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Co l Park
N S o a u t t io h na
C a r o l i n a
Congaree National Park is an old growth paradise that
protects the largest area of bottomland hardwood for-
est in the country. Exploring Congaree National Park in
the cooler months means fewer insects and beautiful
weather. The park is nearly 27,000 acres in area, and
is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including bobcats,
feral hogs, turtles, turkeys, otters, deer, coyotes, and
snakes.
Camp out in the park for a night or two! Backcountry
camping is free, but venture into the primitive sites at
your own risk. There are two popular campgrounds
within the park, Longleaf and Bluff. The Longleaf Camp-
ground is $10 per night, and $20 for group sites. The
Bluff Campground is $5 per night for a regular tent site.
If you sign up for an annual pass, there are additional
discounts that will be given along with that. Longleaf
provides restroom facilities, but Bluff does not. There
isn’t any running water at either campground, but water
is available 24 hours a day at the nearby Harry Hamp-
ton Visitor Center.
Congaree National Park is known as the “Home of
Champions,” because of the beautiful old growth
forests and the “champion trees” that call it home. Con-
garee has one of the largest concentrations of these
“champion trees” in the world! Fifteen species here are
the tallest, including loblolly pine, cherrybark oak,
swamp chestnut oak, sweetgum, overcup oak, Ameri-
can elm, and the common persimmon. The loblolly
pine stands at 167 feet tall, and the height of the oaks
range from 130 feet to nearly 160 feet.
There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy here, es-
pecially while you’re camping, such as canoeing and
kayaking, hiking, nature watching, and fishing. Hiking
is self-guided or ranger-led, depending on what you
feel more comfortable with. Brochures for self-guided
trips are available at the visitor center. If you’re up for a
true hiking adventure, try taking on the Kingsnake Trail,
which is over eleven miles in length, and winds through
some of the most beautiful – and pristine – parts of the
park. The Kingsnake trail is also the most likely place
to spot bobcats! With gorgeous scenery and amazing
fall weather, this is one of the best parks to travel to in
the cooler months.