Hike Date: Feb. 5, 2011
Route: General Exploration
Conditions: Overcast
Difficulty: Easy
Impression: This was a lot of fun. Jill had business in Columbia, SC so the three of us went down there for a couple days. Thankfully the dog and I found a couple of hours to sneak away and check out this National Park...
Route: General Exploration
Conditions: Overcast
Difficulty: Easy
Impression: This was a lot of fun. Jill had business in Columbia, SC so the three of us went down there for a couple days. Thankfully the dog and I found a couple of hours to sneak away and check out this National Park...
What a great idea it was to check this place out! Congaree is a mosquito fest and it's recommended to go primarily in the winter time when they aren't as aggressive. We were thankfully there during this time. The trails were either a boardwalk around the park or an old forest road that cut right through the middle. Unfortunately at the time Rooney and I went, dogs were not allowed on the 2.4 mile boardwalk trail, but that has recently changed. I just read on their website that dogs will be allowed on a trial basis during the summer of 2013. If all goes well, they may make it a permanent thing.
There was nothing missing though from our hike because we couldn't walk on the boardwalk. The old forest road cuts right down the taking us deeper into the forest. And what a sight it was. Trees growing out of the marshy water was something I've never seen before. Since it was winter time, there wasn't much vegetation growth and that barren feel made it really cool. We walked around for a couple of hours and I snapped a few pictures. There isn't too much to this park, so it's really only a day hiking adventure, but it's well worth the visit. I have a friend that spent a couple of days canoeing around the National Park and adjacent area, so that's another way to explore Congaree. Be careful with ticks and mosquitoes if you do go!
There was nothing missing though from our hike because we couldn't walk on the boardwalk. The old forest road cuts right down the taking us deeper into the forest. And what a sight it was. Trees growing out of the marshy water was something I've never seen before. Since it was winter time, there wasn't much vegetation growth and that barren feel made it really cool. We walked around for a couple of hours and I snapped a few pictures. There isn't too much to this park, so it's really only a day hiking adventure, but it's well worth the visit. I have a friend that spent a couple of days canoeing around the National Park and adjacent area, so that's another way to explore Congaree. Be careful with ticks and mosquitoes if you do go!
| Directions to Trailhead: Located approxiamately 20 southeast of Columbia, SC. Take I-26 east to I-77, exiting towards Charlotte. About 5 miles from there is exit 5 and a south on Bluff Road to the park. |
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