A national SWAMP? Where? South Carolina? Congaree National Park!

The Swamp is an amazing place to visit! Never heard of it? Neither did we... While on route through South Carolina, we became aware of their ONLY National Park. It is a relatively new park, and a treasure. You must visit Congaree and see for yourself.
Congaree is located in Hopkins, SC. Although the drive to the park took us through an undesirable part of South Carolina, we were releaved when we saw the NPS arrowhead on a large sign. We stayed at the Barnyard RV park, near Lexington, which is about 30 miles away from the gate. Nothing memorable about the RV park, other than it's proximity to the National Park. Congaree is one of the only old growth floodplains in the US. When we visited, the park was in its flood state. Much of the park was underwater. We thought this was a bummer, but turned out to be the opposite. We saw Congaree Swamp at its finest. The elevated boardwalk was an easy walk for the whole family. The baordwalk brings you to the brink of the flood, and allows you to explore each stage. We detoured after a bit and took a dirt trail on a high ridge. Wildlife was abundant. We even saw our first wild boar, and the destruction they were doing to the National Park.


The kids love water, and Congaree is a great example of water.

Highlights:

Baldcypress Trees: Old growth bald baldcypress trees in the park can reach 150 feet tall and 27 inches in circumference.  These trees are also very old. They estimate that some of the trees could be between 600-1000 years old.

Cypress Knees: A knee that grows around the base of the baldcypress trees to help stabilize the tree and help to provide air to the tree when the base is underwater.
No mosquitoes.  

Junior Ranger Badges Complete!

Would we visit Congaree Swampt NP again? YES! and so should you!