A visitor strolls along Congaree National Park’s boardwalk, which stretches for 2.4 miles.
With a South Carolina fishing license, anglers can catch bass, crappie and other game fish in Congaree’s creeks and lakes.Hopkins, South Carolina | 5 hours from Chattanooga
This 27,000-acre forest may exist within a floodplain, but spend an afternoon watching otters and armadillos wade through its waters while dwarfed by 15-story trees, and the last word on your mind will be “swamp.” Fed by nutrients from the Congaree and Wateree rivers, this majestic wilderness area is known for its biodiversity and its large concentration of champion trees, each the largest known tree in the world for its particular species.
What It Offers
With 25 miles of hiking trails and a marked 20-mile canoe trail, visitors are free to explore the Congaree Wilderness by foot or by water. In spring and fall, ranger-led programs, like the popular “Owl Prowl,” allow guests to experience the park in unique ways. Nature-lovers who plan to go it alone will still find plenty to do in the park, which has been designated a Globally Important Bird Area and an International Biosphere Reserve.
Why You Should Care