Congaree National Park

South Carolina · Established November 10, 2003

A cathedral of champion trees on a river-fed floodplain

Area: 26,693 acres
Established: November 10, 2003
Recreation visits: 287,833 / yr
State: South Carolina
Highest point: Northern bluffs, about 140 ft (43 m)
Lowest point: Congaree River, about 80 ft (24 m)

Congaree Weather Forecast

Loading the National Weather Service forecast for Congaree…

Seven-day outlook at the park's reference point (33.792, -80.749). Elevation changes everything in the mountains — expect colder, windier and wetter conditions on high ground.

Map of Congaree National Park

The Park

Congaree National Park protects a rare survivor: the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Here, just southeast of Columbia, South Carolina, the Congaree and Wateree rivers periodically spill across a broad floodplain, feeding a forest whose canopy ranks among the tallest of any temperate deciduous forest on Earth. Loblolly pines, sweetgums, oaks and bald cypresses grow to heights rarely seen elsewhere.

Despite its swampy reputation, most of the park is a floodplain forest that dries out between floods rather than a permanent swamp. It was protected as a national monument on October 18, 1976, after a grassroots campaign to stop logging, designated wilderness in 1988 and made a national park on November 10, 2003. Its forests hold one of the greatest concentrations of champion trees in the world, record holders for size among their species.

Geography

The park lies on the Upper Coastal Plain, just downstream of the Fall Line where rivers draining the Piedmont slow down and drop their loads of sediment. The Congaree River forms much of its southern boundary, while Cedar Creek, a slow blackwater stream, meanders through the heart of the forest. The eastern end of the park approaches the confluence of the Congaree and Wateree rivers, where they join to form the Santee.

The land is almost flat, ranging from about 80 feet above sea level along the river to about 140 feet atop the bluffs on its northern edge, and it drops only about 20 feet over 15 miles. Within that gentle terrain, however, lies intricate relief: natural levees, sloughs, backswamps, guts and oxbow lakes left behind as the river shifted its course.

About 15,000 acres of the park are designated wilderness. Visitors explore it on the 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop from the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, on longer trails such as the Weston Lake and Kingsnake trails, and by paddling the marked canoe trail along Cedar Creek.

Landmarks

Harry Hampton Visitor CenterAreaThe park's gateway, beside the start of the Boardwalk Loop.
Weston LakeLakeAn oxbow lake and former channel of the Congaree, circled by the Weston Lake Loop Trail.
Cedar CreekRiverA tea-colored creek winding among cypress knees, followed by a marked canoe trail.
Kingsnake TrailAreaA long, quiet trail into the forest interior, often flooded after high water.
Congaree WildernessAreaThe heart of the old-growth floodplain forest, protected as federal wilderness.
Bates Ferry TrailAreaA trail in the eastern park leading through bottomland forest to the Congaree River.

Geology

Congaree sits on a long geologic boundary. To the northwest, the hard crystalline rocks of the Piedmont are the worn roots of the ancient Appalachian Mountains. To the southeast, the Coastal Plain is built of younger, softer sediments that have washed off the continent and piled up at the edge of the Atlantic for more than 100 million years. The Fall Line marks where one gives way to the other, and the park lies just below it.

Beneath the floodplain, buried faults record the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea. The Augusta Fault, formed during Paleozoic mountain building, was reactivated when the crust stretched as the Atlantic Ocean began to open. Later, during the Eocene, warm shallow seas advanced across the region and deposited the sandy Congaree Formation, full of shark teeth and shells, and the Santee Limestone.

When sea level fell and the shoreline retreated to the southeast, rivers began carving across the Coastal Plain. During the Pleistocene the Congaree cut down and built a series of terraces, now visible as the bluffs and higher ground along the park's northern edge. Pollen preserved in these sediments shows the climate was once cooler, with more open, savanna-like vegetation.

The modern floodplain is still under construction. Each flood spreads silt and clay across the forest floor, renewing the soil, while the meandering river abandons old loops to form oxbow lakes such as Weston Lake. Rimswamps along the edge of the uplands are fed by seeping groundwater, accumulating peat and muck.

Deep time

Paleozoic EraMountain building forms the Piedmont's crystalline rocks and the Augusta Fault.
About 175 million years agoAs Pangaea rifts apart and the Atlantic opens, old faults beneath the region reactivate.
Cretaceous to EoceneSeas repeatedly advance and retreat, depositing delta and nearshore sediments across the Coastal Plain.
About 50 million years agoThe Eocene Congaree Formation and Santee Limestone accumulate in a warm, shallow sea.
OligoceneA major fall in sea level moves the shoreline far to the east-southeast, exposing the land to river erosion.
PleistoceneThe Congaree River builds and abandons terraces as climate and sea level fluctuate.
Holocene to todayFloods and river migration shape the modern floodplain, with its levees, sloughs and oxbow lakes.

The rocks

Congaree FormationEocene, about 50 million years
Quartz sand deposits containing shark teeth and mollusk fossils.
Santee LimestoneMiddle Eocene
Shallow marine limestone indicating a warm, subtropical sea.
Augusta FaultPaleozoic, reactivated in the Triassic
A buried northeast-trending fault beneath the Congaree River valley.
River terracesPliocene to Pleistocene
Stepped estuarine and river sands and clays forming the park's northern bluffs.
Floodplain alluviumHolocene
Sand, silt and clay spread by floods, the foundation of the old-growth forest.
Oxbow lakes and rimswampsHolocene
Abandoned river channels and seep-fed swamps holding peat and muck.

Trees, Plants & Ecosystems

854vascular plant species recorded

Old-growth bottomland hardwood forestFloodplain, about 80–100 ft
Towering sweetgum, cherrybark oak, loblolly pine and American elm over a shady understory of pawpaw and holly.
Cypress–tupelo swampSloughs and low backswamps
Bald cypress and water tupelo standing in water much of the year, ringed by cypress knees.
Oxbow lakes and creeksCedar Creek and abandoned channels
Still, dark waters home to alligators, bowfin, turtles and wading birds.
CanebrakeLevee edges and clearings
Remnant stands of giant cane, a once-vast southern habitat.
Upland pine and hardwood bluffsAbout 100–140 ft
Drier terraces above the floodplain with pines, oaks and hickories.

Trees

Bald cypressTaxodium distichumAncient, buttressed giants of the sloughs, some centuries old, surrounded by knobby knees.
Water tupeloNyssa aquaticaA swollen-based swamp tree that grows alongside cypress in standing water.
Loblolly pinePinus taedaThe park's national champion reaches 167 feet, one of the tallest trees in the eastern United States.
SweetgumLiquidambar styracifluaChampion sweetgums here reach 157 feet, with star-shaped leaves that blaze in autumn.
Cherrybark oakQuercus pagodaA massive bottomland oak; the park's champion stands 154 feet tall.
Overcup oakQuercus lyrataNamed for acorns almost enclosed by their cups, it tolerates long flooding.
Swamp chestnut oakQuercus michauxiiProduces large, sweet acorns eaten by deer and wild turkeys.
American elmUlmus americanaChampion-sized elms survive here, rare elsewhere after Dutch elm disease.
Common persimmonDiospyros virginianaThe park's record persimmon towers to 127 feet, far above the species' usual size.
American hollyIlex opacaAn evergreen understory tree whose red berries brighten the winter forest.
Laurel oakQuercus laurifoliaA fast-growing, semi-evergreen oak of wet floodplain soils.
American hornbeamCarpinus carolinianaAlso called musclewood for its smooth, sinewy gray trunk.

Wildflowers, shrubs & other plants

Dwarf palmettoSabal minorA trunkless palm whose fan leaves carpet the forest floor in places.
Giant caneArundinaria giganteaNorth America's native bamboo, once forming vast canebrakes.
Spanish mossTillandsia usneoidesNot a moss but a bromeliad draping the branches of cypress and oaks.
Resurrection fernPleopeltis polypodioidesShrivels brown in drought and unfurls green on tree limbs after rain.
CrossvineBignonia capreolataA climbing vine with trumpet-shaped orange flowers in spring.
Trumpet creeperCampsis radicansIts orange summer flowers draw ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Muscadine grapeVitis rotundifoliaA native grape whose fruit feeds raccoons, foxes and birds in late summer.
Cardinal flowerLobelia cardinalisBrilliant red spikes along creek banks in late summer.
Lizard's tailSaururus cernuusDrooping white flower spikes rise from shallow floodplain water.
Green dragonArisaema dracontiumAn unusual relative of jack-in-the-pulpit with a long, tongue-like spadix.
PartridgeberryMitchella repensA tiny creeping evergreen with paired white flowers and red berries.
Netted chain fernWoodwardia areolataA fern of wet, shady soils in the backswamps.
Royal fernOsmunda regalisA tall, elegant fern of sloughs and creek margins.
Poison ivyToxicodendron radicansIts hairy vines climb high into the canopy; learn to recognize it.

Wildlife

35mammals
191birds
33reptiles
29amphibians
60fish

Mammals

White-tailed deerOdocoileus virginianusCommon along trails and in forest openings.
Feral hogSus scrofaA destructive invasive species that roots up the forest floor.
BobcatLynx rufusAn elusive predator of the dense floodplain forest.
CoyoteCanis latransA relatively recent arrival to South Carolina, now established in the park.
Gray foxUrocyon cinereoargenteusAble to climb trees, it hunts along forest edges.
Northern river otterLontra canadensisOften seen playing in Cedar Creek and the oxbow lakes.
American beaverCastor canadensisBuilds dams and lodges on floodplain streams.
RaccoonProcyon lotorLeaves tracks along muddy creek banks while foraging for crayfish.
Virginia opossumDidelphis virginianaNorth America's only marsupial, active at night.
Eastern gray squirrelSciurus carolinensisBusy among the oaks and hickories, especially in autumn.
Rafinesque's big-eared batCorynorhinus rafinesquiiA rare bat that roosts inside hollow cypress and tupelo trunks.
Southeastern myotisMyotis austroripariusAnother hollow-tree roosting bat of old bottomland forests.

Birds

Pileated woodpeckerDryocopus pileatusThe largest woodpecker in the park, carving rectangular holes in dead trees.
Red-headed woodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusA striking woodpecker of open woods and flooded snags.
Barred owlStrix variaIts 'who cooks for you' call echoes through the forest day and night.
Prothonotary warblerProtonotaria citreaA golden warbler nesting in tree cavities over water.
Swainson's warblerLimnothlypis swainsoniiA secretive warbler of canebrakes and dense understory.
Yellow-throated warblerDendroica dominicaForages high among Spanish moss in cypress and pines.
Louisiana waterthrushSeiurus motacillaBobs its tail along creek edges in spring and summer.
Wood duckAix sponsaNests in tree cavities near oxbow lakes.
Great egretArdea albaHunts fish in shallow sloughs and lakes.
Wood storkMycteria americanaA large wading bird that visits the floodplain in summer.
Bald eagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusOccasionally seen soaring over the Congaree River.
Black vultureCoragyps atratusOften seen circling above the forest canopy.

Reptiles & amphibians

American alligatorAlligator mississippiensisNear the northern edge of its range, alligators inhabit the park's lakes and creeks.
CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorusA venomous water snake of sloughs and creek banks.
CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrixCamouflaged among leaf litter on drier ground.
Timber rattlesnakeCrotalus horridusKnown locally as the canebrake rattlesnake.
Eastern mud snakeFarancia abacuraA glossy black and red snake that feeds on amphiumas and sirens.
River cooterPseudemys concinnaA large basking turtle of the oxbow lakes.
Green treefrogHyla cinereaIts honking chorus fills summer nights.
Marbled salamanderAmbystoma opacumBreeds in autumn in dry depressions that later fill with rain.

Fish

BowfinAmia calvaAn ancient, air-gulping fish well adapted to warm, oxygen-poor swamp waters.
Longnose garLepisosteus osseusAn armored predator with a long, toothy snout.
Chain pickerelEsox nigerAn ambush hunter among submerged roots and vegetation.
Largemouth bassMicropterus salmoidesA popular sport fish of the oxbow lakes.
American eelAnguilla rostrataMigrates between freshwater rivers and the Sargasso Sea to spawn.
Flathead catfishPylodictis olivarisA large, introduced predatory catfish in the Congaree River.

Species totals are the park's certified NPSpecies checklist (occurrence: present).

Climate & When to Visit

Congaree has a humid subtropical climate with long, hot, muggy summers and short, mild winters. Summer highs routinely reach the low to mid-90s °F with high humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Winters are cool, with occasional frosts, and snow is rare.

Water is the park's pulse. Rain falling across the Piedmont to the northwest funnels into the Congaree and Wateree rivers, and when they rise, floodwaters spread over the floodplain several times in a typical year, most often in winter and spring. Floods can arrive with little warning, even on sunny days after upstream rain. Tropical storms also affect the park: Hurricane Hugo in 1989 toppled many of its largest trees.

Spring
Warm days, blooming vines and nesting songbirds; synchronous fireflies flash in unison for a few weeks around late May and early June.
Summer
Hot, humid and buggy, with frequent thunderstorms, lush greenery and peak mosquito activity.
Autumn
Cooler, drier weather and fewer insects make it a pleasant time for hiking and paddling as the leaves turn.
Winter
Mild temperatures and bare canopies reveal the forest's structure, but floods are most likely and trails may be under water.

Weather hazards

Flooding: Check Congaree River and Cedar Creek water levels before hiking or paddling; trails and roads can flood quickly.
Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes can be intense from late spring through fall; bring repellent and long sleeves.
Heat and humidity: Carry water and plan strenuous hikes for early morning in summer.
Venomous snakes: Cottonmouths, copperheads and timber rattlesnakes live here; watch your step off the boardwalk.
Falling limbs: Old-growth trees drop branches, especially in wind and storms; avoid camping under dead limbs.

Congaree Questions

When is the best time to visit Congaree National Park?

Autumn and early spring offer comfortable temperatures and fewer mosquitoes. Late May and early June are popular for the synchronous firefly display, while winter can be pleasant but brings the highest chance of flooded trails.

Is Congaree National Park a swamp?

Mostly no. It is a floodplain forest that floods periodically and then drains, though low sloughs with bald cypress and tupelo hold water much of the year. The periodic floods bring nutrients that help grow its giant trees.

When do the synchronous fireflies appear?

For roughly two weeks between mid-May and mid-June, one species of firefly flashes in coordinated waves after dark. Timing varies with spring temperatures, and the park often uses a lottery or special access to manage crowds.

How tall are the trees at Congaree?

The park's loblolly pine champion reaches about 167 feet, and many trees exceed 130 feet. The forest has one of the tallest temperate deciduous canopies remaining anywhere in the world.

What wildlife can you see at Congaree?

Watch for river otters, deer, barred owls, pileated woodpeckers and turtles along the boardwalk and creeks. Paddling Cedar Creek quietly at dawn offers the best chance to see otters and wading birds.

Why does Congaree flood so often?

The park lies on the low floodplain of the Congaree River just below the Fall Line. When heavy rains fall upstream in the Piedmont, rising rivers overtop their banks and spread across the forest.

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← Channel Islands National Park Crater Lake National Park →

Sources: www.nps.gov · www.usgs.gov · irmaservices.nps.gov · en.wikipedia.org · www.govinfo.gov · Official NPS site