Congaree
Old-growth floodplain forest with some of the tallest trees in the eastern US
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- Free entry
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- 26,692 acres
Congaree Weather Now
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Congaree protects the largest intact stretch of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the southeastern United States. The Congaree and Wateree rivers flood it several times a year, bringing in nutrients that feed some of the tallest trees in eastern North America, including record loblolly pines and bald cypress. It was saved from logging by a grassroots campaign and became a national monument in 1976. Congress made it a national park in 2003.
Most visitors walk the Boardwalk Loop, but kayaking Cedar Creek is the best way to feel how wet and wild the floodplain is. Cypress knees poke up from the dark water, and the canopy can top 130 feet. Despite the name, this is not a swamp most of the year but a floodplain forest. The park is also known for synchronous fireflies, which put on a rare light show for a short window each May.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- March to May and October to November bring mild weather and fewer mosquitoes, with fireflies in mid-May.
- How long to stay
- Half a day covers the Boardwalk; a full day lets you add a longer hike or a paddle.
- Getting there
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) is about 35 minutes away; Charlotte (CLT) is about 2 hours and Charleston (CHS) about 1 hour 45 minutes by car.
- Wildlife
- Look for white-tailed deer, river otters, barred owls, pileated woodpeckers, turtles, wading birds and the occasional feral hog or bobcat.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
- Hotels in Columbia (opens in a new tab)South Carolina
- Hotels in West Columbia (opens in a new tab)South Carolina
- Hotels in Hopkins (opens in a new tab)South Carolina
- No lodging inside the park. The towns above are the closest bases.
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Congaree
- Insect repellentMosquitoes are heavy from mid-spring until mid-fall.
- Waterproof hiking bootsTrails off the Boardwalk are often muddy or partly flooded.
- Lightweight rain jacketShowers and summer storms come up fast in the floodplain.
- Headlamp with red lightUseful for firefly viewing and for walking out after sunset.
- Dry bagKeeps phones and keys dry when paddling Cedar Creek.
A first day, start to finish
- Harry Hampton Visitor Center
- Boardwalk Loop
- Weston Lake Loop
- Picnic lunch near the visitor center
- Sunset paddle or walk on Cedar Creek
Don't miss
- Boardwalk LoopA 2.6-mile loop, much of it raised above the floodplain, through giant bald cypress, water tupelo and loblolly pines; fully reopened in 2026 after a section-by-section rebuild.
- Weston Lake LoopA 4.5-mile loop that leaves the Boardwalk and follows Cedar Creek past an oxbow lake where you may spot turtles, otters and wading birds.
- Cedar Creek Canoe TrailA slow, shaded paddle on a blackwater creek under cypress and tupelo trees; bring your own boat or go with a local outfitter.
- Oakridge TrailA 7.1-mile round trip deeper into the old-growth forest, with fewer people and some faint sections to follow carefully.
- Synchronous firefliesFor about a week each May, fireflies near the Boardwalk flash in unison after dark; 2026 viewing ran May 13 to 20 with lottery passes.
Know before you go
Do
- Check river and Cedar Creek water levels before you go, since floods can close trails with little warning.
- Bring strong insect repellent from mid-spring through mid-fall.
- Stop at the visitor center for a trail map and current conditions.
Don't
- Wander off park land, because hunting is allowed on neighboring private property.
- Paddle Cedar Creek when water is high or fast after heavy rain.
- Expect water at the campgrounds; bring all you need.
The park and its trails are open 24 hours a day, year-round, and entry is free. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center is open 9 am to 5 pm daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The park floods about ten times a year, which can close most trails except the elevated Boardwalk; the Boardwalk replacement project wrapped up in May 2026 and the full 2.6-mile loop is open.
Walk the Boardwalk counterclockwise early in the morning, when the forest is quiet and you are more likely to see deer, owls and woodpeckers.Trekker's tip