This short film includes messaging to educate visitors about Preventive Search and Rescue (PSAR). Best National Parks Month-by-Month Guide. Also be wary of poison ivy, spiders, wasps and snakes, which like to hang out near downed trees. Peak fall colors occur at the beginning of November. The flooding, from what I read, usually occurs in the winter into early spring. 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. It has an onsite restaurant and it is 10 minutes closer to Congaree than the hotels in downtown Columbia. The best viewing spots are near the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. This past year we broke a record for our visitation. Seeing this fallen tree was one of the most memorable parts of this hike. We didnt get to see any knees since they were all under water. But its going to be our highest visiting year ever, says Manchester. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Champion trees are trees which are the tallest or largest in either the state or nation. Fish, amphibians, deer, raccoon, feral pigs, bobcats, and numerous species of snakes and birds all find refuge inside this park. Watch out for snakes and spiders - Review of Congaree National Park Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park. 100 National Park Road Do you think this fall (2022) they will have any floods? The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list. The park now known as Congaree National Parks is on Santee, Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), Wateree, and Congaree land. and is subject to periodic flooding which occurs approximately ten times each year. If you have two days in Congaree National Park, Get updates on road conditions and trail closures, as you plan your trip and just before your visit, on the. 29061, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Click on the Congaree Map above to download the official brochure map. Adding on the Weston Lake Trail and Wise Lake is great for those who want to go a little deeper into the park. If theyre selected as a participant, the remaining fee is $19. 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. It takes 2 hours to drive to Congaree National Park from here. 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. May 1974: Congaree National Park 2) American national park in central South Carolina, 18 miles southeast of the state capital, . From the visitors center, Congaree National Park seems unassuming a place that families might use as a picnic area during the spring and fall. Giant constrictor snakes - like the boa constrictor released in Congaree National Park Sunday - are plaguing southern Florida, and many of the invasive species appear to be moving. Looking for a cheap National Park souvenir? Download the app. These forests are found along the floodplains of rivers in the southeast United States. Search our species database below. This is where the majority of the hiking trails start, including the wonderful Boardwalk Loop Trail. We saw a few fishermen along Cedar Creek while we were canoeing. NATIONAL PARKS: The Complete Guide to the US National Parks LIST OF PARKS: Complete List of the US National Parks (+ FREE Printable Checklist) GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS: A Weekend in Gatlinburg & Great Smoky Mountains National Park SHENANDOAH: 10 Great Hikes in Shenandoah National Park EVERGLADES: One Perfect Day in Everglades National Park BISCAYNE: Top 10 Things to Do in Biscayne National Park NEW RIVER GORGE: 20 Amazing Things to Do in New River Gorge National Park ACADIA: 14 Best Things to Do in Acadia National Park ROCKY MOUNTAIN: How to Plan the Perfect Rocky Mountain Itinerary BRYCE CANYON:One Perfect Day in Bryce Canyon National Park BIG BEND: The Best of Big Bend: 10 Things to Do in Big Bend National Park DENALI: The Complete Guide to Denali Park Road OLYMPIC: 17 Great Hikes to Do in Olympic National Park. I have no idea. It depends. Congaree: Exploring the East's Least-Visited National Park - Backpacker This is a park where you want to slow your roll and enjoy the little things. Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region. Our website uses cookies. The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park. Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda) 162 ft tall, Firefly Festival (only found during the Firefly Festival). There are several ways to do this, depending on how much time you have and how much you like canoeing or kayaking. 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. Where to stamp your National Parks Passport Book? Nature & Parks, National Parks. The species is abundant in 27,000-acre Congaree National Park, about 15 miles southeast of Columbia. While its still not understood exactly what the purpose of the behavior is, many scientists believe that the male fireflies light up in unison to attract females. The parks cypress trees are one of the areas most peculiar-looking features. Wise Lake | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. The Bates Ferry Trail is really not all that exciting. Comparatively, the Grand Canyon has about 500 staff members during the peak season. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list. It might an otter swimming in the river. The park has about 16 full-time permanent staff, and a number of seasonal staff members that come and go. Always carry a map and a compass, and know how to use them! I only recommend this hike for those who are looking for a long hike away from the crowds. 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. If you are a birdwatcher, this is the best trail in the park. It is the largest bald cypress in Congaree National Park with a circumference of 30 feet. The lowest point in Congaree National Park is Congaree River which is 80 feet (24m) above sea level. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Current Conditions - Congaree National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Thank you to theNative Land Digitalfor making the Indigenous territories accessible to all. Poisonous cottonmouth snake spotted on the boardwalk at Congaree The highest point in Congaree National Park is Old Bluff Road which is 140 feet (43m) above sea level. And these campsites can be reserved on Recreation.gov. On the outskirts of Columbia, the Courtyard by Marriott Columbia Cayce gets wonderful reviews. Curious what species of plants and animals can be found at Congaree National Park? Winter is mild and the flooding is frequent. Outside of the park, Columbia is the best place to stay (and eat). The Congaree National Park (formally the Congaree Swamp National Monument) is an old growth flood plain forest located near Columbia, South Carolina. But once visitors set foot on Congarees 2.4-mile boardwalk, it becomes clear that this is not your average national park. Baldcypress knees. Congaree National Park is open year-round. Congaree National Park is bordered to the south by the Congaree River, which creates slow-moving creeks, oxbow lakes, and swampy areas throughout the park. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. As an avid birder, Manchester is excited about one species in particular. This hike is quick and easy, as long as it is not flooded or muddy. The alligator is the largest reptile in the park, and there are turtles and snakes as well. To the right is a metal trail marker with a #7 on it. Once the trail turns to the left, look for cypress trees standing in water off on the right side of the trail. Large snake tries and fails to blend in at SC swamp park | The State This trail can be linked with the Boardwalk Loop Trail for a longer journey. Congaree National Park protects, studies, and interprets the resources, history, stories, and wilderness character of the nations largest remaining tract of southern old-growth bottomland forest and its associated ecosystems. These are not marked, and it is very easy to get turned around if you wander onto one. more information on current conditions Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details. Learn more here. Congarees waterways expand and contract with the seasons, often covering the ground with several inches or even feet of water. And the black rat snake was a testament to our success. Distance: 12 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Easy to difficult | Time: 5 to 7 hours. Stamps located here: Congaree National Park is a unique and special place. Pass it through a filter that can remove particles as small as one micron. This is where the majority of the hiking trails start, including the wonderful Boardwalk Loop Trail. At the next trail junction, go left to continue on the Weston Lake Loop Trail and head back towards the Visitor Center. Bourbon was our favorite restaurant. Required fields are marked *. Reptiles - Congaree National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Congaree National Park is a 27,000-acre park in Hopkins, South Carolina. It gets its name since this is a good place to see the synchronous fireflies in May and June. But Im just one National Park Obsessed person and I think the worst National Park is Gateway Arch. In Congaree, you need to think on a smaller scale. This blog post had me looking forward to visiting Conagree last month. 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. Catch and release fishing is encouraged. Below are a few things you should know before hiking at Congaree: The Ten Essentials are a collection of first aid and emergency items that can help you in the event of minor injuries, sudden weather changes, or unexpected delays. Congaree National Park is famous for its mosquitoes and biting insects. 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. 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. 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. This national park protects the oldest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value. Those who are eager to hit the water can head to the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail, which is well-marked with navigational aids. Congaree National Park Visitor Information | HowStuffWorks Read more about the region's history. Large snake tries and fails to blend in at SC swamp park | The Kansas Congaree National Park South Carolina Info Alerts Maps Calendar Fees Boardwalk Loop Ranger-led program on boardwalk NPS Photo/jt-fineart.com The 2.4 mile boardwalk is an excellent introduction to the park.The flat surface is accessible and provides a leisurely way to experience the Congaree wilderness. But it actually isnt a swamp, its a floodplain. Distance: Approximately 20 miles. We were given hiking directions at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and have modified them: From the Bates Ferry trailhead, walk 0.4 miles. 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. Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. When the trail rejoins with the boardwalk, walk out to the viewpoint of Weston Lake. Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent. Check lists for individual taxa that live here, e.g. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Tupelo trees sit alongside slow moving creeks and oxbow lakes. Save. Visit in the fall for optimal leaf-peeping opportunities. Temperatures can be chilly but snow is unusual. Copperhead, canebrake rattlesnake, cottonmouth and the rare coral snake. Yes, Congaree is worth visiting. Journey into the heart of the park on Cedar Creek. The wet environment makes planning difficult, but its also what makes the park such an ecological wonder. 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 . Your email address will not be published. National Parks in Colorado: Explore the 13 Colorado National Parks (2021 Update), National Parks of South Dakota: Explore the 6 South Dakota National Parks. Is this your business? General Greene Tree | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. View all alerts 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. 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. Have a suggestion or comment on this list? 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. Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Motor Supply Company Bistro offers farm-to-table fare for lunch and dinner and the menu changes daily. Congaree Mosquito Meter in November | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. Crossing over the old, rickety bridges with views of the forest is beautiful. Hiking trails are marked with small white signs like the one on this tree. The short walk on the boardwalk at the start of the hike is the best part. Trails NOT affected include Boardwalk, Bluff, Firefly, & Longleaf Trails. Photos taken by a park volunteer show a large cottonmouth . At 2 pm, our canoe was delivered by Gus from River Runner Outdoor Center. While hiking in the backcountry of Congaree National Park, your safety is in your hands! Thank you for sharing and being so thorough with everything! (Seniors and those with America the Beautiful passes can participate for $35.). The biggest threat they pose is to the ecosystem itself. Yes, pets are welcome in Congaree National Park and are allowed on the trails. The swamp is the ideal dwelling for frogs, salamanders . Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list. There is a 15 mile trail called the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail, that starts at Bannisters Bridge and ends at the Congaree River.