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4.5
347 votes

Congaree National Park

100 National Park Rd,, Harry Hampton Visitor Center, Hopkins, South Carolina 29061 USA

Free
Free to Visit
Closed Now
Opens Fri 9a
  • Independent
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wheelchair
    Accessible
  • Public
    Restrooms
  • Outdoor
    Seating
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“Discover a hidden gem”

Get ready to explore the lush green forests, scenic trails, and winding waters of Congaree National Park. Home to the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the US, this park offers a glimpse into a world that is both serene and exciting. Whether you're kayaking through the Congaree River or hiking through the trails, you're sure to have an unforgettable adventure here.

Congaree National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round. The hours listed here are for the visitor center.

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Reviewed by
Anna Hider

  • Blogger
  • 1,414 Reviews
  • 636 Helpful
July 07, 2014
Rated 5.0

The Boardwalk Loop is definitely one of America's coolest hikes. It's 2.4 miles right through the swamps and jungle-like forests! Plus, it'd be crazy awesome to see a real bobcat in the wild. Incredible canoeing, too!

18 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
kclineberger

  • 6 Reviews
  • 22 Helpful
November 27, 2013
Rated

This place also smells like fart.

20 people found this review helpful
  • 21 Reviews
  • 11 Helpful
May 16, 2016
Rated

This national park is a beautiful must see! The boardwalk loop was a fun way to navigate through the swampy forest. When we went we got to the park before sunrise and began the loop as the sun was rising. It seemed to be the perfect time. Not only was there nobody else around, but there was wildlife everywhere!

8 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Anthony Arata

  • 127 Reviews
  • 20 Helpful
January 21, 2021
Rated 5.0

Got a chance to see this place today. Gorgeous park and it’s quiet and peaceful. Saw a bunch of squirrels but not many other animals. We took the boardwalk and it took about an hour and a half. There’s also a few other trials to check out too. Also seems that winter is one of the better times to see this park because the mosquitoes out here are brutal other times of the year.

4 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Nicole

  • 6 Reviews
  • 6 Helpful
August 28, 2019
Rated

We visited this park in the heat of the summer during the morning. As you wlk in the shadows of the forest, it was not too hod. We saw many spiders in their large webs (nothing scary), lizards, beautiful insects, turtles in the water, and even an alligator in the river! The board walk was easy to walk and went through nice stretches of forest. We were amazed by the strange structures formed by the roots of the trees. It felt like walking through a fairytale landscape. We almost passed the visitor center but what a surprise! It is beautiful with great displays of all the animals you can see. Very kind and enthousiastic staff; they looked up several spiders for us and were just as excited as we were. Great place and not too far from Columbia.

4 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
budj

  • 4 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
May 06, 2017
Rated 4.0

You can do kayaking for free!! My only complaint is that some of the trails were not maintained well.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
TJCannon

  • 4 Reviews
  • 4 Helpful
April 17, 2015
Rated 4.0

The Boardwalk Loop was fantastic! It started raining and the 'boards' (not made of wood), became slippery. Also, we couldn't complete the loop as a part of the Upper Boardwalk was closed. Even so, the trees and diversity of plants and animals was terrific.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
BB

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
August 09, 2023
Rated 5.0

The Boardwalk Loop was an easy walk with lots of beautiful scenic views. The rangers were very helpful in navigating the various trails and knew the best places to see and avoid. Went late afternoon and saw tons of squirrels, birds, and an owl. The mosquitos were not bad but the horseflies were very aggressive.

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Reviewed by
Misty Hightower

  • 9 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
July 10, 2023
Rated 5.0

We did the boardwalk loop... very easy walk... we saw a woodpecker and gator... got there early, so not crowded... very quiet... we enjoyed it..

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Reviewed by
Chase Williams

  • 7 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
June 19, 2022
Rated 5.0

The boardwalk was an amazing hike through the swamps of Congaree National Park. With pamphlets that indicated certain features along the path it was a very informative experience as well. The park is tucked away outside the city of Columbia, SC and offers a nice and tranquil experience. Bring your bug spray though because the fireflies will let you know they’re there.

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Congaree National Park

100 National Park Rd,
Harry Hampton Visitor Center
Hopkins, South Carolina
29061 USA
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Hours

Closed Now
  • Sun - Sat: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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Good for bird watching, boating, and 7 more activities.

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    Parking
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    Pets Allowed
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    Restrooms
  • Unknown
    Wifi
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    Wheelchair Accessible
  • Unknown
    Credit Cards Accepted
Check In
12:00 PM
Check Out
11:00 AM
Affiliation
National park
Sites Count
20
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    Sites
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    Outdoor Seating
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