Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda) 162 ft tall, Firefly Festival (only found during the Firefly Festival). This was our second favorite hike in Congaree, with #1 being the Boardwalk Loop Trail. Here is an interactive map where we have labeled things to do in Congaree National Park. Bourbon was our favorite restaurant. If you see a snake, give it space and dont mess with it. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center is the main hub for the park. From this junction, you will walk about 100 meters to get to Wise Lake. Curious what species of plants and animals can be found at Congaree National Park? There are a lot of great restaurants in Columbia. There are two campgrounds, the Longleaf Campground and Bluff Campground, and you must make your reservation in advance. There is a 15 mile trail called the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail, that starts at Bannisters Bridge and ends at the Congaree River. Congaree National Park lies within the floodplain of the Congaree River. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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. Its more of a casual indifference. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Distance: 0.6 miles | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Time: 30 minutes. Boardwalk through the swamp at Congaree National Park, South Carolina. The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park. Congarees waterways expand and contract with the seasons, often covering the ground with several inches or even feet of water. 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 best time to see the fireflies is between 9 pm and 10 pm. Read all of our articles about the United States in our United States Travel Guide. 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. 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. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. and all of Eastern Europe. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. 100 National Park Road At the visitor center, pick up a hiking trail guide and this lists each trail with its corresponding number. We saw the one pictured below making its way across Weston Lake from East to West. The bourbon list is extensive. Photos taken by a park volunteer show a large cottonmouth . Charlotte Douglass International Airport, which is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a larger airport with more flight options. The General Greene Tree was recognized as a South Carolina Heritage Tree on December 7, 2018. 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. In both the spring and fall, Congaree gets about 3 inches of rain per month. If you have one day in Congaree National Park. While hiking in the backcountry of Congaree National Park, your safety is in your hands! Congaree National Park is a 27,000-acre park in Hopkins, South Carolina. They are non-venomous, but, like all creatures, should be given space. Hopkins, But it actually isnt a swamp, its a floodplain. The dynamic and diverse natural landscape that makes up Congaree National Park is defined by the presence of both flood and flame. For more information about the best times to visit the national parks, check out our Best National Parks Month-by-Month Guide. When the trail rejoins with the boardwalk, walk out to the viewpoint of Weston Lake. #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. Permits for these activities are currently free, but backcountry camping requires at least a 72 hour notice to the park. Paddlers can travel as far as 15 miles along this route for a single or multi-day adventure. Trails NOT affected include Boardwalk, Bluff, Firefly, & Longleaf Trails. Yes, Congaree is worth visiting. It was shortly after a rain storm and we saw it fly across the lake and land in a tree across the lake. Congaree Mosquito Meter in November | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. We prefer this one on all of our travels. These trees have been known to grow as tall as 120 feet, and their trunks can be as large as six feet in diameter. Your email address will not be published. On a wide glance, you will see an old-growth forest with some of the largest and tallest trees of their species. The most popular hiking trail in Congaree is the 2-mile Boardwalk Loop Trail, which can be taken directly from the visitors center. 29061, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Learn more about available resources. 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. For comparison, in the same year, 4.42 million people flocked to Yosemite National Park. Coral snakes have a VERY similar coloration to the kingsnake which is found in the park. These trees make up one of the highest forest canopies in the world. From the visitors center, Congaree National Park seems unassuming a place that families might use as a picnic area during the spring and fall. Menkoi Ramen House. life jacket/PFD, bug spray, personal locator beacon). At 26,000 acres, it is the 7th smallest park. Although theyre often large, the black rat snake poses no threat to humans. The trail narrows beyond this bridge. Search our species database below. According to the EPA, a bottomland hardwood forest is a river swamp. When alligators are seen, they are usually found at the southern end of the park along the river. Visit NPSpecies for more comprehensive information and advanced search capability. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Due to logging and the clearing of the landscape for farming and the building and expansion of cities and towns over the past 400 years, only a few scattered remnants of these once common ecosystems persist. There are no restaurants in Congaree National Park. Wise Lake is located near the trail junction for the Weston Lake Loop Trail and River Trail. We rented a canoe from River Runner Outdoor Center. 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. by explorers as a food source, today somewhere between 2 and 6 million feral pigs exist across the nation, predominantly making their homes in the south. Comparatively, the Grand Canyon has about 500 staff members during the peak season. There are several other trees which are South Carolina campion trees. Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The Weston Lake Loop Trail will follow alongside Cedar Creek for almost one mile. The park now known as Congaree National Parks is on Santee, Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), Wateree, and Congaree land. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Heading out the door? Required fields are marked *. I hope you have a better experience, wherever you plan to go next. Congaree is champion trees. 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. Watch your step! 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. Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Always plan ahead and prepare. more information on current conditions Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details. The park is a great place to fish; however, please read and understand the rules and regulations carefully. Adequate preparation, constant attention, and good judgement will help make your hike a safe and enjoyable experience. This is the best walk in the park. After a heavy flooding, the Boardwalk Loop Trail, and other trails on this list, can temporarily close. February 25, 2019, 6:38 AM. If you continue past the General Greene Tree, in about 0.1 miles you reach another unmaintained road to the right. Bald cypress trees produce knees like the ones in the photo above. This has become such a popular event that in 2021 the National Park Service began a lottery system. The area has amazing biodiversity. We are headed to Charleston next month and plan to stop at Congaree National Park. There is a beauty to this area, its just on a smaller scale. The park has mild winters with warm, wet summers. While these snakes are venomous and if bitten you could be killed, bites are extremely rare and are almost always provoked. For comparison, in the same year, 4.42 million people flocked to Yosemite National Park. The park features large expanses of pristine floodplain forest, unbroken by roads or railroads, where one can walk in solitude and observe wildlife. 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 . 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! Congaree National Park is open year-round. This turtle was swimming with a friend in Weston Lake below the observation point: National Historic Sites and Historical Parks, Backyard Birding During Social Distancing in April, More Waterfowl and other Birds at John Heinz NWR, March Birding at Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Drive, Bald Eagle, Northern Shoveler & More at John Heinz NWR, February Birding at the John J Audubon Center, January Birding at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Bald Eagles at the Dafter Dump in Michigan December 2019, Biscayne & Everglades National Park in November 2019, The PA Grand Canyon for Columbus Day Weekend 2019, Canon Birds in Focus at the Audubon Center in PA, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon (South Rim) in 24 Hours in September 2019, Pacific Coast Highway from Monterey to San Francisco in June 2019, Pinnacles National Park (West Entrance) in June 2019, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park in June 2019, From the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods in June 2019, Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie and Charleston in April 2019, Birding and Fall Foliage at Hawk Mountain in September, 72 Hours in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Early August, Our Afternoon Kayaking at Tyler State Park in PA, Birding, Manatees and the Beach at Merritt Island NWR and Canaveral National Seashore in June, 24 Hours Around Ithaca Waterfalls in June, Our Spring Day at French Creek State Park and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site.
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