Bannister Bridge to Cedar Creek Landing is a little over 6 miles, but almost always requires a portage around fallen trees. Congaree National Park has 2 campgrounds: Longleaf and Bluff. If you’re more experienced and want to combine your love of the water with an overnight backcountry camping trip, put in at the Cedar Creek Landing and paddle all the way to the Congaree River and beyond to the US 601 Landing for your exit.

There are around 230 Greyhound stations across the US where you can both catch your bus and buy tickets, that are also available on the official website and via the mobile app. Nice junior ranger program. During the festival, the Congaree National Park is open for extended hours, till 9 pm. Backcountry camping is a free option but not suggested for the novice hiker or camper.

What the trails lack in elevation gain, they make up for in the vast amount of birds and interesting plants you will see along the way. Follow directions below from Interstate 77,Exit 5. Augusta, GA is only an hour and a half away from the park. A nice national park. The river moves fairly fast, so starting upstream is probably a better idea. This national park is a little less exciting than most, but nonetheless, it is totally worth the trip. Entrance and parking are free and there is great trails and things to do. Totally worth the short drive.

In regards to canoe tour schedules...each month's tours open for reservation on the FIRST of the PRIOR MONTH! This gravel road is a pleasant escape and a nice hike that offered me a distinct aspect to the nature of the forest.

Congaree National Park is completely free to enter, hike, or attend a ranger-led event. From here it is easy peasy. See all photos from Seth A. for Congaree National Park. 100 National Park Road

Cedar Creek landing is the most popular access point, for good reason. Bluff Campground is a little more isolated, located about a mile onto the Bluff Trail and accessible only by foot. Andrew Jackson State Park in South Carolina is located in Lancaster County, and just north of the city of Lancaster. Weather is important, but if you’re backcountry camping you should be more concerned about the river. What is the national COVID-19 helpline number in Congaree National Park?

The sites were close together and unfortunately we had loud neighbors, but I can't blame the campground for that. Photinus carolinus males send synchronized flashes of yellow-green light to females every few seconds.

Check the weather- In the summer time this place is unbelievably hot, so its best to go during the cooler months. #3. What a wonderful spot! I was able to spend a few hours at the park while visiting my sister in.

Because there’s no current, either direction should be an easy paddle. This move also hugely popularized the outdoors and went on …. National Parks are still on my to-do list! Extending over 469 miles, the parkway runs from north to south, passing through Asheville and Boone in North Carolina, and three major cities in Virginia - Waynesboro, Roanoke, and Galax. Why wouldn't you go? It takes approximately 2h 14m to drive from Charlotte to Congaree National Park. The Congaree River flows through the park.

It's full of water tupelo and bald cypress, and expanses of little structures called cypress knees jutting out from the mud. Save this link to stay updated on COVID-19 restrictions, If you need help, visit the national COVID-19 website or call the COVID-19 Helpline 800-232-4636. The road distance is 115.7 miles.

If you don't mind getting your feet wet, then you are welcome to just walk right through the water and finish the loop!This is a great hike to do with family and pets on leashes. What is the national COVID-19 helpline number in Congaree National Park? The trail did get quite muddy at different parts, so definitely be prepared with waterproof boots if it has rained at all recently. Following the ridge of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains for most of the parkway, the recreational motor road is a sheer delight for outdoor enthusiasts.

I cannot stress this enough...BRING DEET or some other bug spray, as those things are huge out there! Crowder’s Mountain State Park, North Carolina, is a popular destination for those that rent an RV in Gaston County. In Congaree Swamp, I only encountered a corn snake.

This post may contain affiliate links. In 1902, a man named Dr. Lucius B Morse acquired 64 acres of Chimney Rock and continued to purchase …. What a wonderful spot! Fair warning to all you arachnophobes (and tall people) out there: this park has spiders. Congaree National Park, near Columbia, South Carolina, is a beautifully preserved old growth bottomland hardwood forest adjacent to the Congaree River. You have to carry in all your equipment and supplies. Well kept - as they have recently replaced several sections with new wood.

Domestic travel is not restricted, but some conditions may apply. There are five mountain lakes within the forest, including five-acre Lake Dense, 99-acre Lake Julia, one-acre Lake Imaging, and Fawn Lake. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Our first visit was the end of July and the off-path areas were covered in spider webs. We hiked the boardwalk trail, which is the most popular trail in the park and takes about 2 hours if you are going at a very slow pace. The distance between Charlotte and Congaree National Park is 100 miles. #4. Must visit when in the area. Drive approximately 8 miles and then take a slight right onto Old Bluff Road. And with plenty of RV-friendly campsites to choose from, Fairy Stone State Park is the ideal spot for a magical RV camping getaway. Free to use, the trails are fairly easy and clean. Sims Trail - 3.2 miles round trip.

The swamplands in the Congeree National Park are not only beautiful but they are also a rare sight to see in a park.

Congaree National Park preserves one of the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forests remaining in America.

COVID-19 Travel restrictions may apply in United States.

Part of this state park also contains a section of the North Fork New River. Interesting wildlife. Alternatively, American Airlines flies from Charlotte to Congaree National Park every 4 hours. It was eleven miles off the main highway but a good opportunity to soak in the peacefulness of the swamps and stretch our legs on the raised boardwalks that cover several miles within the park. It's a fairly accessible, easy hike and even has a few benches along the way if you need to stop or to have a quick lunch. Private landowners and farmers purchased a large swath of sandy dunes with the hopes of turning the land into farms during the early 1900s. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. Discover how to get to attractions and hotels near Horrel Hill. On five occasions, I spent the day with my 35 mm Olympus OMT4 camera in Congaree Swamp and, a year later, I spent one day in Congaree Swamp with my 4x5 cherrywood field camera (the negatives are 4 inches by 5 inches, and the tilt-shift lens enables objects within a couple of feet from the lens and objects 100 feet away or more, to be at the same time in perfect focus).

Aiken State Park can be found in the Midlands region of South Carolina, around a thirty-minute drive east of Aiken.

The first is during the warmer months, when the shallow ponds and watery swampy areas have gone dry, resulting in total exposure of the base and root structures of tupelo gum trees and cypress trees.

Congaree National Park lies in central South Carolina, between the towns and cities of Columbia, Orangeburg, and Sumter.

Formed in 2008 after North Carolina acquired the 2,456-acre mountain, motorhome camping near the state park will give you access to the mountain, and many different ways to explore …. Find all the transport options for your trip from Charlotte to Congaree National Park right here. You can take a bus from Charlotte to Congaree National Park via Greenville, SC, Greenville, and Columbia in around 4h 50m. Unless you live nearby, or are attempting to visit all of the national parks, you may not find yourself at Congaree National Park.

In the afternoon we went kayaking which was my favorite part of the park. Take U.S. Highway 601 North to SC 48 (Bluff Road). Both are tent-camping only. Check the conditions before you go as the park floods regularly and if the water is really high 90% of the hiking trails can be underwater (this happens most often in the winter if I'm not mistaken). Neither campground has running water, but both can get water 24/7 from the nearby Harry Hampton Visitor Center.

It was significant for its military use as a depot for their convoys between Camden and Charleston, which they occupied. https://www.charlotteparent.com/3-must-visit-national-parks-within-a-days-drive Follow directions below from Interstate 77, Exit 5. My husband and I hiked this trail in the fall and it was a relaxing escape from the real world. Either way, make sure you stay on your trail, as they are not taken care of as much as I would've liked - though the rangers are well aware which ones are more difficult to pass through, so don't go without asking. Is it compulsory to practice social distancing in Congaree National Park? The boardwalk was well maintained but it appears during wet seasons that a fair share of the path goes underwater (as noted in my pictures). Although it's an elementary and uncomplicated park to discover, it was these characteristics that helped me to take a step back, exhale and recognize just how beautiful nature in the forest can be. The building remained in use until 1922. We moved from Indiana to South Carolina in 2019, so visiting Congaree National Park is an easy day trip from home for us. The COMET offers regularly scheduled bus service to and from the park via Route 47. Hopkins, SC As with all swamps in South Carolina, one needs to keep an eye out for alligators, copperhead snakes, and water moccasins.