Congaree National Park Park

Address: 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061, USA

Website: https://www.nps.gov/cong/

Congaree National Park is a protected area in central South Carolina preserving a large tract of bottomland hardwood floodplain forest and swamp. It is internationally known for its old-growth forest and outstanding biodiversity.

Visitors commonly use the park’s trails and the raised 2.4-mile (3.9 km) boardwalk loop to view towering cypress and hardwoods, canoe or kayak the Congaree River, and hike backcountry trails. Wildlife viewing, birding, and paddle trips are major attractions, with seasonally flooded conditions influencing access.

The area was first protected as a national monument and later designated a national park to conserve its unique floodplain ecosystem; the park is managed by the National Park Service. Over time the site has been the focus of conservation and restoration efforts to maintain its old-growth stands.

The park lies roughly southeast of Columbia, South Carolina, along the Congaree River floodplain, with trailheads and the visitor centre accessible from roads off Interstate 26 near the town of Hopkins and the city of Columbia.

• Ecological significance: The park protects one of the largest intact tracts of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States and contains numerous champion trees.
• Best easy access: The boardwalk loop is the park’s most visited trail and is a good option for year-round access to the forest interior.

What to See#

• Boardwalk Loop: A raised wooden boardwalk through old-growth floodplain forest that is about 2.4 miles (3.9 km) long and provides an accessible loop trail past towering trees and swamp habitats.
• Congaree River corridor: A river corridor used for canoeing and paddling that gives access to the park’s backcountry and seasonally flooded forests along the Congaree River.

• Check park alerts for flooding and trail conditions before you go; Congaree is a floodplain park and boardwalks or backcountry routes can be closed after high water.
• Do the Boardwalk Loop early in the morning for the best wildlife viewing (owls, herons and deer) and to avoid midday heat and peak insect activity in summer.
• If you plan to paddle Cedar Creek or camp in the backcountry, register at the visitor center for current water-level advice and any required backcountry/overnight permits - the center also issues up-to-date safety information.