Do not miss these epic things to do at Congaree National Park on your next visit!
Things to do in Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is one of the least visited National Parks and was created to protect the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States.
Those who choose to visit Congaree National Park will be rewarded with some of the tallest trees in the Southeast United States. Some tree species include water tupelos, loblolly pines, oaks, maples, sweetgum, ash, elm, hickory, holly, and bald cypress trees with their "knees" or protuberances that grow from horizontal roots.
The park sits in the Congaree River floodplain, which brings vital nutrients, creating one of the most diverse ecosystems in America.
Remember that it gets hot and humid in the south! You can have relatively warm temperatures beginning early in April and running through September.
Congaree National Park Entrance Fee
Congaree National Park does not charge an entrance fee! If you plan on visiting numerous sites on a National Park trip, you may consider buying an America the Beautiful/National Park Pass before your trip.
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Things To Do in Congaree
Explore the Congaree National Park Visitor Center
The Congaree Visitor Center is a great place to start your visit to Congaree NP. The visitor center displays explain why the park floods, the importance of the bottomland hardwood forests, and how the park was created.
You can also pick up a Junior Ranger program, check for ranger programs, and watch the park video.
See Congaree National Park Flooded
Seeing Congaree NP flooded is a unique way to see the park. The boardwalks are partially covered in water making for a different way to see the park.
Go for a Hike
Congaree has 11 trails covering over 25 miles, ranging from easy to difficult. I recommend that everyone hike at least a portion of the boardwalk trail behind the visitor center to get a taste of the park. Here are a few trails in the park to choose from:
- 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop Trail
This easy-to-walk, well-maintained boardwalk trail provides access to most users, including those in wheelchairs and strollers. The trail begins with elevated sections, giving visitors access to the forest even when portions of the park are flooded. At the same time, the lower portions offer a close-up personal view in the dry periods.
- 1.8 mile Bluff Trail
An easy path that connects the visitor center and the Bluff Campground. This is a great trail to see the results of a prescribed burn and to look out for deer and fox squirrels!
- 2.2 mile Bates Ferry Trail
This is an easy trail that follows a historic colonial road that leads to the Congaree River.
- 4.5 mile Weston Lake loop Trail
This popular trail goes through old-growth cypress-tupelo forests along the edges of Cedar Creek and Weston Lake.
- 12-mile round-trip Kingsnake Trail
It is perfect for those wanting to stretch their legs and explore the park. This moderate out-and-back trail passes through cypress-tupelo sloughs and meanders near the south bank of Cedar Creek.
Ranger-guided hike
Throughout the year, rangers and volunteers lead guided tours of the park. This is a fantastic way to learn more about the park and be able to ask questions as you explore.
Check the schedule of events to see what is scheduled during your visit.
Ranger-guided Canoe Tour
Congaree offers Ranger-guided canoe tours on a limited basis, which will be reservable through Recreation.gov. If there are currently no tours available, visit the National Park website, which has a list of local outfitters that can provide tours.
Participant Requirements include:
- Participants must be able to swim without the aid of a flotation device.
- Children 6 and older are permitted when accompanied by an adult 18 or older.
- Each canoe must have one participant with prior experience paddling canoes or kayaks.
Congaree National Park Canoe Trail
The marked Cedar Creek Canoe Trail winds approximately 15 miles through the Congaree Wilderness from Bannister's Bridge to the Congaree River. Make sure to click here to explore the different available trip options ranging from 6.2 miles to 50 miles!
Canoeing/kayaking is a great way to explore the park! It's a great way to see more of the park's wildlife, including birds, deer, turtles, river otters, or possibly an occasional alligator. Just stick to the middle of the river to prevent bugs or snakes from dropping down from trees into your canoe or kayak. This is not how you want to meet some local wildlife!
The park does not rent canoes or kayaks. You must bring your own or rent one in Columbia, South Carolina.
Congaree Synchronous Fireflies Viewing Event
For approximately two short weeks each Spring, from around mid-May to mid-June, synchronous fireflies at Congaree display flashing lights at night to search for their mate.
This unique event is extremely popular with park visitors, and the park has had to implement a lottery to get an entrance ticket to prevent habitat destruction. During this time, park visitors can expect the park to close for day use around 4:30 PM to protect habitat areas and to prepare for the 145 guests who scored lottery tickets for the night's event.
Click here to apply for the lottery (When available)
Check out the Fireflies page for more info.
Park Ranger John Pro Tip
Bug spray/insect repellent can be your lifeline at Congaree, but make sure to only apply insect repellent before entering the park. This will help protect the firefly habitat. You may not see them, but synchronous fireflies are not migratory and are very localized.
Become a Junior Ranger
The junior ranger program at Congaree can easily be done during one visit to the park. A portion of the program can be completed in the visitor center, with the remainder focused on things you see while walking the boardwalk trail.
Take your dog for a walk.
Congaree is a pet-friendly park, and you can easily take your dog for a walk on a leash on the boardwalk trail. We saw a lot of park visitors with their dogs during our visit.
Remember the B.A.R.K. Principles!
B - Bag your pet's waste and dispose of it properly.
A- Always leash your pet, leashes may be no longer that six feet in length, under your control and not left unattended.
R- Respect Wildlife - keep you and your pet plenty of distance from park wildlife.
K- Know where you can go; pets are welcomed throughout Greenbelt Park, except inside the Ranger Station.
Birdwatching and wildlife viewing
I am a bit of a bird nerd, for those who don't know me! Usually, one of the first things I do is open the Merlin app on my phone to see what bird species can be heard in the area.
Our first stop was the Harry Hampton Visitor Center in early October, and we immediately started picking up several species. We heard a Hooded Warbler, Red-headed Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, Red-shouldered Hawk, Carolina Chickadee, and Tufted Titmouse.
We sat in the picnic area and began seeing most of the species the Merlin app picked up.
There have been almost 200 species identified in the park, including Wood Ducks, Wild Turkeys, and Barred Owls, so make sure to bring your binoculars.
Congaree does not offer the big game many visitors look for in National Parks in the West. However, there are plenty of opportunities for spotting wildlife. Take a closer look, and you may spot a deer, bobcats, armadillos, coyotes, red foxes, otters, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and feral pigs. You can also see various Amphibians, fish, and reptiles.
Things To Do in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is a lovely city that is only a thirty minute drive from Congaree! We decided to stay in a hotel in Columbia on our last trip to visit Congaree and explore the park and the city. We found several fantastic restaurants, breweries, museums and more. Please read my article on the Columbia, SC, and Congaree National Park trip.
Columbia's Civil War & Street Art: A Self-Guided Audio Tour - This 2.5-hour tour uses your smartphone to self-guide you to explore pre-Civil War homes, learn about the city's art scene, and much more!
Stops include the South Carolina State House, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, First Presbyterian Church, Woodrow Wilson Family Home, Robert Mills House & Gardens, Mast General Store Columbia, Columbia Museum of Art, and much more!
Capital City Heritage Walk Guided Tour - A 2.5-hour guided tour overviews Columbia's rich history, architectural beauty, and cultural landmarks. The tour has a dozen stops, including the South Carolina State House, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Town Theatre, University of South Carolina, Tunnel Vision Mural, Nickelodeon Theatre, Mast General Store, the Arcade Building, and more!
Don't forget to pack these items
Don't forget to pack
Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.
We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.
Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.
Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.
Sunglasses - I always bring sunglasses with me. I personally love Goodr sunglasses because they are lightweight, durable, and have awesome National Park Designs from several National Parks like Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, Acadia, Denali, and more!
Click here to get your National Parks Edition of Goodr Sunglasses!
Binoculars/Spotting Scope - These will help spot birds and wildlife and make them easier to identify. We tend to see waterfowl in the distance, and they are always just a bit too far to identify them without binoculars.
Lodging at/near Congaree National Park
There are no National Park Lodges, cabins, or glamping tents available inside Congaree National Park. Camping is also extremely limited, but there are plenty of great lodging options in Columbia, South Carolina (approximately 15-30 minutes away).
Hotel Trundle—I stayed at Hotel Trundle and loved it! It is a fun, quirky hotel with nice rooms and amenities. It is located in downtown Columbia, a beautiful college town with numerous incredible restaurants, breweries, museums, and more! This made a great combination with Congaree National Park!
Click here to book your stay at Hotel Trundle.
Click on the map below for vacation rentals and lodges near the park.
Camping in Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park camping includes two small primitive front-country campgrounds and backcountry camping with a permit.
What makes camping at Congaree special is that the park protects the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. The campgrounds provide easy access to the park, including almost a dozen hiking trails and the Harry Hampton Visitor Center.
The park does not have any RV parking sites, but Sesquicentennial State Park has RV sites with hookups for their campers.
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
Parks near Congaree National Park
Ninety-Six National Historic Site
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
Fort Pulaski National Monument
Check out all of the national parks in South Carolina, neighboring North Carolina national parks, Georgia national parks, and national parks in Tennessee.
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