Congaree Swamp National Park

Congaree Swamp National Park
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Congaree Swamp National Park is the newest national park in the National Park Service. Located along the meandering Congaree River in central South Carolina (Hopkins, SC near Columbia, SC), the park contains some of the largest and oldest trees in the eastern United States.

By national park standards, the park is not overly big, but still a nice 22,000 acres, regarded as the largest contiguous tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the United States. Congaree Swamp National Park is home to enormous Cypress trees and towering pines that really are a sight to behold. Congaree National Park is also a dedicated biosphere reserve and national wilderness area.

Our Take

Congaree Swamp is AWESOME! The trees are seriously huge, and walking the boardwalks is a bundle of fun and very relaxing. You really get a good sense of the park on the trails, and the boardwalks are all wheelchair-accessible. If you have one day to spend in Congaree, first stop into the visitors center and pickup a park map. Make sure to ask the rangers if any of the trails NOT on the boardwalk are flooded out... as the park is a floodplain (and not a true swamp).

Hours of Operation

Operating hours 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily except for Christmas Day.

Park Fees

FREE!!!!

Scenery:

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Location:

Located in Hopkins, South Carolina (near Columbia, South Carolina)

Directions to Congaree Swamp National Park

Congaree Swamp National Park
200 Caroline Sims Road
Hopkins, SC 29061
(803) 776-4396
(803) 783-4241 FAX

Take exit #5 off I-77. Follow signs to the park entrance, (approximately 15 miles)

Columbia Airport - 30 miles away.