at 07:57 AM by johngrego, Plain-bellied Watersnake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 23, 2023 at 11:28 AM by Hannah, ring-necked snake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 02, 2022 at 04:09 PM by dbryant21, Eastern Worm Snake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on February 26, 2022 at 04:49 PM by Richard Joyce, Eastern Hognose Snake from Richland County, SC, USA on September 24, 2021 at 02:35 PM by johngrego, North American Racer from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 22, 2023 at 05:08 PM by Nicole Lowder, Scarletsnake from Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC, US on May 27, 2022 at 10:11 PM by Richard Joyce, Rough Greensnake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 15, 2023 at 03:39 PM by Juliana Smith, Eastern Kingsnake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on May 01, 2021 at 05:09 PM by nathanc553, Eastern Ratsnake from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 22, 2023 at 10:15 AM by infinitesupernova, Northern Cottonmouth from Congaree National Park, Gadsden, SC, US on April 28, 2023 at 05:26 PM by lcarnley, Other Check Lists for Congaree National Park, Bird Check List for Congaree National Park, Create a new check list for Congaree National Park . There are another 3 species that are likely present within the park as they are known to occur in the region but havent been confirmed within the park. The Kingsnake Trail explores a remote part of Congaree National Park. The species is abundant in 27,000-acre Congaree National Park, about 15 miles southeast of Columbia. Learn how to become a Congaree Volunteer! 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061-8320. Forested wetlands, oxbow lakes, sloughs, and slow-moving creeks cover and cover the landscape and provide essential habitat for fish, amphibians, and other aquatic life, as well as bald cypress and tupelo trees.

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