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. 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! With almost 80% of the park lying within the floodplain, these floods make the backcountry trails and even parts of the boardwalk inaccessible to visitors. Then take the boardwalk back to the visitor center. Learn more here. Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Located just outside of Columbia, SC, Congaree National Park provides visitors with an opportunity to enjoy the beauty and wonder of the natural world in a largely untouched setting. 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. As you drive south on Highway 601, the turn off for the trailhead is located just past the bridge that crosses Bates Old River. "Birds of Congaree National Park". First introduced into South Carolina in the. In fact, it was our favorite experience here. Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available. CSV should not contain a header row. My herpetologist boyfriend had guided us through dozens of swamps in wet conditions before, explaining that pit vipers are more likely to be active in the rain because it allows them to more effectively sense heat variations in their environment, and non-venomous snakes tend to join them because prey is more active in the rain. Here are all the locations where you can find the Congaree National Park Passport Stamp. Cedar Creek Bridge | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park, Cedar Creek | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. The Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve is on the south side of the Congaree River and has a bluff that is a great place to see birds flying over the park. Congaree is champion trees. Gus gave us a great overview of Cedar Creek and told us what to keep an eye out for as we paddled on the creek. Both snakes have red, black, and yellow color bands on their body and telling them apart is a little confusing. Nature & Parks, National Parks. This is where the majority of the hiking trails start, including the wonderful Boardwalk Loop Trail. On a wide glance, you will see an old-growth forest with some of the largest and tallest trees of their species. Also be wary of poison ivy, spiders, wasps and snakes, which like to hang out near downed trees. Pick a quiet area along the boardwalk and stop moving and just look around you. Congaree Mosquito Meter in November | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. more information on current conditions Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details. Looking for a cheap National Park souvenir? The humidity makes it feel worse and mosquitoes are at their highest levels at this time. Those who are eager to hit the water can head to the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail, which is well-marked with navigational aids. 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. For more information about the best times to visit the national parks, check out our Best National Parks Month-by-Month Guide. Wise Lake is located near the trail junction for the Weston Lake Loop Trail and River Trail. At the trail junction, follow signs for Weston Lake and you will now be on trail #3 (there will be small, white signs on the trees with the number 3 on them). Comparatively, the Grand Canyon has about 500 staff members during the peak season. 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. If youd like a PDF copy of this Congaree Mapclick here. Of those 23 present and possible species, only three*** are venomous. Paste in a bunch of names, 1 per line, and hit the button! The Boardwalk | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. Of the roughly 125 species of fireflies in the U.S., only a small number of them exhibit this kind of synchronicity. 29061, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. When fully operational, the park may have about 19 or 20 employees. If you see a snake, give it space and dont mess with it. There is a . I can only find reports of one venomous snakebite in the park and that was to a poacher who was handing a copperhead. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. At the visitor center, pick up a hiking trail guide and this lists each trail with its corresponding number. Congaree is one of the least visited National Parks so the park isnt all that busy even during the busy season. Its the most upscale restaurant listed here and a nice option if you are looking for a fine dining experience. We had bright sunny skies each of the three days that we were here. 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. The closest major airport is located in Columbia, South Carolina, which is about a 30 minute drive from Congaree National Park. Cheers, Julie. Congaree National Park is a 27,000-acre park in Hopkins, South Carolina. It was a rainy winter morning when my dogs jumped out of the car, ready to put their sniffers to good use. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. As for the dogs and I, we preferred looking into the swamp from above, where we were more likely to be able to see snakes from a safe distance. Temperatures can be chilly but snow is unusual. Please review the Congaree Pet Policy before bringing your dog to Congaree. 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. Usually, the fall season is the drier season to visit the park. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. During the summer months, Congaree is hot and humid. Time required: 12-14 hours. The species is abundant in 27,000-acre Congaree National Park, about 15 miles southeast of Columbia. If you have one day in Congaree National Park. Check out our park calendar to see what's coming up! There are two campgrounds, the Longleaf Campground and Bluff Campground, and you must make your reservation in advance. Seeing Wise Lake is also very nice. GETTING HERE: On Google Maps, the trailhead is labeled Fork Swamp Trailhead. It is located on an access road on Highway 601. Since this park is so small, you only need a half to a full day to see the highlights. Congaree National Park Check List View Plain Taxonomic Photo Prev 1 2 3 . It might be a deer silently moving in the woods. This is a long hike. A few of the snakes we saw today on Cedar Creek in Congaree National Park We were visiting, Congaree was originally designated as a swamp monument in 1976. Other common sightings include the white-tailed deer, skinks, and brown water snakes. These feral hogs are a highly destructive, invasive mammal found in the park. The Kingsnake Trail passes through sloughs of tupelo and cypress trees and runs along part of Cedar Creek. This national park protects the oldest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. If you are bitten by a snake, try to get a picture of it and then head for the nearest hospital. At 2 pm, our canoe was delivered by Gus from River Runner Outdoor Center. Charlotte Douglass International Airport, which is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a larger airport with more flight options. When we did this hike, it was dry and the trail was very easy to hike (it is completely flat). Park visitors can camp at the parks campgrounds year round. It takes 2 hours to drive to Congaree National Park from here. Maybe we would have liked this one more? Hotels near Congaree National Park: (8.99 mi) PRIVATE Half a House between Columbia and Sumter, SC. . Yes, alligators can be found in Congaree National Park, but they are not common. In 2022, 200,000 people visited this park, making it the 12th least visited national park in the United States. Cedar Creek flows west to east through the center of the park. Plan your hike into the Congaree wilderness. Cheers, Julie. Is this your business? 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. On this trail, you will cross a metal bridge over a creek. Stamps located here: Congaree National Park is a unique and special place. Cypress trees feature a network of horizontal roots (pneumatophores) which are. Although the park is still relatively unfamiliar to many hikers, it is still growing. Cedar Creek flows west to east through the center of the park. 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 . Congarees waterways expand and contract with the seasons, often covering the ground with several inches or even feet of water. It is just a 30-minute drive to get between Columbia and Congaree National Park. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Learn more about available resources. From this junction, you will walk about 100 meters to get to Wise Lake. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Best Time to Visit Congaree National Park. , the tallest in the eastern U.S. and higher than many other old-growth forests. The park is home one of the largest concentrations of champion trees. For more restrictions and information, visit the NPS website. You can canoe part or all of this trail. Congaree is a popular area for birding in South Carolina. And for the most part, the views dont change all that much over its 11 miles. Located in the Five Points neighborhood, this restaurant serves southern fare with a twist. Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park. and all of Eastern Europe. Cypresses only grow in the southeastern corner of the United States, with the exception of a few pockets of trees in places like Louisiana and Mississippi, and many of the nations forests were heavily logged in the early 1900s to aid in railroad construction, Congarees cypresses, including the threatened bald cypress, are the largest remaining old growth stand in the nation. It is the remains of an old ferry road that ended at the Congaree River. Bald Cypress knees | Best Things to do in Congaree National Park. This small park is quick and easy to visit. There are a lot of great restaurants in Columbia. Whether youre herping, birding, or simply hiking, the parks 26,276 acres of land and water make it a terrific destination for outdoor activities of all kinds. It is the best way to experience this park. Learn more about the CBR. 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. Bald cypress trees produce knees like the ones in the photo above. The trailhead is also marked on our interactive map. Paddlers can travel as far as 15 miles along this route for a single or multi-day adventure. But Im just one National Park Obsessed person and I think the worst National Park is Gateway Arch. But I will admit that Congaree isnt my favorite but I did have fun exploring the park and I do make a point to stop and visit it when Im in the area. The General Greene Tree was recognized as a South Carolina Heritage Tree on December 7, 2018. Boardwalk through the swamp at Congaree National Park, South Carolina. If you have two days in Congaree National Park, spend one day canoeing or kayaking on Cedar Creek and one day hiking the trails (we recommend the Boardwalk Loop Trail, Weston Lake Trail, and the Bates Ferry/General Greene Tree hike).

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